The Book of the Dead in Tombs

A significant decline in the use of 'Book of the Dead' (BD) spells on tomb walls occurred during the Third Intermediate Period, marking a shift from widespread Ramesside-era practices to minimal usage. However, a notable revival emerged in Late Period Thebes, particularly in the Assasif necropolis, where high officials' tombs displayed long sequences of BD spells closely mirroring the canonical Saite recension. This resurgence reflects broader trends of archaism during the Twenty-fifth to Twenty-sixth Dynasties. While BD spell usage persisted sporadically through Ptolemaic and Roman periods in regions like Atfih, Siwa, and Dakhleh, its prevalence remained limited.

Einaudi, S. (2023). The Book of the Dead in Tombs. The Oxford Handbook of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, 231–244. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190210007.013.15