Wall scene from the burial chamber of pharaoh Ramesses VI
For the Ancient Egyptians, mortal death was not an end; it was merely the beginning of the next phase in a person’s eternal journey, and much time on Earth was spent preparing body and soul for the next life. In this month’s cover feature, Egyptologist Joann Fletcher explores the mysteries of the Egyptian Underworld – from the Book of the Dead, an essential text designed to guide the deceased through death and on to the Afterlife, to the complexities of mummification. Turn to page 28 to find out more.