【抖森读诗】2. Book of The Dead narrated by Tom Hiddleston for the British Museum

Book of The Dead (narrated by Tom Hiddleston for the British Museum) To the ancient Egyptions death marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another. After death all ancitent Egyptions belived that they must leaved behind the green fertile farmlands of Egypt and the waters of the river Nile to travel to the afterlife. They hoped that the afterlife would be a perfect place resemble the beautiful landscape of the Egypt they have left behind. It was called the field of Reeds. But to reach the afterlife they have to make a dangerours and frightening journey. Their spirit had to cross the netherworld which was the land of dead ruled by the god of Osiris. 對古埃及人而言，死亡代表了一個旅程的結束及另一個旅程的開始。古埃及人相信，在他們死後，他們必須離開肥沃的農地以及尼羅河的水，起程前往另一個世界。他們覺得另一個世界是個有著全埃及最美麗景色的地方。它被稱做蘆葦之地。但到另一個世界前，他們必須穿越危險和恐懼。靈魂必須穿過由歐西里斯神所統治的死亡之地。 Hail to you Osiris: Turn your face to the west.That you may illumine the two lands with fine gold. Those who were asleep stand up to look at you;... for to you belong eternity and everlasting. 『向歐西里斯致上敬意：請向西邊看過去吧!那使您用純金照亮兩片土地。那些逝者敬仰的看著您，因為您屬於永恆與不朽。』 The ancient Egyptions belived that it was very important to prepare for this journey. How would they ward off hostile spirits and poisonous snakes. How they avoid burning fire and scalding water. And why did the monstrous devourer always look so hungry. 古埃及人相信，這趟旅程的準備是非常重要的。他們必須知道怎麼防止惡靈及毒蛇的接近，怎麼避開燃燒的烈火及滾燙的熱水，以及為什麼貪婪的野獸一直那麼饑餓。 When wealthy ancient Egyptions died, their bodies were mummified. The mummy was placed in the tomb with speical objects to protect it and to help the dead face perils of the netherworld. 當有錢的古埃及人去世時，他們的身體會被製成木乃伊。木乃伊會被放在墓室裡，用特別的物品去保護它，以及幫助死者面對來自冥府的危險。 One of the objects was roll of magic spells and pictures, this is now known as the Book of the Dead. The mummy stayed in the tomb but its ba spirit in the shape of bird could fly away form the tomb to explore the netherworld and try to find a way through. In order to do this, the spirit of the dead person would have to pass through gates guarden by the gods and avoid being caught in their nets. They have to battle with snakes and crocodiles and protect themselves against the bloody-thristy monsters. The dead person used magic and spells from the book of the dead to help them overcome these obstacles. 其中一個物品便是寫滿了魔法咒語及圖片的卷軸，也就是我們所知道的死者之書。 死者的肉體(木乃伊)會停留在墓室裡，但他們的靈魂，拔，會化做鳥的樣子，會飛出墓外前往冥府，並試著找出穿過冥府的方法。為了穿過冥府，死者的靈魂會先通過有神守護著的冥府大門，而且必須避免被他們的網抓住。靈魂必須與蛇和鱷魚戰鬥，保護他們自己不受嗜血怪獸的傷害。死者會用死者之書的魔法和咒語幫助他們克服這些障礙。 O you with the spine would work your mouth against this magic of mine. No crocodile which lives by magic shall take it away. 『歐!你的脊椎或許會協助你的嘴對抗我的魔法，但沒有靠魔法活著的鱷魚能對抗它。』 At the end of each day, the ba spirit returned to the mummy in the tomb. The final and the most important stage in the journey of the dead was the trial in the hall of judgement. The dead person's heart was weighted against the feather of truth. If their heart proved too heavy it would be condemned and eaten by the monstrous Devourer. If their heart balanced on the scales, the dead person will be allowed to enter and remain forever in a perfect world. Travelling accross the skis with the sun god Ra or tending their crops in a perfect landscape that resembled the fertile green banks of that beloved river Nile. 當每天的結束之時，拔會回到木乃伊上。在死亡旅程中最後也是最重要的階段，是通過地獄審判的試煉。死者的心臟會被拿來與正義的羽毛(放在天枰上)相比重。如果心臟比羽毛重， 那死者就會被判罪，心臟馬上被怪獸吃掉。如果天枰是平衡的，那麼死者就能獲得進入並永遠留在完美世界的許可。在那個世界，他們可以徜徉在太陽神"拉"所統治的天空，或是在他 們所愛的肥沃尼羅河畔種植作物。 Are you prepare to make the same journey? Can you discover how to use the spells of the Book of the Dead to help you on your way. It's time now to go to the exhibition and meet the god Osiris and the monstrous Devourer. 你準備好做同樣的旅程了嗎？你能發現怎麼用死者之書的咒語幫助你通過難關嗎？現在你可以往前參觀展覽，會一會歐西里斯神及貪婪的野獸。