THE BOOK OF THE DEAD ON THE STELAE OF THE NEW KINGDOM

Abstract

The purpose of the research. This research is devoted to the significant phenomenon of locating individual parts of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead on the unusual type of sources. Attention is focused on the previously unexplored phenomenon of the Book’s of the Dead text and/or illustrations placement on the funerary stelae – commemorative plates, installed in the tombs and funerary temples of individuals. The place of this type of the sources in the context of the entire volume of the Book of the Dead is considered. The chronological framework of the existence of stelae with text/images from the Book of the Dead is described: all currently known stelae are exemplified. The integration of the main plot into the system of funerary stelae is described. The research methodology applied to this study is the use of the comparative method. Without a comprehensive analysis of the exact sources it made possible the consideration of the phenomenon as a whole. Scientific novelty of the article consists of studying of the fact of placing text and/or illustrations from the Book of the Dead on the funerary stelae. This research helped to trace the way of integration of the Book’s of the Dead motives into the funeral cult system of the stelae owners. Conclusions. This research helped to identify the most popular scene from the Book of the Dead, which was integrated into the funeral stelae system during the New Kingdom. It was determined that the motive of the scene corresponds well to the funeral stelae role and thus, substantiates the usage of this sort of sources for the placement of the Book’s of the Dead vignettes.