Egypt's Book of the Dead
7/9/202651 min
For over a thousand years, the Book of the Dead guided ancient Egyptians through the afterlife. Filled with powerful spells these remarkable texts were designed to help the dead overcome the dangers of the underworld and reach eternal life in the company of Osiris, God of the Dead.
Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by Yekaterina Barbash to explore the fascinating history of the Book of the Dead. Why was it so important to ancient Egyptian burial beliefs? How were these extraordinary papyri made? And what can one of the finest surviving examples reveal about death, magic and the afterlife in ancient Egypt?
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Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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First 90 secondsTristan Hughes· Host0:00
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to HistoryHit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week, covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com/subscribe. Did you know that the ancient world's greatest monster killer, well, he was also a man who left death and destruction all around him wherever he went. From the snake-filled crib at Thebes to the impossible labors that took him across the ancient Greek world, Heracles, or Hercules if you prefer the Roman version, well, he's one of the most extraordinary figures in myth, a hero whose life was as thrilling as it was brutal. I'm Tristan Hughes, and I'm thrilled to be bringing Heracles' story to Australia this August on the Ancients Live Tour. I'm going to be joined by the brilliant Alastair Blanchard, Professor of Classics and Ancient History, and together we're going to dig into the myths, the geography, and the archeology behind the labors, from the Nemean Lion and the Hydra to Troy and the tragic end of Greece's greatest hero. Now, tickets are on sale.