Judgement of the Dead
Describe the Egyptian belief in the judgement of the dead: after death, the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at in the Hall of Judgement, with Anubis overseeing the scales and Thoth recording the result — a pure heart meant entry to the Field of Reeds (paradise), while a heavy heart was devoured by the monster Ammit, and know that the Book of the Dead contained spells to help the deceased pass this test
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If your child sees a painting of a heart being weighed on scales, can they explain what the Egyptians believed happened after death and why they thought it was so important to live a good life?
Describe the Egyptian belief in the judgement of the dead: after death, the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at in the Hall of Judgement, with Anubis overseeing the scales and Thoth recording the result — a pure heart meant entry to the Field of Reeds (paradise), while a heavy heart was devoured by the monster Ammit, and know that the Book of the Dead contained spells to help the deceased pass this test
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Check understanding
- Describe the weighing of the heart ceremony and name the gods involved
- Explain the role of the Book of the Dead as a guide through the underworld
- Connect the concept of the ka (life force) and ba (personality) to why Egyptians preserved the body
“If your child sees a painting of a heart being weighed on scales, can they explain what the Egyptians believed happened after death and why they thought it was so important to live a good life?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- History
- Domain
- Ancient Egypt
- Age range
- Ages 9–11