Image code: 30905

Chapter 146 of the Book of the Dead: Nefertari before the portals

Chapter 146 of the Book of the Dead. Nefertari's passage through the portals of the realm of Osiris, each of which is guarded by a guardian. Each portal is represented as a simple door surmounted by a frieze of urei. Inside each portal is the guardian seated with his knees to his chest and a knife in his hand. Nefertari stands in front of the first portal. She is dressed in a long semi-transparent tunic, knotted in the middle by a ribbon. On her head is the Nekhbet headdress, exclusive to royal women and goddesses, consisting of the vulture Nekhbet clutching the shenu symbol of eternity, a golden crown for the great wives of the pharaohs and surmounted by two long golden feathers in the middle of which is a small solar disc. The first portal in front of Nefertari is guarded by a vulture-headed guardian. The second portal is guarded by a rat-headed guardian. The third portal is guarded by a crocodile-headed guardian. The fourth portal is guarded by a guardian in the form of a bull. The fifth portal is guarded by a naked child figure (possibly female) with a malformed head, who instead of one knife has two and clutches them to her chest.

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