Weighing Of The Heart: The Papyrus Of Ani

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“Weighing of the Heart” One of the most crucial and perhaps one of the most intimate Ancient Egyptian rituals is the “weighing of the heart” ceremony. The heart to the Ancient Egyptians is the core to everything that makes them, them. The heart is considered to be the most important organ of the body as opposed to what we believe to be the most important organ. The Ancient Egyptians believe that the heart is their core function. The Ancient Egyptians believed whole heartedly that the heart was just as important in death and in the life they lived on earth. Their heart is what determined where they would spend eternity. The Papyrus of Ani is considered to be the longest written papyrus written during the Ancient Egyptian period (sacred-texts.com). …show more content…

It is important to remember that it is crucial for the heart to remain with the deceased after death. The heart is the key to Afterlife. After their journey through Duat is the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony. In the Papyrus of Ani there are many individuals who are all representatives. Osiris is the chief God and is also one of forty-three deities. The scribe that can be seen on an image of the Papyrus is Thoth, who is the scribe of wisdom who documents rather or not the heart passes the test of truth and justice (egyptianscarabs.com). In the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony, God Anubis weighs the heart. If the heart measures to heavily against that of the feather of truth and justice then Ammit who is said to be the demon god who awaits the weighing, is said to devour the heart, therefore condemning the dead to a life of torment for all eternity (experienceancientegypt.com). However, if the heart balances true with the feather of Maat then the heart is returned back to the deceased. After the heart is returned they proceed on their journey for their final judgement. It is at this moment that the Ancient Egyptians are to speak for themselves before being accepted by Osiris into the Ancient Egyptian Heaven

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