Accuse Quote by Miriam Lichtheim
““Awake in peace, you of back-turned face, in peace, You who looks backward, in peace, Sky's ferryman, in peace, Nut's ferryman, in peace, Ferryman of gods, in peacel! Unas has come to you That you may ferry him in this boat in which you ferry the gods. Unas has come to his side as a god comes to his side, Unas has come to his shore as a god comes to his shore. No one alive accuses Unas, No dead accuses Unas; No goose accuses Unas, No ox accuses Unas If you fail to ferry Unas, He will leap and sit on the wing of Thoth.s Then he will ferry Unas to that side Utterance 270 Antechamber, South Wall The king summons the ferryman””
About This Quote
Source Ancient Egyptian Text: The Book of the Dead, Papyrus Westcar, 13th dynasty
The passage depicts a ritual ferrying of the dead deity Unas by a divine ferryman, emphasizing the sacred duty to guide souls across the afterlife.
In simple terms: A divine ferryman guides the dead god Unas across the afterlife.
Key Takeaway
Honor the ritual duty of guiding souls.
Themes
afterlife
ritual
divine duty
transition
Mood
solemn
reverent
mysterious
Type
mythological
ritualistic
poetic
When to use this quote
- Funeral rites
- temple ceremonies
- personal meditation on death
- artistic representation of myth
Key Concepts
Egyptian mythology
afterlife journey
sacred service
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities do we have toward guiding others in transition?
- How does ritual shape our perception of death?
A Different Perspective
The text assumes cooperation of the ferryman, which may not reflect individual agency in mythic narratives.
