Much later, during the New Kingdom period of ancient Egyptian history (1550–1064 B.C.E.), the Book of the Dead was compiled, gathering together a number of magical spells designed to ensure a smooth passage to eternal life. Written on papyrus, the spells could be purchased by anyone who could afford them. The owner then inscribed his own name and title and had the document placed in his tomb. The most famous of these texts is the so-called Negative Confession, which portrays the deceased person appearing before the gods in a place of judgment to demonstrate his moral life and his fitness for a place in the Land of the West. Such practices extended to people other than just the pharaoh the possibility of magical assistance in gaining eternal life with the gods.

Book of the Dead

ca. 1550–1064 B.C.E.

When the deceased enters the hall of the goddesses of Truth, he says:

Homage to thee, O great god, thou Lord of Truth. I have come to thee, my Lord, and I have brought myself hither that I may see thy beauties. . . . I have brought Truth to thee. . . .

I have not oppressed (or wronged) [my] kinsfolk.

I have not committed evil in the place of truth.°

I have not committed acts of abomination.

I have not caused my name to appear for honors.

I have not domineered over slaves.

I have not thought scorn of the god.

I have not defrauded the poor man of his goods.

I have not caused harm to be done to the slave by his master.

I have caused no man to suffer.

I have allowed no man to go hungry.

I have made no man weep. I have slain no man.

I have not given the order for any man to be slain.

I have not caused pain to the multitude.

I have not filched the offerings in the temples.

I have not purloined the cakes of the gods.

I have not defiled myself in the pure places of the god of my city.

I have not cheated in measuring of grain.

I have not encroached upon the fields of others.

I have not added to the weight of the balance.

I have not cheated with the pointer of the scales.

I have not taken away the milk from the mouths of the babes.

I have not driven away the beasts from their pastures.

I have not netted the geese of the preserves of the gods.

I have not obstructed water when it should run.

I have not cut a cutting in a canal of rating water.

I have not extinguished a flame when it ought to burn.

I have not turned off cattle from the property of the gods.

I am pure. I am pure. I am pure. I am pure.