Weighing the heart

For the ancient Egyptians the heart was the most important organ in the body.

They believed that after death, the weight of the heart was judged in the underworld to see if its owner had led a good life or a bad one.

The Book of the Dead

From 1550 BC (during a time known as the New Kingdom) most wealthy Egyptians were buried with a Book of the Dead. This was a collection of spells to help the dead person to get into the afterlife successfully.

About the papyrus

From: Thebes, Egypt

Date: about 1275 BC

Painted by: Papyrus plant and paint made from minerals and plants
Find it in the Museum: in Rooms 61 & 62, ancient Egyptian life and death

The judgement of Ani

This is the judgement scene from a Book of the Dead. It was in the tomb of a man named Ani. This scene is painted on papyrus and was made about 1275 BC.
Ani and Tutu

Ani and Tutu, his wife, come into the judgement area. Will Ani pass the test when his heart is weighed?
Which is lighter?

Ani’s heart (on the left hand side of the scale) is weighed against the feather of truth (on the right). If it balances or if it is lighter, he will pass into the afterlife.
The scary devourer!

If his heart is heavier it will be eaten by the devourer and he will become nothing. The devourer is part-hippo, part-leopard and part-crocodile.
The soul of Ani

Ani’s soul-bird (a bird with a human head) watches anxiously.
Scribe of the gods

The god Thoth, who has the head of an ibis bird, writes down the outcome of the judgement.
Watching from above

At the top, twelve gods make sure everything is fair. In front of them is a table with offerings of food and incense.
Setting the balance

The god Anubis checks the scales to make sure they are properly balanced before the weighing begins.
The final judgement

Ani’s heart is found to be lighter than the feather – he has passed the judgement! Now the sun god (called Ra) will lead him to meet Osiris, god of death and rebirth, and he will have eternal life.