The Book of the Dead as a Temple Text and the Implications for the Book of Abraham

The Egyptian Book of the Dead, often simply classified as a “funerary text,” had at least one actual Sitz im Leben: the temple. This is supported by archaeological data in the form of surviving inscriptions on temple architecture that complement the explicit ritual instructions contained in the Book of the Dead itself. In addition to the Book of the Dead as a temple text being interesting in its own right, this evidence also potentially carries significant implications for the Book of Abraham.