One of this winter’s exhibitions at the British Museum, ‘Journey through the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead’, opens on Thursday. The exhibition website explains that the ‘Book’ was ‘not a single text but a compilation of spells designed to guide the deceased through the dangers of the underworld, ultimately ensuring eternal life.’ This is the first time that many of these unique works from the British Museum’s collection have been shown in a public exhibition. The oldest examples of these illustrated texts on papyrus and linen were written over 3,500 years ago, and they will be displayed alongside other objects connected to death, burial, and beliefs about afterlife in Ancient Egypt. The museum website doesn’t give away much more about these mysterious texts, but promises advanced technological elements in the exhibition to enrich the visitor’s experience and understanding of these fragile documents. There is a series of public lectures and events too, details available here. If readers of this blog can enlighten us further about these fascinating material texts after visiting the exhibition, please feel free to comment below!