to the gods by the spirit itself. A subset of the personal spells is directed against inimical forces, particularly snakes and worms, that could harm the deceased’s body or the contents of the tomb. In all of the pyramids such spells appear on the east wall of the antechamber, above the serdab; in the pyramid of Unis they are also inscribed on the west wall of the burial chamber, above the sarcophagus. Their language is often obscure, even impenetrable. Translations are offered for all of these spells