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by Ancient Egyptian (Unknown), -1250
The Papyrus of Ani is the finest surviving copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, an illustrated guide to the afterlife created around 1250 BCE. Unrolled, the scroll stretches 78 feet (24 meters), making it one of the longest papyri ever discovered. The scribe Ani was a royal treasurer who commissioned this elaborate version to ensure his safe passage through the underworld's many trials.
The papyrus contains nearly 200 spells with vivid illustrations showing Ani facing the gods, his heart being weighed against the feather of truth, and his ultimate acceptance into paradise. The famous "Weighing of the Heart" scene shows Anubis operating the scales while Thoth records the verdict. If the heart balanced with truth, the deceased lived forever; if not, the monster Ammit devoured them.
The British Museum acquired the papyrus in 1888 and displays it in sections to protect the fragile pigments.

Ancient Egyptian (Unknown), 401
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Ancient Egyptian (Unknown), -1070
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Ancient Egyptian (Unknown), -196
British Library, London, London
Raphael, 1510
British Library, London, London

Ancient Egyptian (Unknown), -1250
British Library, London, London

Ancient Aztec (Unknown), 1480
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Luxury wall art with the same mood and energy. Gallery-quality canvas, no museum crowds.
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