Deliver doors

The Livre of the Doors is a crowned text of old the Egypt, dating from the Nouvel Empire. It was found for the first time in the tomb of Horemheb (), but the date of drafting remains hypothetical. Its name, Delivers Doors, was given to him by Gaston Maspero.

This book reports the passage of the spirit of late in the world of beyond, corresponding to the way of the god sun Re under the Earth lasting the hours of the night.

The spirit must pass through several “doors” at different time from the way to the country of deaths. Each door is associated with a particular goddess, and the late one must recognize the special character of the goddess to continue. The text specifies that so some will pass the test without damage, others will suffer the torments from the lake of fire.

The goddesses have various names, wear various clothing, but are the same ones in any points, carrying a star with five branches with the top of their head. The majority of the quoted goddesses are specific to the Book of the doors, and do not appear elsewhere in Egyptian mythology - one thus supposes that this book was used to count the hours of the night, quoting which stars appear at such time.

Names of the goddesses

The most known chapter of the Book of the Doors reports the division of the Egyptians in four “races”, the “Egyptians” (autochtones), the “Asian ones”, the “Libya NS” and the “Nubie NS”. They are depicted entering in procession the world of deaths.

The text and the images in connection with the Book of the Doors appear with the Nouvel Empire on the tombs of the sovereigns since Horemheb until Ramsès {{VII}}. In the tomb of Horemheb one only finds 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th hours. In the tomb of Ramsès {{VI}}, the hours are superimposed. The Sarcophagus out of alabaster of Séthi {{Ier}}, preserved rather well, comprises the complete text of the Book of the Doors. In that of Ramsès {{III}}, it is the interior of the tank which is illustrated by the Book of the Doors.

Detail of the hours of the Book of the Doors

First hour

It is the beginning of the long voyage of the god Sun in his boat during the twelve hours of the night.

Tomb of Ramsès {{VII}}: hour of transition before the real entry in the underground world; the solar disk is protected by the snake Mehen; in top, the characters are represented upside down; on the right, the snake marks separation with the second hour.

Fifth hour

The god of the Sun attends the rout of Apophis, which is carried by twelve gods.

Ninth hour

Tomb of Taousert: higher register, the hearts of happy are nourished.
58e scene, according to Erik Hornung: To reach drowned which is in water, to pass close to them. (...) Let us go, upright! You tired them, see, Re deals with you! (...) Your hearts {Ba} which are on ground are satisfied with what you breathe, without they not perishing! Your meals of offering are the offerings of the ground .

Tenth hour

Thirteen monkeys, empoignant nets, charm Apophis.

Tomb of Taousert: this hour describes the combat of the sun against the snake Apophis representing nothing; in the higher register, erection of the emblem representing the High-Egypt or the king of High-Egypt.

Eleventh hour

It corresponds to the tender symbolic system of Apophis.

See too

Texts of ancient Egypt

Book of dead the

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