Underworld
Definition of the
Egyptian Underworld
The Ancient Egyptians believed that after death they would go to the
dark and terrifying place called the Underworld.
The Underworld -
Definition: The Underworld, called Duat, was a land of great
dangers through which every Egyptian would need to pass
through after death according to the beliefs of the Ancient
Egyptian religion.
Egyptian Religious
beliefs led to the Underworld
The religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians were quite complicated
due to their pre-occupation with death. To understand the Underworld it
helps to be aware of the major elements of
their beliefs and religion. The religion of the Ancient Egyptians was
extremely important to them and touched every aspect of their life. The
main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were fundamental to the Ancient
Egyptian religion and fundamental to their beliefs.
The Ancient Egyptians lived in terror of evil spirits and the
displeasure of the gods. Some of the gods looked after matters of daily
importance and others governed the realms of the dead. The Egyptian
priests created legends and myths about the Underworld and the role of
the gods who inhabited the underworld.
The Meaning of
Death to the Ancient Egyptians
The Ancient Egyptians believed that
each person was thought to have three souls - the Ka, the Ba and the Akh:
-
The Ka or double
was a less solid duplicate of the body. Without a
physical body the soul had no place to dwell and became
restless forever
-
The Ba was able
to leave the tomb and revisit the dead person's haunts in
the mortal world.
-
The Akh was the
immortal soul which emerged when the Ka and the Ba united
after the deceased person passed judgement in the underworld
All of these
entities, or elements of the soul were perishable and
therefore at great risk. The tomb, the process of
mummification, rituals and magic spells promoted the
well-being, and ensured the preservation, of the dead
and their Ka, Ba and Ahku.
Death - The Journey
to the Underworld
The journey to the Underworld
started at the death of an Ancient Egyptian and the process of Mummification.
The Egyptians believed that preserving the body in death was important
to keep their soul alive and that a
physical body was essential for an eternal life for the
deceased. Without a
physical body the soul had no place to dwell and became
restless forever. The
journey to the Underworld had began. A guidebook known as the Book of the
Dead contained spells and instructions to ensure safe passage through
the dangers of the Underworld. These spells would be inscribed on the
walls of Pharaohs and the nobility. But funeral prayers and spells were
chanted to the Egyptian Gods and a papyrus scroll of the Book of the
Dead together with various amulets were buried with many ordinary
Ancient Egyptians.
Death - The Underworld
and the Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead contained nearly 200 different spells. Each spell
was designed to help with the tests and trials that would be met in the
Underworld. The correct spells would need to be recited to pass each
test. Spells relating
to safety in the Underworld included those for not dying again, for not
rotting, for preventing a man's head be cut off, spells of
transformation into the forms of a snake, phoenix, hawk,
swallow etc. The spells provide an insight to what waited
for the deceased in the Underworld.
Death - The Underworld
and the Hall of the Two Truths
The journey through the Underworld and the terrifying tests culminated
in the day of judgement in the Hall of the Two Truths.
The ruler of the Kingdom of the Underworld was
Osiris, the "Lord of Eternity". The god of the Dead Anubis would lead the dead in
the Underworld to the Hall of Two Truths, where the deceased
would stand in front of Osiris, the head of the Court of the Dead, and forty two judges.
The Underworld
and the Great Scales of Truth and the 'Get out' Clause
In the Hall of Two
Truths the deceased was led to a great set of scales
where his or her heart containing the deeds of their
lifetime was weighed against the feather of
truth, which symbolised Maat the goddess of justice. The
Egyptians believed that they could withstand the Test of the Balance
with a magical scarab charm which would prevent the conscience telling
the whole truth. The dead were able to obtain salvation by knowledge of
magical charms even if they lead a sinful life.
The Underworld
and the Great Scales of Truth Ritual
Spell
125, the 'Declaration of Innocence', was chanted when entering the Hall of Truth consisting of denials such as "I have not
killed, I have not robbed and I have not lied" made to
Osiris and the 42 judges of the
court. The jackal headed Anubis and Thoth, the god of
writing, presided over the ritual. The heart of the dead Egyptian
was weighed against the feather-symbol of Truth by the falcon-headed god
Horus. The deceased only passed the test if
the heart was as light as the feather. Everyone was afraid of this trial
as next to the scales the fierce female demon called Amemit, waited (the Great Swallower), who was depicted with the head of a crocodile combined with
elements of other dreaded creatures, the body of a hippopotamus, and the
hind legs of a lioness. The fate of the deceased would
then be decided - either entrance into
the perfect afterlife or to be sent to the Devourer of the
Dead. If the deceased passed the test the judges pronounced
the following divine order:
"He is justified. The
Swallowing Monster shall have no power over him."
Egyptian Afterlife
Underworld
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