Ancient Spell Scroll Discovered in Egypt: Egyptians’ Believed in Real Magic

Exciting news from Saqqara! In early 2023, a team of archaeologists uncovered a truly remarkable find – a giant 52-foot papyrus scroll filled with spells from the Book of the D*ad.

The ancient Egyptians had a fascinating belief in the afterlife; a key aspect of this was the “Book of the Dead.” This collection of funerary texts was thought to assist the deceased on their journey to the afterlife. These texts were often inscribed on papyrus scrolls and placed in tombs, such as the fragment from the tomb of Theban scribe Ani in Luxor, which is now on display at the British Museum. 

The brand new Grand Egyptian Museum, currently under construction in Giza, is the planned destination for the recently discovered Book of the Dead papyrus scroll. This state-of-the-art museum is set to replace the current Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s El-Tahrir Square and costs a whopping $1 billion to build.

In 1954, an exciting discovery was made next to the Khufu Pyramid in the form of a dismantled wooden ship. The ancient Egyptians believed that these vessels would transport their kings to the afterlife; hence they were referred to as “solar boats” as the pharaohs were seen as the earthly representation of the sun god, Ra. This particular ship was displayed in its own Solar Boat Museum, near the discovery site, until 2021, when it was relocated to the newly built Grand Egyptian Museum.

Even with its grandeur, the artifacts found within the pyramid are limited. Only three items, known as the “Dixon Relics,” were discovered by Waynman Dixon in 1872. These include a heavy granite sphere, a forked copper instrument, and a wooden slat. The forked device is believed to have once had a bone or wooden handle and was probably used to manipulate rope, while the granite sphere served as a pounder.

Located about 62 miles from Cairo, the Meidum Pyramid was constructed during the reign of King Sneferu, the first ruler of the Fourth Dynasty (2613 to 2589 BC). It is said to be the first straight-sided pyramid of Egypt, sometimes referred to by some as a “sandcastle,” and is known as a “false pyramid.” The pyramid faced multiple construction challenges and was never finished, making it look distinct from other pyramids in Egypt.

The Meidum Geese painting was found in a tomb next to the Meidum Pyramid and is now on display at the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. The artwork showcases six geese, with two pairs facing away from each other in the center and one goose at each end, pecking at the grass. Even though the painting was created using a faster paint-and-plaster technique, the level of detail is still impressive. The pigments used include white from limestone, red from hematite, and green from malachite, all of which were mixed with egg white emulsifier.  

Dahshur is an ancient plateau located 20 miles south of Cairo, home to the Bent Pyramid, built by King Sneferu as a second pyramid, an addition to his straight-sided pyramid at Meidum. The pyramid’s shape is unusual due to construction issues, with the lower half at an angle of 54 degrees to 154 feet, then suddenly switching to 43 degrees. 

In 2019, several mummies were found in and around the Bent Pyramid, most of which were well-preserved inside the stone, clay, and wooden coffins. The finds also included funerary masks dating back to the Late Period (664-332 BC), much later than the reign of Sneferu in the 25th century BC.

Khafre Pyramid, the second largest in the Great Pyramids of Giza complex, was built by King Khafre (2558-2532 BC) next to his father’s Khufu pyramid, and it appears deceptively larger due to its higher location on the plateau. Built between 2520 and 2494 BC, only the top of the pyramid retains its original Tura limestone outer casing, while the rest has worn away, giving it a snow-capped mountain-like appearance.

Tomb raiders have repeatedly robbed the Khafre Pyramid over the years. Even Pharaoh Ramesses II is said to have taken sections of the pyramid’s limestone casing for his temple. With few artifacts remaining, historians have studied the pyramid’s construction materials. 

The Djoser Pyramid, located in Saqqara in ancient Memphis, is possibly the most unique-looking in Egypt. Built by pharaoh Djoser (2650-2575 BC), who was the first to use stone in a pyramid’s construction, the bizarre tiered structure was designed by architect Imhotep by stacking mastabas to create a step pyramid, which is 204 feet high, and the first of its kind.

The pyramid galleries and burial chamber have recently revealed a series of stunning blue and green tiles, once used to imitate decorative reeds in the king’s palace. These tiles, created in the faience glazing style, symbolize rebirth and can be viewed at the Imhotep Museum in Saqqara and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The Red Pyramid, located in Dahshur, is famous for its reddish hue, exposed after removing its limestone casing. The pyramid was built by pharaoh Sneferu, with its construction date debated but believed to be between 2575 and 2551 BC. 

The Red Pyramid boasts unique passageways and chambers, featuring corbelled ceilings supporting its two million tonnes of stone. Unlike other pyramids, it has not suffered any structural issues or cracks. 

The Menkaure Pyramid is the last and smallest of the three Great Pyramids of Giza, standing at 213 feet tall. Built for King Menkaure in the 26th century BC, it sits on the same plateau as the pyramids of his father and grandfather. Inside the tomb, many statues depict Menkaure accompanied by gods and figures, including a greywacke stone statue of Menkaure and his wife. 

The Userkaf Pyramid, built by King Userkaf in 2494-2487 BC, the first pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty, has an interesting history. Userkaf chose to build his pyramid at Saqqara, where the limestone is thinner than in other tomb locations like Giza. This, combined with poor structuring, led the pyramid to collapse, earning the nickname “Heap of Stone.” 

The Userkaf Pyramid, while mostly unexcavated, has yielded some interesting finds, including funerary stone reliefs from the king’s funerary temple. These reliefs, which would have once adorned the courtyard walls, depict hunting, fishing, and nature scenes typical in Fifth Dynasty royal temples. One limestone relief showcases birds in a papyrus thicket, two intricately carved birds in a marsh along the Nile, and names of Upper and Lower Egyptian derivatives connected to the cult of Userkaf, with the reliefs painted initially.

King Unas, who ruled during the Fifth Dynasty, built his pyramid at Saqqara, which once stood 141 feet tall. However, after his death, it fell into disrepair, and later Egyptian kings removed and reused most of its stones. Despite its state, an inscription by Prince Khaemwaset, the son of Ramesses II and High Priest of Ptah in Memphis, who restored the monument in the 13th century BC, can still be seen.

The Unas Pyramid was the first to feature “pyramid texts,” instructional spells on tomb walls to help the spirit navigate the underworld. The texts were never the same, but one frequently included was a spell discussing the sun god Ra. Inside the burial chamber, a sarcophagus was found, with a ceiling patterned with gold stars on a night-blue sky.

Once 172 feet tall, the Teti Pyramid was built for King Teti, the first pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty (2345-2323 BC). Located in Saqqara, it was constructed with a core of stone blocks encased in limestone and featured painted reliefs, star-patterned ceilings, and three niches that may have held statues of the king.

Archaeologists recently discovered a buried chamber beneath the Teti Pyramid, filled with a well-preserved sarcophagus and pyramid texts. These texts were first seen in the Fifth Dynasty and later evolved into the Coffin Texts of the Middle Kingdom. Both influenced the New Kingdom’s Book of the Dead. 

Exciting news for Egyptologists, a previously unknown pyramid of an Egyptian queen named Neith was recently uncovered by archaeologists. The newly excavated site can be seen here, with the Teti and Djoser pyramids visible in the background. 

A vibrant painting of Queen Nefertari was discovered in her tomb in Luxor’s Valley of the Queens. The queen, who was buried in a small rock-cut temple, is depicted playing senet, an ancient Egyptian game with deep symbolic meaning. 

Tutankhamun’s tomb is world-famous, although it was not unearthed until 1922. His impressive funerary mask was crafted from 10kg of gold and adorned with lapis lazuli, quartz, glass, and obsidian. To assist his passage to the afterlife, his body was wrapped in resin-soaked bandages and surrounded by items.

Egyptians loved wearing jewelry, and many items were discovered in ancient tombs. The scarab bracelet from Tutankhamun’s tomb is a stunning example of craftsmanship made from gold and lapis lazuli. Apart from that, eighty pairs of sandals and toe stalls (golden toe coverings) were found in his tomb. 

In 1939, Pierre Montet, a French Egyptologist, unearthed a royal necropolis at Tanis that had remained untouched – an incredible feat, as no intact royal tombs had been found. He uncovered sarcophagi, silver coffins, and vast amounts of gold and silver.

Found in Shoshenq II’s tomb, a breastplate-like collar remains a vivid reminder of ancient opulence. Shaped like a falcon, it depicts Nekhbet, a goddess commonly expressed as a vulture hovering above kings with a shen, symbolizing eternity. 

Wendjebauendjed was a key figure during King Psusennes I’s reign, evident by his tomb in the royal cemetery. His funerary mask features a slight smile and glass-inlaid eyes, but the left ear is longer than the right.