Papyrus of Pa-sib-Hor (Book of the Dead)

The scroll is a long, horizontal papyrus strip mounted against a dark, recessed wall, illuminated by a strip light. The surface contains dense columns of black and red Egyptian hieroglyphic text interspersed with rectangular vignettes. These illustrations depict the deceased Pa-sib-Hor in various states of interaction with gods, including scenes of weighing the heart, standing before altars, and presenting offerings to enthroned deities in traditional profile view. The papyrus itself is aged, showing a yellowish-brown patina with visible vertical folds or segmentation lines.

This artifact is a primary source for the 'Book of the Dead' (Spells of Going Forth by Day), a collection of funerary texts used in Ancient Egypt to guide the soul through the underworld. It reflects the theological concern for securing a favorable judgment in the Hall of Maat and navigating the perils of the Duat.