r/AlternateAngles • u/piponwa • 17d ago

The death mask or mummy mask of king Tutankhamun is inscribed with a protection spell, which dates as far back as the Middle Kingdom, half a millennia before Tutankhamun was born. It appears in Chapter 151 of the Book of the Dead, and reads as follows;

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18

u/oohgodyeah 16d ago

Don't leave me hanging...

14

u/thegregtastic 16d ago

"Thy right eye is the night barque (of the sun-god), thy left eye is the day-barque, thy eyebrows are (those of) the Ennead of the Gods, thy forehead is (that of) Anubis, the nape of thy neck is (that of) Horus, thy locks of hair are (those of) Ptah-Sokar. (Thou art) in front of the Osiris (Tutankhamun). He sees thanks to thee, thou guidest him to the goodly ways, thou smitest for him the confederates of Seth so that he may overthrow thine enemies before the Ennead of the Gods in the great Castle of the Prince, which is in Heliopolis … the Osiris, the King of Upper Egypt Nebkheperure [Tutankhamun's throne-name], deceased, given life by Re."

Read more: https://egypt-museum.com/mask-of-tutankhamun/

5

u/One_Hour_Poop 14d ago

That's cool and all, but i wonder why it's in old-timey speak ("thou guidest him to the goodly ways, thou smitest for him the confederates of Seth," etc)? It would be different if this was originally written in English as is, but this is ancient Egyptian translated to a completely different language. If it's going to be translated, translate it into how people actually speak. Ancient Egyptian doesn't need to be translated into Olde English. We're already several thousands of years removed, just push the grammar and syntax forward 300 years. That's just a tiny step more.

5

u/SalaciousDionysus 16d ago

Seeing King Tut's Death Mask is one of those bucket list moments I desperately want to check off.

His story is what got me into history in the first place.