Totenpass

By Crusader1307

Of Germanic Origins, a ‘’Totenpass’’ – or translated to mean ‘’Passport for The Dead’’, was a form of Funerary custom which dates to around the 4^th Century BC. The concept worked as such. When a Person of substance died, He or She was placed into a Tomb (or Sarcophagus). Previously carved, was a set of ‘’Death Instructions’’, written for The Spirit of The Deceased. These Passes were left on the person of the corpse.  ‘’New’’ Souls could easily get lost in The Afterlife and needed ‘’help’’ prior to final Judgment. The written instructions (on hammered golden sheets), warned of specific perils, such as demons and monsters. It also outlined realms NOT to traverse and – upon Judgment, which answers to what questions would be given. The Totenpass is seen as being akin to many Ancient Egyptian Customs of the same ideology.