THE

BOOK OF RESPIRATIONS'

The manuscript, a translation of which here follows, belongs to the Muséum of the Louvre in Paris, where it is registered under the No. 3284 (Devéria, Catalogue des Ms. égypt., p. 132). It probably dates from the epoch of the Ptolemies. It is in hieratic writing and generally known by the name of Book of Respirations , or Book of the Breaths of Life according to Mr. Le Page Renoufs ingenious interprétation. This book seems to liave been deposited exclusively witli the mummies of the priests and priestesses of the god Ammon-Ra, if we may judge from the titles inserted into the manuscripts.

Dr. Brugsch, in 1851, lîrst directed the attention of Egyptologists to this curious work, by publishing a transcription in hieroglyphics of a hieratic text in the Berlin Muséum, with a Latin translation, under the title of Shaï an Sinsin, sive liber Metenipsychosis , etc. He added to this a copy of a hieratic text of the same book found in Denon, Voyage en Égypte, pl. CXXXVI.

A full analysis of this literary composition lias also been given by Dr. Samuel Birch, in his Introduction to the Rhind Papyri, London, 1863.

1. Publié dans les Records of the Past, l5t Sériés, 1875, t. IV,

THE BOOK OF RESPIRATIONS

The Paris manuscript is as yet unpublished, but a copy of it will be produced ere long by the présent translator. A few passages corrupted by the ancient scribe hâve been restored from copies of the same text, which are in the Egyptian Muséum of the Louvre.

The Book of Respirations has a great analogy with that of the Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys. It not only makes allusion to the formulæ and acts by means of which the résurrection is effected, but also treats of the life after death, thus greatly increasing our knowledge of the reli— gious System of the ancient Egyptians.

THE BOOK OF RESPIRATIONS

1 Commencement of the Book of Respirations made by Isis for her brother Osiris, to give life to his soûl, to give life to his body, to rejuvenate ail his members anew ; that he may reach the horizon with his father, the Sun ; that his soûl may rise to Heaven in the disk of the Moon ; that his body may shine in the stars of Orion on the bosom of Nu-t1 ;

in order that this may also happen

to the Osiris, divine Father, Prophet of Ammon-Ra, King of the gods,

Prophet of Khem, of Ammon-Ra, bull of his mother, in his great abode,

Asar-aau, justified,

Son of the Prophet of same order, Nes-paut-ta-ti, justified, Conceal (it), conceal (it) !

Let it not be read by any one.