Never-Before-Seen 16 Meters Long Ancient Egyptian Papyrus Unveiled To The Public

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - Inscribed with passages from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the ancient Egyptian scroll known as the Waziri Papyrus I is over 16 meters long. The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text that contains declarations and spells to help the deceased in their afterlife.

The ancient papyrus found in the coffin of a person called Ahmose in the Saqqara necropolis has never been shown to the public until now.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

This Monday, the Waziri Papyrus I was unveiled inside a new exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square by Mostafa Waziri, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, after whom the papyrus was named.

The ancient scroll is impressive, to say the least. Dr. Waziri explained the Waziri Papyrus I was unearthed last year. Upon discovering the ancient scroll, scientists thought it measured only nine meters, but once it was restored and fully translated, it was obvious it measured 16 meters! The ancient scoll has been translated, and after a several months-long restoration process, the Waziri Papyrus I can now be admired by the public.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

The Egyptian papyrus dates back to 50 B.C. and is the second-longest ancient papyrus, or long piece of inscribed ancient paper, to be discovered in Egypt. According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities the verses were inscribed on the papyrus as 150 columns of writing of varying lengths and were accompanied by hieroglyphics and illustrations.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Ahmose’s name was found 260 times on the papyrus, leading the team to believe it was his personal funerary document.

Ancient Egyptians did not consider death the be the end of existence. They believed in life after death and before one could pass to the next realm of existence, one had to be judged by God Osiris.

Credit: Supreme Council of Antiquities

Many dangers could appear on the way to the afterlife, and the bodies of the dead were prepared according to special rituals. The Book of The Dead, a papyrus inscribed for a priest of the god Horus named Imhotep, contains many spells to help successfully transition from death to eternal life.

The precious ancient document covered with spells from the Book of the Dead may shed new light on ancient Egyptian beliefs about the transition to another realm.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer