Ancient Egyptians cherished their intricate and made extensive efforts to preserve the rich tapestry of their memory and essence throughout the ages. An unique belief was that the most important organ of the body would be placed on a scale to determine if the person deserved happiness in the afterlife. Here is a closer look at the rituals and customs surrounding this belief.
Preparing the Dead
One of the key elements of ancient Egyptian culture was the preparation of the dead. The “Book of the Dead” included all the necessary magic formulas, rituals, and statuettes that the deceased must use to achieve life in the afterlife.
Funerary rituals were intense and well-prepared, with all the relatives of the deceased working to ensure that the body was properly prepared to face the challenges of the afterlife. According to ancient Egyptian culture, the dead undertook a journey from west to east, similar to the sun’s journey. On the Ra raft, the dead faced dangerous beasts and navigated mazes.
Osiris’ Judgment: How Heavy is Your Heart?
The ancient Egyptians believed that many challenges awaited them in the afterlife, but the most important and difficult was the final judgment with the court of Osiris.
If the deceased successfully passed all the prescribed tests, they would reach the trial of Osiris. Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, would accompany the deceased to the courtroom where they would face 42 judges.
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At the Trial, the Deceased Had to Convince the Judges of Their Moral Conduct
At the trial, the deceased had to convince the judges of their moral conduct by being honest. The “Book of the Dead” includes phrases that must be repeated, such as:
“I have not sinned against others; I have not killed any of my relatives; I have not lied in telling the truth; I am not aware of any treason; I am not aware of any wrongdoing; I have done no wrong; I have not caused anyone harm; offenses to the gods…”
After the Session with Judges, the Heart Weighing
After the session with the judges, the most complex part of the trial arrived: the heart weighing.
How did they do it? A giant scale took center stage in the room, surrounded by 42 members of the court, some ancient Egyptian gods, and the deceased waiting for his trial.
On one side of the scale was a feather of the goddess Maat, who represented justice, order, and balance, and on the other side was the heart of the deceased.
Why weigh the heart? For the ancient Egyptians, the heart embodied a personβs intelligence, emotions, and actionsβgood or badβit was the essence of the person.
What was the best outcome? The heart had to be in balance with the feather and could not weigh more or less.
The Final Judgment: Paradise or Death by the Beast
If the heart weighed the same as the feather, the deceased was granted entry to the Fields of Reed (Aaru), also known as the Egyptian paradise, ruled by Osiris and filled with pleasures.
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