Papyrus of protection and destruction

From the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt
Ptolemaic period, 4th - 3rd centuries BC

Papyrus from a temple library

This papyrus might once have been in a temple library, but which was probably found in a tomb. It contains a ritual text called The End of the Works. This seems to have been a ritual performed during certain festivals which included the mummification of Osiris. The text was to be recited by a 'scribe of the House of Life'. It includes spells against the enemies of Osiris, and concludes with placing a copy of the text as an amulet on the neck of a statue of Osiris.

Ritual texts such as this must have been very common in ancient Egypt, particularly in the later periods.

G. Pinch, Magic in Ancient Egypt (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)

R. Parkinson, Cracking codes: the Rosetta St (London, The British Museum Press, 1999)