What is the meaning of this phrase in chapter 64 of the Book of the Dead?

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Chapter 64 is an old one and only in Late Period texts, authored by the priests, monsters with legs stuck on the neck and buttocks on the head can be found. The text in question has been copied many times and mistakes are expected. If, however, we have some respect for ancient texts, we have to try to discover what was in the mind of the original author. The ancient Egyptians, as youngsters, were assessed by a tribunal and then had an identity document, the wpt document, issued which was serving as an identification document. The identity of a person depended on his appearance, on the one side, and on the decision of the assessors one the other. That is exactly what the text informs. enter image description here

The verb Ts means so much “to join” as “to form”

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The term nHbt means “neck”: enter image description here

But the verb nHb means “combine attributes”: enter image description here

Especially when genetic material was combined, there was a god to whom this combining was attributed, the god Nehebkau.

And finally, DADAt, means so much “head” as “tribunal”, but when reference is made to the DADAT of the West, then it is certain that the tribunal of the assessors is meant.


Note on sources: The Dictionary entries come from Faulkner’s dictionary. The text is from the papyrus of Nebseni. The translation is mine.

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