Image Gallery
Divine Family from Ancient Egypt
Bronze collection of divine figures: the goddess Isis (left) with the child Horus, the god Osiris (middle), and the god Harpokrates (right) wearing the double crown. Egypt, Saite period to Ptolemaic period, 7th to 4th centuries BCE.
State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich, Germany.
Questions & Answers
How did the ancient Egyptians view death and the afterlife?
- The ancient Egyptians viewed death as a transition of the soul from the earthly plane to the next realm. Life was understood as an eternal journey, only part of which was lived on earth.
What is the afterlife called in ancient Egypt?
- The afterlife in ancient Egypt was known as the Field of Reeds and was understood as a mirror image of one's life on earth where one would live in the presence of the gods.
Who was the Judge of the Dead in ancient Egypt?
- The god Osiris was the Judge of the Dead in ancient Egypt.
What is the Egyptian Book of the Dead?
- The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an instruction manual for the soul after death to help it navigate the afterlife and find its way to the paradise of the Field of Reeds. It is not in any way the "Egyptian Bible."
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External Links
Preparation for Death in Ancient Egypt - The Australian Museum
australian.museum
LIFE AND DEATH IN ANCIENT EGYPT | Ashmolean Museum
ashmolean.org
Journey to the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt: British Museum
britishmuseum.org
Egyptian Death and Afterlife: Mummies - British Museum
britishmuseum.org
