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The ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books are among the most extensive religious texts from pharaonic civilization and present humanity's oldest surviving attempts to provide a scientific map of the unseen realms beyond the visible cosmos. First attested during the middle of the second millennium BCE, the Netherworld Books decorate the walls of the New Kingdom royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The importance of these texts lies in their philosophical and theological speculations about the inner workings of the cosmos, particularly the events of the solar journey through the twelve hours of the night. These important texts describe one of the central mysteries of Egyptian religious belief, the union of the solar god Re with the underworldly god Osiris, and provide information on aspects of Egyptian theology and cosmography more thoroughly than what is presented in the more widely read Book of the Dead.

Religious literature, Egyptian --- Egyptian religious literature --- Egyptian literature --- Book of that which is in the nether world --- Egypt --- Égypte --- Ägypten --- Egitto --- Egipet --- Egiptos --- Miṣr --- Southern Region (United Arab Republic) --- Egyptian Region (United Arab Republic) --- Iqlīm al-Janūbī (United Arab Republic) --- Egyptian Territory (United Arab Republic) --- Egipat --- Arab Republic of Egypt --- A.R.E. --- ARE (Arab Republic of Egypt) --- Jumhūrīyat Miṣr al-ʻArabīyah --- Mitsrayim --- Egipt --- Ijiptʻŭ --- Misri --- Ancient Egypt --- Gouvernement royal égyptien --- جمهورية مصر العربية --- مِصر‎ --- مَصر‎ --- Maṣr --- Khēmi --- エジプト --- Ejiputo --- Egypti --- Egypten --- מצרים --- United Arab Republic --- Religion --- Future life. --- Religion. --- Religious literature, Egyptian. --- Egypt. --- History