The Book of Caverns

The Book of Caverns is an Ancient Egyptian afterlife text of the New Kingdom. Like all other afterlife texts, it is also attested on the inside of kings' tombs for the benefit of the deceased. Inscribed on the walls of the tomb of of Ramesses IV appears a version of this text that mentions nine Jackal-Headed Cave Dwellers, demons that resembled the god Anubis. This is the Egyptian version of Hell.

The Book of Caverns has no ancient title. It is not divided into hours of the night as other netherworld books are. Instead, the book contains approximately 80 different scenes. The Book of Caverns is much more literary that other funerary books from the New Kingdom, such as the Amduat or the Book of Gates. It does not have as many pictures as the other books, but it contains much more text.

The first known almost complete version of The Book of Caverns that only has its upper register damaged was located in the Osireion (An Osiris Temple). It was discovered by archaeologists Flinders Petrie and Margaret Murray who were excavating the site in 1902 through 1903.

Deities and Demons

 * Jackal-Headed Cave Dwellers - Cave 1
 * Snake Deities - Cave 1
 * Primeval catfish-headed gods called Nariu - Cave 2
 * Nehebkau - Cave 3
 * "Great One Who Is On His Belly" - Cave 4
 * Nut - Cave 5
 * Osiris - Cave 5
 * Tatenen - Cave 6
 * Gods of the Primeval Abyss - Cave 9
 * Groaning goddesses with blood-dripping axes - Cave 10
 * Ammit - Cave 11