Document A is meant to enable the deceased man to change into various different forms, most of which are associated with a particular deity. It is one of the earliest surviving funerary documents that is written in the demotic script; up to that time, most such documents had been written in hieratic (for instance, AET 9.12). It also contains several short passages that are written in cryptic symbols.
According to the information in the last column, Imuthes lived from 135/4 to 57/6 B.C. It has been suggested that he was the same man as 'Imuthes son of Panekhates' who is mentioned in several documents which were written when he was under 30 years old. One of these documents is translated below (B).
The translation of A is taken from M. Smith, "Traversing Eternity", pp.637-649 (Oxford, 2009). The starts of each column, and the biographical information in the first and last columns, are shown here. The translation of B is adapted from L. Uggetti, "Les archives bilingues de Totoès et de Tatéhathyris", vol. 2, pp. 301-302 ( PDF ).
[A] [Causing] the ba [to breathe] and go forth from the underworld upon the land of Rê in any form which he desires in order to serve any god of any temple and worship him according to his wish in the course of every single day by the Osiris of Imuthes the son of Panekhates, whose mother is Senbastis. Phylarch, chief of the pastophoroi of Amun of Djeme, god's servant of Imhotep, priest of Hathor mistress of the West of Djeme, Imuthes the justified: the lady of the uraeus will favour you, the mistress of the holy underworld, the lady of the portal, the mistress with mercy in her heart, the sister of the god, she who loves her brother. She of the answer responds to your utterance. Isis the great, the god's mother, she will cause your ba to be made to breathe so that you live every day . . .
2 Hail Osiris foremost in the West. Hail, ba of Wennefer. Hail Osiris, great one of Djeme. Hail Osiris lord of Busiris in his appearance. Hail Osiris who repeats youthful vigour for himself. Hail Osiris, shining in life. Hail Osiris lord of the living. In peace! The ba of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore has come in order to serve you for ever . . .
3 Assuming the form of a falcon by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. The ba will appear in the form of a falcon. The ba will shine in the form of a falcon . . . Horus will appear; Horus will endure for him in life . . .
4 Assuming the form of an ibis by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. The ba will appear in the form of an ibis, serving Thoth in his own name . . .
5 Assuming the form of a phoenix by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. The ba will appear in the form of a phoenix. His ba has come, serving Re Harakhti, coming to the divine ba in the form of a phoenix . . .
6 Assuming the form of a ba by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. Hail, ba {twice}. Hail, may you live in jubilation. Hail, be renewed each day. This ba is appearing in the silent land. His heart will be jubilant at seeing the silent underworld . . .
7 Assuming the form of a dog by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. The ba will appear in the form of a dog, coming as Anubis in the role of embalmer . . .
8 Assuming the form of a serpent so that the ba appears in the form of a serpent by the Osiris of lmuthes whom Senbastis bore. Hail {twice}, veritable lord of creation {Atum}. This ba goes forth in joy . . .
9 O ba, O ba, breathe upon his head and upon every limb of his. O ba, breathing upon his arms. Go forth exulting. O every ba who goes forth from his mansion, breathe, appear, and alight . . .
10 Performing the act of purification by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. Purifying and censing. The nemset-jar will come {twice}. The nemset-jar is his along with the water in it. The doors will open for him. He will be at peace. He will go forth and purify . . .
11 Going forth [from the hall] of the righteous by the Osiris of lmuthes whom Senbastis bore. O foremost in the West, foremost in the hall of the righteous. O Sothis the noble one, guarding before her lord . . .
12 Coming to the breeze in the course of every single day by the Osiris of Imuthes whom Senbastis bore. He will be manifest and go forth with the breeze. The doors of the underworld will open for him every day. [He] will come and go in peace . . .
13 His time of life was seventy-eight years. He died in a shitef in the town of his birth, being a phylarch of Djeme and a magician pre-eminent in his craft, there being twelve sons before him. He is in a house of sleep among the favoured ones of his gods. Written in year three of the queen which corresponds to year twenty-five of the king.
[B] Tanuphis, daughter of Psenminis, is the one who said to Totoes, son of Zmanres:
I am away from you regarding the right to this cow and heifer that I have given to you. I have no right or any matter in the world to assert against you regarding them, on account of the donkey that you have given to me. If I refuse to act in accordance with any of the above words, then I will give 5 talents for the work of renovating Djeme, while you can still sue me to compel me to act in accordance with the above words. Whoever of us refuses to act in accordance with all the words written above, they will give 10 talents for the burnt offerings for the sovereigns (l.p.h.) in addition to the 5 talents for the work of renovating Djeme, while they can still be sued to compel them to act in accordance with the words, necessarily and without delay, and without any recourse.
Written by Imuthes son of Panekhates at their request, in regnal year 6, month of Mechir, day 18.
{on the back:} The document that Tanuphis daughter of Psenminis prepared for Totoes son of Zmanres.
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