Litany of Re

Litany of Re is an ancient Egyptian funerary text from the New Kingdom, written in Egyptian and classified as sebayt. It was meant to be placed inside a tomb and used as a point of reference for the dead, but it was reserved mainly for pharaohs or especially favored members of the nobility. The text is made up of two parts: the first addresses the sun god Re in many different forms, while the second contains prayers in which the king is identified with parts of nature and with deities, especially the sun god.

This is a good fit for readers interested in ancient Egypt, religious texts, and the way royal power was tied to divine language. It is not a narrative book, so the interest comes from its ritual function, its imagery, and the glimpse it gives into New Kingdom belief and language. What stands out is the repeated invocation of the sun god and the strong link it builds between the king and Re. If you are drawn to Egyptian funerary writing and texts that combine prayer, kingship, and the afterlife, this is a natural place to start.