Afterlife and Judgment in Ancient Egyptian Mythology
Ancient Egyptians believed in life’s cyclical nature and its repercussions, owing to God Anubis “the Jackal” and mummification. The resurrection was one of the unique concepts of the ancient Egyptians, who thought that the soul was eternal and that the earth was merely a part of a bigger plan and journey. They believed that the soul is made up of nine parts that were all portion from one earthly existence and that after death, the Akh “(Transformed-self),” as recorded in the Book of the Dead, would be met by the god of death Anubis, who would lead the deceased to their final resting place in the afterlife, then to the hall of truth, where they would await judgment by the hand of Osiris, the ruler of the underworld. When the moment is perfect, Anubis will take the souls to the divine balances in front of the scribes of Thoth and Osiris, where the Goddess of Harmony and Balance Ma’at will be present, accompanied by the forty-two judges Gods who will consult with the gods to determine each soul’s fate. The Egyptians decided to preserve their bodies via the mummification procedure if the spirit chooses to return to the body and travel to the afterlife. The process of judgment begins with the deceased’s heart, which contains the soul and the conscience. It is then given to Osiris, who balances it on a large golden scale against the white feather of Ma’at, “the feather of truth.” If the soul was lighter than the feather, it was justified, and when the gods and the forty-two judges agreed, the soul was allowed to travel to the heavens known as the Field of Reeds (a place of purification and eternal bliss) by boarding the ship of Ra through the dark underworld, but if the heart was heavier than the feather, it was thrown on the deepest place in the underworld. If you are interested in learning more about Ancient Egyptian history, you may take one of our Egypt tour packages to enjoy and listen to an intriguing narrative about the ancient Egyptians as told by an expert tour guide.
