Egyptian History: Insights into the Egyptian Judgment Scene

In Egyptian mythology, it was believed that after death, a person's soul would undergo a series of trials and judgments before reaching the afterlife. Here's an overview of the judgment scene known as the "Weighing of the Heart" or the "Judgment of Osiris."

According to Egyptian mythology, after death, the deceased would enter the underworld, also known as the Duat. In the Duat, the soul would face the "Weighing of the Heart" judgment before the god Osiris, who was the ruler of the afterlife.

The judgment scene involved the deceased's heart being weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and justice. The heart represented the individual's moral character and actions during their lifetime. If the heart was found to be lighter than the feather, it meant that the person had led a virtuous and just life.

The weighing process was overseen by a panel of gods and goddesses, including Anubis, the jackal-headed god associated with embalming and the afterlife. Thoth, the ibis-headed god of wisdom, recorded the proceedings.

If the heart was found to be heavier than the feather, it indicated that the person had led an immoral or unjust life. In this case, the soul would be devoured by a monstrous creature called Ammit, who was part lion, part crocodile, and part hippopotamus, and the person would cease to exist in the afterlife.

If the heart passed the test and was lighter than the feather, the soul would be granted eternal life and would continue to the blissful realm of the afterlife to join the gods and other blessed souls.

It's important to note that the judgment scene varied somewhat over time and had regional differences within ancient Egypt. The specific rituals and beliefs surrounding the judgment scene evolved throughout Egyptian history. However, the core concept of the judgment of the heart and the weighing against the feather of Ma'at remained consistent.

We have a reproduction of the judgement scene in our shop!