Heart scarab during the reign of Thutmose II

Heart scarab during

the reign of Thutmose II

Papyrus sheets were often beautifully illustrated with numerous brightly colored paintings These images could stand out against the accompanying words although some papyrus sheets contained short red and black drawings the writer's signature colors A completely new addition depicts a deceased supplicant confessing his guiltless behavior on earth before the forty-two gods gathered in the Hall of Truth while his heart was weighed on a feather Another depiction depicts the tomb owner and often his wife worshipping Osiris or other gods the guardian spirits of the lands Beginning around the late reign of Thutmose III the tradition of copying spells onto papyrus in plain Heratic script was abolished

Heratic writing was the natural medium for papyrus During the New Kingdom each Book of the Dead was produced by skilled draftsmen and painters trained in various forms of calligraphy and hieroglyphics Scrolls could contain much more textual and pictorial content than linen Inscribed shrouds thus had a limited lifespan as primary carriers of spells and these books remained an important part of burial equipment until the reign of Amenhotep III.

Papyrus spells were not the primary or only element of the New Kingdom The close integration of ritual incantations with the physical features of the tomb and associated artifacts is evident in the extensive use of the Book of the Dead spells in various locations including body amulets mummy masks and magical bricks Heart-shaped scarabs and inscribed tablets as well as personal monuments were also evident in the early 18th Dynasty The diversity of burial chamber rituals and the incantations of Ra in many burial chambers was also evident although the diverse funerary traditions known as the Book of the Underworld were clearly evident in later dynastic tombs.