The Religions Book

58

We want to live again after

death, as the god Osiris did.

There, Osiris will judge us,

and our hearts will be

weighed against our sins.

If we imitate the

mummification of Osiris by

Anubis, we can join Osiris

in the realm of the dead.

If we are judged

worthy, we will

enjoy everlasting life.

T

he Ancient Egyptians left

extraordinary tributes to

their dead, such as the

Great Pyramids, huge necropolises,

underground tombs, and extensive

grave goods and art, but it would

not be true to say that they were

obsessed with death. Instead, they

were preparing for the afterlife.

All their mortuary rituals

of embalming, mummification,

entombment, and remembrance

were aimed at ensuring new life

after death. Egyptians wanted to

live after their death as perfected

beings in Aaru, the field of reeds,

which was itself a perfected version

of the Egypt they already knew.

Aaru was the domain of Osiris,

lord of the dead. In it, the blessed

dead gathered rich crops of barley

and emmer wheat—abundant

harvests that are joyously depicted

on the walls of Egyptian tombs.

Egyptians believed that a

complete person comprised a

number of elements: the physical

body, the name, the shadow, the

ka (spiritual life force), the ba

(personality), and the akh (the

perfected being that could enjoy

life in paradise). To ensure life in

paradise, care needed to be taken

of all these constituent parts.

IN CONTEXT

KEY BELIEVERS

Ancient Egyptians

WHEN

2000 BCE–4th century BCE

BEFORE

In predynastic Egypt

Bodies buried in the sand are

preserved by dehydration;

this may have inspired later

mummification practices.

c.2400–2100 BCE Royal tomb

inscriptions at Saqqara—the

Pyramid Texts—suggest belief

in a divine afterlife for the

Egyptian pharaohs, promising

the kings: “You have not died.”

c.2100 BCE The first Coffin

Texts—spells inscribed

on the coffins of wealthy men

and women—suggest that

the afterlife is no longer

reserved for royalty.

AFTER

From 4th century BCE The

conquering Greeks adopt some

Egyptian beliefs, especially in

the cult of Isis, wife of Osiris.

THE GOOD LIVE

FOREVER IN THE

KINGDOM OF OSIRIS

PREPARING FOR THE AFTERLIFE