Book of the Dead for Herytubekhet, length 198 cm, height 23.5 cm. Daughter of Isetemkhebit D (Royal Cache) and granddaughter of HPA Menkherrere A
Panorama: VB 2021

Papyri

Here you will find an overview of Egyptian papyri kept in museum collections. These writings, mostly more than 3,000 years old, are among the most unique archaeological finds known. Most of them date back to the Third Intermediate Period (TIP)

A number of black and white images of the papyri can be found in specialized publications. Often fragments or sometimes entire that may or may not be unfolded. The papyri can therefore only be viewed in color in the museum and often the conditions are such that a study of the details is not possible. Many hang over 2.5 meters high

Panorama view

It is now for the first time that complete papyri are shown on-line and in such a way (scrollable panoramaview) that they can be freely used for research and study

Quality remarks

Because photographing the papyri without tripods and elevators is extremely difficult due to the lighting, the reflection of the glass, and the often impossible positions under which they are presented, it is difficult to image them 100% accurately
Sometimes the compilation of the many images (taken by hand and often at different angles with different lenses) causes small distortions in the presentation, especially when it comes to deviations in vertical and horizontal lines. The text is generally displayed faithfully

How to use

You can move the panorama with the mouse or with the control buttons at the bottom left of the window, and you can copy the (moving) image by right-clicking on it and choosing Save.

Best to be viewed on a desktop or laptop

Relevant publications

Studies on the illustrated Theban Funerary Papyri of the 11th and 10th Centuries B.C. by Prof. Andrzej Niwinski, 1989
– another amazing work from this author. In my overview I have taken the liberty of showing the notes from his publication to quickly get a complete overview of the papyri that can be attributed to a shabti

Contribution à l’étude de l’Amdouat: Les variantes tardives du Livre de l’Amdouat dans les papyrus du Musée du Caire by Sadek, Abdel-Aziz Fahmy 1985
– extensive reference publication of the Amdouat papyri in Cairo

Mythological papyri, by Alexandre Piankoff and Natacha Rambova, 1957
– this well written publication includes the complete photographic recording important mythological papyri (many from Bab el Gasus), and miscellaneous cosmological texts and symbolical representations. The series includes, where possible, the full translation of texts

Prof. Dr. Siegfried Schott (1897-1971) photo archive
Ancient Egyptian Monuments and Antiquities in Photographs of the Early 20th Century

Papyri Cache I – Royal Cache DB320 / TT320

pAy-nDm I BD – Pinedjem I – Cairo 111
pAy-nDm II BA – Pinedjem II – Cairo 114
pAy-nDm II BD – Pinedjem II – BM EA10793, London 63, fragment (1 sheet)
mAat-kA-ra BD – Maatkara – Cairo 43
ns-tA-nbt-iSrw BD – Nestanebetisheru – British Museum EA10554
nsy-xnsw BD – Nesykhonsu – Cairo 109
nDm BA – Queen Nodjmet – British Museum EA10490
nDmt BD – Queen Nodjmet – British Museum EA10541
nDmt BD – Queen Nodjmet – Louvre Museum E.6258
Hnwt-tAwy BD – Queen Henuttawy – Cairo 36
Hnwt-tAwy BD – Queen Henuttawy – Cairo 47
Dd-ptaH-iwf-anx BA – Djedptahiufankh – Cairo 83

Papyri Cache II – Bab El-Gasus

Ast BA – Iset (Isis) – A.127 – Cairo 15
Ast BD – Iset (Isis) – A.127 – Cairo 14
Ast-m-Ax-bit BA – Isetemkhebit – A.58 – Cairo 112
Ast-m-Ax-bit BA – Isetemkhebit – A.126- Cairo 18
Asty BA – Isety – A.66 – Cairo 76
imn-niwt-nxt BD – Amenniutnakht – A.81 – Cairo 61
imn-hAt-pA-mSa BD – Amenhatpamecha – A.124 – Cairo 67
imn-hAt-pA-mSa BA – Amenhatpamecha – A.124 – Cairo 117
imn-Htp BD – Amenhotep – A.39 – Cairo 9
imn-Htp BA – Amenhotep – A.39 – Cairo 12
anxf-n-xnsw BD – perhaps Ankhenefkhonsu – A.108 – Cairo 17
anxf-n-xnsw BD – Ankhenefkhonsu – A.108 – Cairo 19
anxf-n-mwt BD – Ankhenefmut C – A.140 – Cairo 105
anxs-n-mwt  . .  – Ankhesenmut – maybe A.38
wsr-HAt-ms BD – Userhatmes – A.105 – Cairo 86
wsr-HAt-ms BA – Userhatmes – A.105 – Cairo 62
bAk-n-mwt BD – Bakenmut (I) – A.94 – Cairo 45
pA-nb-n-kmt-nxt BA – Panebenkemetnakht – A.61 – Cairo 128
pA-sbA-xa-niwt BA- Pasebakhaenniut – A.85 – Cairo 102
pA-sbA-xa-niwt BA – Pasebakhaenniut (II) – probably BeG – Cairo 78
pA-di-imn BD – Padiamon II – A.24 – Cairo 69
pA-di-imn BD – Padiamon – A.87 – Cairo 106
pA-di-imn BA – Padiamon – A.114 – Cairo 107
m-kAk-ra BA – Makaekra – A.132 – Cairo 13
mn-xpr-ra BA – Menkheperra B – A.147 – Cairo 5
mrt-imn BA – Meretamen / Amenmeret – probably BeG – Cairo 64
ns-pA-nfr-Hr BA – Nespaneferher – A.98 – Cairo 66
ns-pA-qA-Swty BA – Nespakashuty – A.43 – Cairo 101
ns-tA-nbt-tAwy BD – Nestanebettawy – A.77- Cairo 126
ns-tA-nbt-tAwy BA – Nestanebettawy – A.9- Cairo 115
nsy-imn-ipt BA – perhaps Nesyimenipet – A.113 – probably BeG – Cairo 82
nsy-pAw-ty-tAwy BA – Nesypawtytawy – A.26 – Cairo 75
nsy-pr-nwb BA – Nesypernub – A.142 – Cairo 110
nsy-xnsw BA – Nesykhonsu – A.42 – Cairo 10
nsy-xnsw BA – Nesykhonsu – A.42 – Luxor 2
nsy-tA-wDAt-Axt BA – Nesytaudjatakhet – A.96 – Cairo 21
nsy-tA-wDAt-Axt BA – Nesytaudjatakhet – A.96 – Cairo 119
Hryt-wbxt BA – Herytubekhet – A.133 – Cairo 17
Hryt-wbxt BA – Herytubekhet – A.133 – Cairo 89
Hryt-wbxt BD – Herytubekhet – A.133 – Cairo 91
xnsw-m-Hb BA – Khonsuemheb – A.106 – Cairo 7
xnsw-m-Hb BD – Khonsuemheb – A.106 – Cairo 65
xnsw-n-rnp BA – Khonsuenrenep – A.120 – Cairo 123
xnsw-n-rnp BD – Khonsuenrenep – A.120 – Chicago 31759
sd-sw-Hr BD – Sjedsuhor – A.134 – Cairo 116
sd-sw-Hr BA – Sjedsuhor – A.134 – Cairo 121
gAwt-sSnw BA – Gautseshenu B – A.139 – Cairo 58
tA-aAt-(m-pr-)-imn BD – see Iset – A.127 – Cairo 14
tA-wsrt-m-pr-nsw BD – Tauseretenpernesu aka Tentuseretenpernesu – A.2 – Luxor 1
tA-wDAt-ra BD – Taudjatra – A.144 – Cairo 118
tA-wDAt-ra BA – Taudjatra – A.144 – Cairo 122
tA-Sd-xnsw BD – Tashedkhonsu – A.137 – Cairo 77
tA-di-mwt BA – Tadimut – A.91 – Cairo 71
tA-di-mwt BA – Tadimut – A.91 – Cairo 88
TA-nfr BD – Tjanefer – A.151 – Cairo 81
tAw-Hnwt BA – Tauhenut – A.20 – Cairo 80
Tnt-wsrt-n-pr-nsw BD – Tentuseretenpernesu aka Tauseretenpernesu – A.2 – Luxor 1
Tnt-sArknA BA – Tentosorkon – A.unknown – Cairo 25
Di-xnsw-iry BA – Dikhonsuiry – A.49 – Cairo 73
Dy-rpw BA – Dyrepu – A.123 – Cairo 92
Dd-imn-iwf-anx BA – Djedameniufankh – probably BeG – Cairo 6
Dd-mAat-iws-anx BA – Djedmaatiusankh – A.109 – Cairo 16
Dd-mAat-iws-anx BA – Djedmaatiusankh – A.109 – Cairo 8
Dd-mwt-iws-anx BA – Djedmutiusankh – A.150 – Cairo 57
Dd-mwt-iws-anx BD – Djedmutiusankh – A.150? – Cairo 60
Dd-xnsw-iwf-anx BD – Djedkhonsuiufankh – A.unknown – Cairo 20
Dd-xnsw-iws-anx BA – Djedkhonsuiusankh – A.83 – Cairo 84
Dd-xnsw-iwf-anx BD – Djedkhonsuiufankh – A.unknown – Cairo 96
Dd-xnsw-iwf-anx BA – Djedkhonsuiufankh – A.141 – Cairo 120 
Anonymous BA – probably BeG – Cairo 72
Anonymous BA – coffin Pinedjem – A.55 – Cairo 74
Anonymous  BA – perhaps Nesyimenipet – A.113 – Cairo 82
Anonymous  BA – A. unknown – Cairo 85
Anonymous  BA – A. unknown – Cairo 93
Anonymous BA – probably BeG – Cairo 113

Other provenance

imn-ms BA – Amenmes – Assassif – Cairo 87
nAwny BD – Nauny – MMA 65 – MET 30.3.31 – New York 13
nAwny BA – Nauny – MMA 65 – MET 30.3.32 – New York 14
ns-imn BD – Nesamen – MET 26.2.51 – New York 11
nst-Ast BD – Nesetaset – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.30 – New York 7
Hnwt-tAwy BA – Henuttawy B – MMA 60 – Cairo 2
Hnwt-tAwy BA – Henuttawy B – MMA 60 – Cairo 3
Hnwt-tAwy BA – Henuttawy C – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.28 – New York 5
Hnwt-tAwy BD – Henuttawy C – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.29 – New York 6
Hr-m-Ax-bit BA- Horemakhbit – Thebes region – Berlin 1
gAwt-sSnw BA – Gautseshenu – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.31 – New York 8
gAwt-sSnw BD – Gautseshenu – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.32 – New York 9
ty BA – Ty – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.33 – New York 10
ty BD – Ty – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.34 – New York
Dd-mwt-iws-anx BA – Djedmutiusankh – MMA 60 – MET 25.3.27 – New York 4

Provenance unknown

imn-m-wiA BA – Amenemwia – P.3127 – Berlin 18
nsy-imn-nst-tAwy BA – Nesyamennesettawy – P.3153 – Berlin 26
Hri BD – Hori – MoA 21.1032 – Cleveland 2
ssx BA – Sesech – P.3147 – Berlin 23
kry-naxt.s-n-xnsw BD – Kerynakhtesenkhonsu – Cairo 11
tAyw-Hnt-mwt BD – Tayuhenutmut – OI 18039 – Chigaco 3

Other periods than the TIP

18th Dynasty – Papyrus Amenhotep II period – Cairo – CG 40004 – JE 95652
18th Dynasty – Papyrus Maiherperi, Cairo – KV36
18th Dynasty – Papyrus Yuya (20 metres), Cairo – KV46
19th Dynasty – Papyrus Ani (23.5 metres), British Museum – EA 10470
19th Dynasty – Papyrus Hunefer (5.5 metres), British Museum – EA 9901
19th Dynasty – Papyrus Sethnakht, Metropolitan – 35.919a-e
26th Dynasty – Papyrus Nespasfy – Cairo – S.R.IV.547 – JE 95649 (a+b)
Ptolemaic Period – Papyrus Djoser – Cairo – S.R.IV.551 – JE 95653

 

Various

Boulaq Papyrus no. 7 Cairo Museum, first floor, room 51, C, sep 2021

 

Unidentified

unknown 24-A Cairo Museum, first floor, room 24, A, sep 2021
unknown 24-B Cairo Museum, first floor, room 24, B, sep 2021
unknown 29 – JE 95641 Cairo Museum, first floor, room 29, sep 2021
unknown 29 – various Cairo Museum, first floor, room 29, sep 2021
unknown 51-A Cairo Museum, first floor, room 51, A, sep 2021
unknown 51-B Cairo Museum, first floor, room 51, B, sep 2021
unknown 51-D Cairo Museum, first floor, room 51, D, sep 2021
unknown 51-E Cairo Museum, first floor, room 51, E, sep 2021

 

Papyri in the Cairo Museum
Photo: VB 2021