2,000-year-old manuscript found wrapped around a mummy and the secrets inside are unbelievable |

When archaeologists unsealed a coffin in Egypt’s vast Saqqara necropolis, they expected the usual array of bones, wrappings and amulets. What they did not expect was a meticulously rolled, astonishingly well-preserved papyrus manuscript, more than 2,000 years old, tucked beside a mummy and still bearing the rich, looping cursive of ancient Egyptian scribes. Once carefully unrolled and restored, the scroll revealed something extraordinary: a personalised guide to the afterlife, packed with spells, rituals and sacred knowledge intended to carry one man safely into eternity. The discovery was formally announced in 2023 after months of restoration and analysis.

A preserved manuscript for over 2,000 years

The manuscript, now known as the Papyrus of Ahmose, was discovered inside a decorated coffin near the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Dating to around 300 BC, during the early Ptolemaic period, the papyrus survived in remarkable condition despite more than two millennia in the desert sands.Written in hieratic script, a flowing, simplified form of hieroglyphics, the scroll stretches an impressive length. Its completeness alone makes it one of the most significant papyri uncovered from Saqqara in nearly a century. Each column of text was meticulously crafted for its owner, an Egyptian man named Ahmose, whose name appears hundreds of times throughout the manuscript.This was no generic religious text; it was a commissioned spiritual passport.

A personalised Book of the Dead

The manuscript contains chapters from the Book of the Dead, the ancient Egyptian collection of spells and instructions meant to help the deceased navigate the treacherous path through the underworld. These spells offered protection from demons and obstacles, guidance through judgment and instructions for transforming into divine forms to survive the afterlife.Some of the spells included:

For ancient Egyptians, these were not mere stories; they were essential survival tools.

Who was Ahmose?

Beyond the meticulous scribal work, the papyrus offers a glimpse into its owner’s identity. Though little is known about Ahmose himself, the length and quality of his manuscript suggest he was a man of means. Only those with significant resources could afford such extensive funerary texts, customised with their name, prayers and favoured spells.The repetition of his name, an estimated 260 times throughout the scroll, indicates both devotion and personalisation. Each appearance served as a spiritual anchor, ensuring that the spells worked specifically for him.In death, Ahmose was meant to be remembered.For Egyptologists, the papyrus is a rare window into how funerary beliefs evolved at the dawn of the Ptolemaic era. By this period, Egyptian religious traditions were interacting with Greek influences, yet the Book of the Dead remained a cherished anchor of identity and faith.The scroll also helps researchers:

Each column contributes another thread to the tapestry of Egypt’s spiritual world.

From desert discovery to museum centrepiece

After its unveiling in 2023, the papyrus underwent careful restoration before being transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Conservators stabilised its fragile fibres, documented each line and translated the text into Arabic. Today, visitors can see the scroll displayed behind protective glass, its once-buried secrets now preserved for a new millennium.For those who stand before it, the experience is almost otherworldly. This was a manuscript designed to open the gates of the afterlife; now it opens a window into the minds of ancient Egyptians and the incredible lengths they went to secure eternal life.