![]() ![]() It wasn’t until 2006 that the text was decoded, and the allegorical commentary and ancient religious teachings it contained were revealed, raising more questions and sparking controversy. The papyrus was badly charred when it was discovered by chance in Derveni (near Thessalonika), Greece in 1962. The history of the text’s discovery and decoding, known as the “Most Ancient Book in Europe,” is almost as interesting as the information it contains. The discovery provides new information about ancient philosophy prior to Socrates and has been hailed as “the most significant new piece of evidence about Greek philosophy and religion to come to light since the Renaissance.” The Derveni Papyrus was inscribed on the Memory of the World International Register as the oldest ‘book’ of Europe, following the decision by the International Advisory Committee of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. It is an ancient Greek papyrus roll from the reign of Philip II of Macedon, most likely between 340 and 320 B.C. Researchers hope that the scroll will not only answer questions about ancient Egyptian funerary practices but about wider ancient Egyptian beliefs as well.The Derveni papyrus is considered Europe’s oldest legible manuscript still in existence today. That honor goes to certain Book of the Dead scrolls that measure almost 100 feet in length.Īccording to the translated statement, the 52-foot papyrus scroll will soon be displayed in an Egyptian museum. It's important to note that the most recent, 52-foot find is not the longest ancient Egyptian papyrus scroll ever found. Read More : This 2,300-Year-Old Mummy Has a Heart (and Tongue) of Gold ![]() However, other partial papyri were recently found at the Saqqara site, including one just last year when archeologists discovered a 13-foot-long scroll containing portions of the Book of the Dead. 16, 2023, the 52-foot papyrus is the first full-length writing to be recovered from Saqqara in nearly 100 years. While plenty of other Book of the Dead scrolls have been discovered and currently sit in museums worldwide, this most recent finding could reveal more about Egyptian funerary practices.Īdditionally, according to a translated statement released on Jan. By writing the spells of objects to be placed inside a coffin, the mummy could recite the spells. ![]() According to Getty, Book of the Dead spells were meant to be read aloud. The papyri scrolls that have been discovered come from a variety of different time periods across ancient Egyptian history. Some mummies have been discovered wrapped in cloth with portions of the Book of the Dead written on them, putting their bodies in direct contact with the text. Over time, it is evident that some ancient Egyptians grew to have a more personal relationship with the Book of the Dead. Read More : The Mummification Process: How Ancient Egyptians Preserved Bodies for the Afterlife As time went on, and ancient Egypt transitioned between kingdoms, scribes began writing portions of the Book of the Dead on papyrus scrolls. The concept of the Book of the Dead initially developed from spells found inscribed on coffins and other objects around 1650 B.C. According to Getty, the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead is the modern term to describe a collection of Egyptian funerary spells meant to guide the recently deceased to the afterlife to unite with Osiris, the Egyptian God of the Dead. ![]()
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