An interpretation of the stemmata of the Books of the Netherworld in the New Kingdom - Tomb decoration and the text additions for Osiris NN

In: Goyon, Jean Claude ; Cardin, Christine (Hrsgg.): Proceedings of the Ninth International Congress of Egyptologists, Grenoble, 6–12 septembre 2004. Leuven ; Paris ; Dudley 2007, pp. 1935-1949 (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta ; 150)

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Abstract

A comparison of the textual traditions of the Amduat, the Litany of Re, the Book of Gates, and the Book of Caverns in the New Kingdom brings about reasonable results that can cautiously be interpreted as a realistic picture of the actual copying processes for archival purposes, sarcophagus workshops, and tomb decoration. Major copying activities can be reconstructed in parallel to important changes in the decoration program of the kings’ tombs and sarcophagi. Remarkable bundles of copying activities including text alterations, collation, and the repair of papyri can be proven in connection with the decoration of the tombs of Thutmosis III, Haremhab, Seti I, Merenptah, Rameses IV, and Rameses VI. The additions to and alterations of the text proper which relate aspects of the dead king to the actions described in it can be proven to be secondary for all of the four books discussed.