Papyrus of protection and destruction

Papyrus of protection and destruction
From the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt
Ptolemaic period, 4th - 3rd centuries BC

Papyrus from a temple library

This papyrus might once have been in a temple library, but which was probably found in a tomb. It contains a ritual text called The End of the Works. This seems to have been a ritual performed during certain festivals which included the mummification of Osiris. The text was to be recited by a 'scribe of the House of Life'. It includes spells against the enemies of Osiris, and concludes with placing a copy of the text as an amulet on the neck of a statue of Osiris.

Ritual texts such as this must have been very common in ancient Egypt, particularly in the later periods.

British Museum
britishmuseum.org