Coffin of Gua twelfth dynasty from Deir el BershaThe Book of Two Ways, a novel by Jodi Picoult, is the story of Dawn McDowell, a doctoral candidate for a degree in Egyptology. In short - if you were at a fork in the road and you could see how each path would twist turn and end, which would you take In August, almost every aspect of my life has challenged my heart with two paths, but I can only see the one I choose and it is freeing and terrifying all at the same because I am the only one who can. Jodi Picoult has just written a new book called The Book of Two Ways.

At that time, there had been no other attempt to map the netherworld, and none of the later netherworld books come close to the detailed depiction of the afterlife. To date, only one example of the composition has been discovered outside Bersha, in the tomb of Khesu the Elder at Kom el-Hisn (Western Delta). Phineas Nigellus Black was cut from the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.From the 1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light comes a riveting novel about the choices that alter the course of.The texts of the Book of Two Ways may have originated elsewhere (there is a notable lack of reference to Thoth, the patron god of the area, in most of the spells) but the graphical element is unique to the area and was only used for a few generations. Two-way mirrors may be considered a subtype of enchanted mirrors. These are explained in Part 2.

The longer version shows some signs of having derived from Hermopolis, in part because it does have frequent references to Thoth. Type C, the shorter version, was thought by Lesko to be the older form (but some have questioned this attribution). Type A and B represent the longer version of the text and they differ from each other only in certain textual elements. The Book of Two Ways is a road map.Lesko divided the Book of Two Ways into types A, B and C.

They must name the ferry-man and various elements of the boat. The deceased is described as вЂњthe magicianвЂќ and вЂњone beloved of my father, whom my father greatly lovesвЂќ. The deceased calls for the Great Bark of Re вЂњ0 Mahaf, awaken Aken for me, as you are endowed with life.

Geb is your protector, down on your face! Do not frustrate his actions.Both versions then depict two pathways, an upper pathway in blue (possibly a water course), and a lower darker pathway. It is I who repels her (?) and give her to the earth-gods who are in the lake. 0 you of fire, beware of me, for I am the knife which pierces the middle of his head. Spell 1141 is particularly evocativeвЂ¦I am the torch and the flame, I am the spear which is in the hand which is stabbed at those who are below.

Possibly the worst is вЂњHe who is driven off with two faces in dungвЂќ!In some versions multiple paths are drawn, in others just the two paths winding across the landscape. вЂњthe sad voiced oneвЂќ, вЂњhe whose face is coveredвЂќ, and вЂњdog faceвЂќ) or a bit grumpy (вЂњscowlerвЂќ, вЂњhe whose face is hotвЂќ), but others are clearly considered frightening (вЂњhe whose face is dreadfulвЂќ, вЂњmonsterвЂќ, вЂњshe of the knifeвЂќ, вЂњHippopotamus face, bellowing of powerвЂќ). Some guardians sound relatively approachable (e.g. The deceased travels down the waterway or darkened path, meeting guardians and watchers who will prevent the unworthy from passing.

They are observed by the watchers, but thankfully can call on Thoth for protection. Now the deceased must enter the dark and foreboding Rostau (CT1070 вЂ“ 10 вЂ“ 1185).The deceased moves through a wide hall, divided into three sections by flaming walls. However, they are not home and free yet. Finally, they reach the other side, and are granted fine clothing and emblems of authority to show that they have successfully navigated the pathways (CT10). On the way, there is a brief respite when the deceased stops at the Field of Offerings where they prepare a meal (or harvest) for Osiris (CT 1159-1162, and CT 1046-1049).

They are high on the flint walls which are in Rostau, which is on both water and on land.Rostau is filled with inimical god and demons, some with the heads of scarabs, others holding serpents or lizards. It is those who know them who will find their paths. Spell 1072 describes the sceneвЂ¦The paths here are in confusion, every one of them is opposed to its fellow. Now they must find a way through a confusing maze of winding blue pathways, representing rivers or pathways though the sky.

They travel the paths of Thoth (CT1093) and meet him in the mansion of Re (CT1094) before meeting Ra in his sacred bark (CT1096-1098). At this point, the short version ends, but the longer version has more in store for the deceased.The deceased begs an audience with Thoth (CT 10). Eventually they reach safety, and eternal life, in the presence of Osiris. He who drives off Set when he is angryвЂќ (1076).

At the end of this journey they meet Osiris who offers them the Eye of Horus. My personal favourite is the keeper of the third gate of the first section who is described as вЂњHe who eats the droppings of his hinder partsвЂќ, but there is also the charming вЂњHe who lives on MaggotsвЂќ (the middle gate of the second section). The deceased justifies their actions in life and denies any wrongdoing before being accepted onto the bark of Ra (CT 1099).Now the deceased must navigate through two regions separated by a wall of darkness: the first with four gates, the second with three, each with their own guardians (CT 1100 вЂ“ 1110).

Faulkner, R.O (1978) The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts Vols 1, 2 and 3 It has come happily to an end. There will never be a flame against him forever. Spell 1130 confirms the happy endingвЂ¦.As for anyone who knows this spell, he will be like Ra in the east of the sky, like Osiris within the Netherworld, and he will go down to the circle of fire.

Robinson, Peter (2003) вЂњAs for them who know them, they shall find their paths: Speculations on Ritual Landscapes in the Book of Two WaysвЂќ in OвЂ™Connor, D.

The Book Of Two Ways