
Contents
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Daring Imperfection: Translation in Egyptology Daring Imperfection: Translation in Egyptology
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Translating Ancient Egyptian Religious Texts Translating Ancient Egyptian Religious Texts
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Terms denoting complex concepts Terms denoting complex concepts
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Middle Egyptian texts composed or transmitted after the Middle Kingdom Middle Egyptian texts composed or transmitted after the Middle Kingdom
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Complex transmission of texts: dealing with copies, variants, and archetypes Complex transmission of texts: dealing with copies, variants, and archetypes
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Choice and order of spells—more than a practical question Choice and order of spells—more than a practical question
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Prospects: Can There Be a Translation of the Book of the Dead? Prospects: Can There Be a Translation of the Book of the Dead?
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Suggested Reading Suggested Reading
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Bibliography Bibliography
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26 Translating the Book of the Dead
Get accessBurkhard Backes, Adjunct Professor of Egyptology and Research Associate, Eberhard Karl University Tübingen
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Published:20 June 2023
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Abstract
When translating texts from the Book of the Dead, one is confronted with multiple challenges, most of which are common to the greater part of, if not all ancient Egyptian texts. The article therefore starts with an overview of the main issues to be considered when rendering texts, especially religious texts, from ancient Egyptian into a modern language. In addition to this, some aspects are of special relevance when dealing with the Book of the Dead. Among these is the problem of variation (e.g., synchronic vs. diachronic, mistakes vs. “true” variants): To what extent should alternative readings be indicated? Can there be a translation of “the” Book of the Dead at all? Different approaches with their respective advantages and weak points are explored, resulting in some programmatic suggestions.
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