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ka The ancient Egyptian term for a spiritual essence
that existed alongside the human form and yet main-
tained individuality throughout the earthly sojourns, the
kawas an astral being, yet considered the guiding force
for all human life. The Egyptians recognized “the double”
aspects of the ka,and in some statues the pharaohs were
depicted as having an identical image at their sides.
While existing with the human being during his or her
mortal life, the kawas the superior power in the realms
beyond the grave. The term for death was “GO TOONE’S
KA”or “Go to one’s kain the sky.”
Kasresided in the divine beings as well, and pious
Egyptians placated the kasof the gods in order to receive
favors. Some deities combined their kasand bas,their
souls, in cosmological traditions, and they entered as
guardians of places at the same time. OSIRISwas always
called the kaof the PYRAMIDS. The kaentered eternity
before its human host, having served its purpose by walk-
ing at the human’s side on earth to urge kindness, qui-
etude, honor, and compassion. Throughout the life of the
human, the ka was the conscience, the guardian, the
guide. After death, however, the kabecame supreme.
Rulers thus laid claim to multiple kas.RAMESSES II(r.
1290–1224 B.C.E.) of the Nineteenth Dynasty declared
that he had more than 20 such astral beings at his side.
The kawas also viewed as part of the divine essence
that nurtured all existence on the earth and in the heav-
ens. KHNUM, the god who molded mankind from clay in
each generation, was depicted on many occasions as
forming identical figures on his pottery wheel—one, the
human, and the other the ka,which was the vital element
of eternal life in Egyptian beliefs. For this reason, the BA
was supposed to stay close beside the kain the grave. The
rituals of embalming were performed in order to prepare

the corpse for the arrival of the ka,as well as for resurrec-

tion. The kacame to visit the mummy of the deceased,

and the union of the baand the kaforms the A’AKHin

death. For those commoners who could not afford the

elaborate embalming processes, simple statues of them-

selves in the mummified form were provided by the mor-

tuary priests. Such statues were supposed to attract the

kasto their gravesites. The kaassimilated the life force of

all mortuary offerings presented to the deceased in the

tomb and put them to use in the TUAT, or the afterlife.

See also RESERVE HEADS.

Ka(fl. before 3000 B.C.E.) Predynastic ruler of Egypt

His reign remains obscure and legendary and is listed as

taking place before the campaigns of the first unifier of

Egypt, NARMER. Ka was probably a Thinite warrior who

campaigned militarily against the local Delta holdings. He

was buried in ABYDOSand honored as a SOUL OF NEKHEN

by later generations of Egyptians.

Ka’a See QA’A.

Ka’aper statue This is a rare wooden life-sized statue

of an ancient Egyptian official discovered in a MASTABA

tomb at SAQQARA. Ka’aper was a high priest and lector in

a Memphite temple, serving MENKAURÉ (r. 2490–2472

B.C.E.), and his career probably continued in the reign of

NIUSERRÉ(r. 2416–2392), as Ka’aper lived a long time.

His wooden statue, made out of sycamore, had inlaid

eyes, rimmed in copper. The whites of the eyes were fash-

ioned out of opaque quartz, with corners of rock crystals

and pupils composed of black resin. The statue depicts a

thickset man in a straight skirt, holding a SEKHEM(2)