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GLOSSARY OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
GODS, SYMBOLS & OBJECTS
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ba -
The collective soul of an entity often depicted in Egyptian art as a
human-headed bird. It is the totality of the various incarnations
and personalities of a being and can can freely express itself in the
non-material world as well as the material world by manifesting in any
form it chooses. It is often associated with the deceased human
soul; however, adepts such as some shamans, martial artists and lamas may
also manifest ba bodies while living. Neteroo were also known to
manifest ba bodies such as the Apis bull of Ptah.
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Barque of Millions
of Years - The solar boat navigated by the sun neter Ra that
descended into the underworld each evening and rose each subsequent
morning. The deceased hoped to gain entry onto the barque in order
to become a shining sun like Ra and rise from the dead.
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Belt of Isis (Knot
of Isis, tiet) - A belt or girdle tied in a knot around the waist
to secure a garment. Also a funerary talisman similarly shaped
associated with rebirth and the feminine generative organs often made from
carnelian, red glass or other crystalline substances.
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Ben Ben
- An obelisk or conical shaped object representing the first ray of
light that touched the earth, dispelling the dark chaos of Nun. A
ben ben, possibly of meteoritic substance, was enshrined in the ancient
cult city of Heliopolis and was associated with Atum.
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Bennu -
A large blue heron or phoenix believed to greet the deceased upon
entering the heavenly realms symbolizing rebirth. The large bird is
mythically associated with the ben ben and first appeared upon the
primordial mound that arose from the chaotic waters of Nun. |
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Book of Amduat (Book
of That Which Is In the Duat -
Ancient Egyptian text discovered inscribed on tomb walls in the
Middle Kingdom describing twelve divisions (or hours of the night) in the
duat, a dark tunnel through which the deceased or initiate traveled before
entering the heavenly realms. Click
here for a virtual tour of the 12 hours. |
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Book of
Breathings - A condensed and revamped version of the
Book of Coming Forth by Day compiled in the New Kingdom that
specifically addresses the means for the deceased to breathe after death
and instructs the initiate in yogic breath techniques. This book was
considered so important that the pharaoh was often portrayed carrying this
scroll in hand and a copy of it was placed either in the hand or near the
heart of the deceased. Click
here
for the full text.
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Book of Coming Forth
by Day - A compilation of spells, prayers and hymns from
pyramid and coffin texts used by the deceased for ascension into the
heavenly realms and by the initiate for raising consciousness to a state
of "heavenly bliss" or enlightenment. The pyramid texts are the
oldest of these dating to the Old Kingdom and were initially intended for
the pharaoh and royal family exclusively. The pyramid texts contain
many rituals to assist the king in the afterlife but little information
about the topography. The Coffin Texts, originating in the Middle
Kingdom, developed from the earlier corpus and emphasized the challenges
of the deceased and/or initiate as well as the topography. These
texts were made available to elites outside the royal family. The
Book of Coming Forth by Day further elaborated on these former texts and
became widely available to the public in the New Kingdom. Click
here for the full translation.
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Book of the Dead -
See Book of Coming Forth by Day above.
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Book of Gates
- Ancient Egyptian text discovered in late Eighteenth Dynasty tombs
that more fully elaborates the gates or divisions of the duat described in
earlier renditions of the Book of Amduat.
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