Here's what you need to know:
* It's not one book: "Book of the Dead" is a general term for a collection of funerary texts written on papyrus scrolls in ancient Egypt. These texts vary in content and length, and each scroll was unique to the individual for whom it was made.
* Purpose: These texts were meant to guide the deceased through the afterlife, providing spells, prayers, and instructions for navigating the underworld and reaching the afterlife.
* Not a literal book: They were not bound into books in the modern sense, but were written on long scrolls.
* Different versions: The "Book of the Dead" is not a single, standardized text, but rather a collection of texts that evolved over time. Some spells are common to many scrolls, while others are unique.
* The name: The term "Book of the Dead" was coined in the 19th century by European scholars. The ancient Egyptians referred to these texts by various names, such as "Book of Coming Forth by Day" or "The Book of Breathing."
So, while there isn't a single "Book of the Dead" in the literal sense, the term refers to a fascinating collection of ancient Egyptian texts that offer a window into their beliefs about the afterlife.