New KingdomTutankhamun
Golden Mask of Tutankhamun
c. 1323 BCE
The inscription on the back and shoulders of Tutankhamun's famous golden death mask is a protective spell derived from Chapter 151b of the Book of the Dead. It addresses the deceased king as Osiris and invokes the gods to guard each part of his face and head.
1
jnḏ-ḥr=knfr-ḥrnb
Hail to youbeautiful of facelord
Hail to you, beautiful of face, lord
2
mꜣwt
of radiance
of radiance,
3
ṯs.nPtḥSkrsqꜣ.nJnpw
joined together byPtahSokarraised byAnubis
joined together by Ptah-Sokar, raised by Anubis,
4
rḏj.nn=fsṯswḎḥwtj
to whom were givenfor himsupportsof Thoth
to whom were given the supports of Thoth,
5
nfr-ḥrjmjnṯrw
beautiful of facewho is amongthe gods
beautiful of face, who is among the gods.
6
jrt=kjmnt
your right eyeis in the west
Your right eye is in
7
sktwjrt=kjꜣbtmꜥnḏt
the evening barkyour left eyeis in the eastthe morning bark
the evening bark; your left eye is in the morning bark.
8
jnḥwj=kmpsḏt
your eyebrowsare those ofthe Ennead
Your eyebrows are those of the Ennead,
9
wpt=kmJnpw
your browis that ofAnubis
your brow is that of Anubis,
10
psḏtm ḥwtwrjmJwnw
the Enneadin the housegreatthereinin Heliopolis
the Ennead, in the great house in Heliopolis,
11
nbpꜥt
lordof nobles
lord of nobles,
12
WsjrnswNb-ḫprw-Rꜥmꜣꜥ-ḫrw
the OsiriskingNebkheperuretrue of voice
the Osiris, king Nebkheperure (Tutankhamun), true of voice.