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How was the Book of the Dead used in ancient Egyptian burial rituals?

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ancient Egyptian religion Isis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 bce; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.

In ancient Egyptian burial rituals, the Book of the Dead was a collection of spells and magic formulas placed in tombs. These texts were believed to protect and aid the deceased in the afterlife, guiding them through the perilous journey and the judgment presided over by Osiris.12

The purpose of mortuary preparations, including the use of these texts, was to ensure a safe passage to the next world. The spells within the Book of the Dead helped the deceased navigate obstacles, respond to dangers, and magically overcome the challenges of the underworld, particularly the judgment of their deeds against maat (truth and cosmic order). Scribes would copy these texts onto papyrus, often with illustrations, and sell them for burial use, ensuring the deceased had the necessary magical and moral power for their eternal journey.321