To the ancient Egyptians death marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another.
在古埃及人的眼里,死亡標志著一段旅程的結(jié)束,另一段旅程的開始。
After death all ancient Egyptians believed that they must leave behind the green fertile farmlands of Egypt and the waters of the river Nile to travel to the afterlife.
死后,古埃及人認為自己應(yīng)該葬在有著肥沃的土地,有尼羅河水的地方。只有這樣,自己的亡靈才得以轉(zhuǎn)世永生。
They hoped that afterlife would be a perfect place that resemble the beautiful landscape of Egypt they have left behind.
他們希望轉(zhuǎn)世后的地方像自己的埋葬之地那樣,有著埃及的美景。
It was called "the Field of Reeds."
這樣的地方就叫做“蘆葦之地”。
But to reach the afterlife they had to make a dangerous and frightening journey.
但是想要轉(zhuǎn)世,他們必須經(jīng)歷一段危險可怕的旅程。
Their spirit had to cross the netherworld, which was the land of dead, ruled by the god of Osiris.
他們的亡靈必須要去冥國走一趟。冥國是一個只有死亡的國度,由歐西里斯王掌管著。
Hail to you Osiris: Turn your face to the west. That you may illumine the two lands with fine gold.
向歐西里斯王致敬:把你的臉轉(zhuǎn)向西邊,去點亮兩片純金之田。
Those who were asleep stand up to look at you. For to you belong eternity and everlasting.
那些沉睡的人們啊,快站起來看看他……看看這個永生之人。
The ancient Egyptians believed that it was very important to prepare for this journey.
古埃及人認為旅程的前期準備很重要。
How would they ward off hostile spirits and poisonous snakes?
他們該如何避開那些不懷好意的靈魂和毒蛇呢?
How would they avoid burning fire and scalding water?
他們該如何躲開熊熊烈火和滾滾熱水呢?
And why did the monstrous devourer always look so hungry?
為什么吞噬巨怪看起來總是如此地饑餓?
When wealthy ancient Egyptians died, their bodies were mummified.
當古埃及的富人們死去后,他們的遺體會做成木乃伊。
The mummy was placed in a tomb with special objects to protect it and to help the dead face the parrels of the netherworld.
放置木乃伊的墳?zāi)怪杏泻芏嗌衿娴臇|西。它們是用來保護木乃伊的,幫助亡靈渡過冥國中的種種磨難。
One of the objects was a roll of magic spells and pictures. This is now known as the Book of the Dead.
其中一樣?xùn)|西是一幅寫滿咒語布滿圖畫的書卷。這就是傳說中的《亡靈書》。
The mummy stayed in the tomb, but its ba spirit in the shape of a bird could fly away form the tomb to explore the netherworld and try to find a way through.
盡管木乃伊是躺在墳?zāi)估?,但是他的靈魂會變成一只鳥兒,飛出墳?zāi)?,飛向冥國,尋找通過冥國的路。
In order to do this, the spirit of the dead person would have to pass through gates that were guarded by the gods and avoid being caught in their nets.
在飛去冥國之前,亡靈需要通過由上帝看管的大門,要小心翼翼避免被上帝之網(wǎng)逮著。
They would have to battle with snakes and crocodiles and protect themselves against bloody-thirsty monsters.
亡靈還要和毒蛇、鱷魚交戰(zhàn),保護自己免遭到嗜血怪獸的襲擊。
The dead person used magic and spells from the book of the Dead to help them overcome these obstacles.
在《亡靈書》中的魔法和咒語的幫助下,亡靈們戰(zhàn)勝了這些困難。
Oh, you with the spine would work your mouth against this magic of mine.
噢,有了《亡靈書》,念念咒語就可以打敗我的魔法。
No crocodile which lives by magic shall take it away.
魔法創(chuàng)造的鱷魚也無法戰(zhàn)勝你。
At the end of each day, the ba spirit returned to the mummy in the tomb.
每天傍晚十分,巴靈魂會回到墳?zāi)估锏哪灸艘林小?/p>
The final and the most important stage in the journey of the dead was the trial in the hall of judgement.
亡靈的最后一段也是最重要的一段旅程是諸神的審判。
The dead person's heart was weighted against the feather of truth.
亡靈的良心將要和真實羽毛的重量進行對比。
If their heart proved too heavy, they would be condemned and eaten by the monstrous Devourer.
如果良心比羽毛重太多,亡靈將要受到譴責,被吞噬怪吃掉。
If their heart balanced on the scales, the dead person will be allowed to enter and to remain forever in a perfect world, travelling across the sky with the son god Ra or tending their crops in a perfect landscape that resembled the green fertile banks of that beloved river Nile.
如果良心和羽毛一樣重,亡靈就可以去到完美之境,并永遠待在那里。在那個完美之境中,和上帝之子太陽神一同飛過蒼窘。在如尼羅河河岸一般的蒼綠肥沃的土地上,照料莊稼。
Are you prepare to make the same journey?
你準備好同樣的旅程了嗎?
Can you discover how to use the spells of the Book of the Dead to help you on your way?
你知道如何運用《亡靈書》中的咒語去幫助旅途中的自己嗎?
It's time now to go to the exhibition and meet the god Osiris and the monstrous Devourer.
來來來,是時候去看看展覽,會會歐西里斯王和吞噬怪了。
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