Book of Caverns

The Book of Caverns (Arabic: كتاب الكهوف, romanized: Kitab al-Kuhuf) is an important ancient Egyptian netherworld book of the New Kingdom.^[1] Like all other netherworld books, it is also attested on the inside of kings’ tombs for the benefit of the deceased. It describes the journey of the sun god Ra through the six caverns of the underworld, focusing on the interaction between the sun god and the inhabitants of the netherworld, including rewards for the righteous and punishments for the enemies of the worldly order, those who fail their judgment in the afterlife. The Book of Caverns is one of the best sources of information about the Egyptian concept of hell.^[2]

The Book of Caverns originated in the 13th century BC in the Ramesside Period.^[3] The earliest known version of this work is on the left hand wall of the Osireion in Abydos.^[1] Later it appears in the tomb of Ramesses IV in the Valley of the Kings. This appearance was already recorded by the founding father of Egyptology Jean François Champollion in his letters from Egypt.

^ ^a ^b Hornung (1999) p.83
^ "The Book of Caverns". www.touregypt.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^ Werning (2011), vol. I, ch. V, with English summary on p. 262.

[hornung83-1] Hornung (1999) p.83

[ellison1-2] "The Book of Caverns". www.touregypt.net (in Russian). Retrieved 2018-03-17.

[3] Werning (2011), vol. I, ch. V, with English summary on p. 262.

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