The Soul in Egyptian Metaphysics and The Book of the Dead

An illustrated study of 'The Egyptian Book of the Dead' and Egyptian metaphysics during the Osirian period. Although much of their wisdom remains locked in hieroglyph and symbol, the Egyptians were an old and wise people. Dedicated as they were to the deepest religious and philosophical speculations, the priests and scholars of ancient Egypt were not deficient in essential learning. By 'essential' we mean that which is concerned with essence and principle rather than with substance and appearance. It is not easy to answer the simple question: What did the Egyptians know about the human soul? Translators have not concerned themselves too much with the metaphysical speculations of the past, and have been content to restore the more obvious parts of mythology, history, and chronology. There is also indication that in different periods of their development the Egyptians changed their opinions, and a survey of their surviving literature reveals certain inconsistencies. Can we say, however, that modern culture is in large agreement on the meaning of the word 'soul'? Certainly, there are several schools of thought, and even the advancement of scientific procedure has not led to a conclusive or inclusive definition.