Egyptian Beliefs and Preparations to Afterlife
Ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs were primarily centered on religion but were also influenced by Egyptian culture. In the polytheistic nature of this religion, it was believed that there were several deities in the afterlife, namely, Osiris, Isis, Horus, Anubis, and Maat (Gieseke and Tyler 11). Elements of these gods were reflected in the afterlife beliefs held by ancient Egyptians and formed the philosophy by which the burial of Pharaohs was done.
The construction of pyramids was centered on this idea. These resting places, many of which are located in the Valley of the Kings, reflected a strong belief in the afterlife, given the attention to detail and the considerable resources invested in their construction. This is not to forget the intricate procedures carried out during and after the burial ceremony, all geared towards the idea of an afterlife.
The Role of Osiris and Anubis
It was believed that it was the duty of the living to prepare their dead for the many challenges they faced before entering the final stages of the afterlife. It was believed that the various ceremonies and items buried with the dead would help and protect them in the netherworld. Duat was believed to be the underworld in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs (Boozer and Anna). The belief was that Osiris was the lord of this underworld and resided there with other gods, souls, and demons.
One of the first stages of preparation was mummification, characterized by embalming ceremonies, such as the Opening of the Mouth ceremony. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Anubis was believed to be in charge of embalming, with the Egyptians believing that the jackal god had invented the embalming process used for Osiris, the first mummy (Giseke and Tyler 23). Anubis was important in these preliminary stages of burial as he was believed to be in charge of funerary practices and caring for the dead in the netherworld. He was also thought to guide the departed souls in the netherworld and protect the grave sites. In this belief system, he held a vital role as the attendant to the weighing scale during the “Weighing of the Heart,” where the determination of a soul’s worthiness to enter the underworld was measured.
Anubis was depicted as a jackal, painted black with gold leaf accents, similar to the figure found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Anubis’s black color symbolized the Nile’s soil, which was a sign of life; given that the Nile was the kingdom’s lifeblood (Boozer and Anna 43). It also symbolized the discoloration of the corpse after the embalming process. The choice of a jackal to depict the god Anubis was made in the spirit of “fighting fire with fire,” as jackals were closely associated with grave sites due to their scavenging nature. Anubis had to be glorified with him in the tomb to protect the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s body from being eaten.
The shrine built to Anubis in King Tutankhamun’s tomb had a sitting African jackal, painted in black and finished with gold accents, mounted on a gilded shrine. The Anubis shrine was the innermost shrine of the four shrines in King Tutankhamun’s tomb (Broschat and Katja 21). The placement of Anubis at the entrance of the Treasury was to guard the king’s treasures that he would require in the netherworld (Broschat and Katja 30). This is important due to the ancient Egyptian belief in the deceased’s wealth and possessions. Valuable personal property was placed in the Treasury and was believed to be used by the dead afterward. Behind the shrine was a canopic shrine that housed canopic chests and jars to contain King Tutankhamun’s internal organs. These were of great significance as the organs were considered helpful in the afterlife (Sousa and Rogério 26). The placement of the shrine after the Anubis shrine can be considered for protection purposes.
The protective role of Anubis as the protector of Tutankhamun’s necropolis is further emphasized by inscriptions on an unfired clay brick. This further alludes to the ancient Egyptian belief in the magical power of inscriptions and their ability to protect the god Anubis. The inscription read, “It is I who hinder the sand from choking the secret chamber and repel that one who would repel him with the desert flame. I have set aflame the desert (?); I have caused the path to be mistaken. I am for the protection of the deceased,” (Nyord and Rune 21). It was believed that the first-person tense was used to represent Anubis speaking to the reader. These afterlife texts, particularly coffin texts, were spells emphasizing the afterlife elements ruled by the god Osiris. This inscription was believed to possess magical protective powers and was used in the Anubis shrine within King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The Concept of the Ba
Sarcophagi were used to house the bodies of leaders and wealthy residents in ancient Egypt, and King Tutankhamun was no exception. They were made of precious stone or gold and crafted by masters to near perfection. King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber is constructed of stone, and his body is entombed in a gold coffin in the innermost part (Broschat and Katja). In ancient Egyptian afterlife mythology, the sarcophagus was considered an eternal dwelling place for the ba, a spiritual characteristic believed to be unique to every individual.
The ba was believed to return to the body every night to receive new life. Therefore, it was thought to be fit to make this nightly resting place fit for a king. This explains the lavish use of expensive materials in the creation of King Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus, which was made of quartzite stone with a granite lid (Broschat and Katja). A door for King Tutankhamun’s ba to pass through was incorporated, further cementing evidence of this belief. The sarcophagus had Tutankhamun’s name inscribed to make sure his soul would not forget its name. The external surface decorations included King Tutankhamun’s accomplishments for the same purpose of remembrance. In the chamber containing the sarcophagus, loaves of bread were found, alluding to the belief that a dead person’s life force, the Ka, required food even after death.
Design Elements and Accessories
The master craftsmanship is evident in the design, which features carved images of Isis, Serqet, Neith, and Nephthys. These are four protective goddesses, further alluding to the ancient Egyptian view of the afterlife. In the inner chamber where King Tutankhamun’s body lay, numerous items were found, including clothing, sandals, amulets, various forms of jewelry, and two daggers. Clothing and sandals are placed there as it is believed that when the king resurrects in the rebirth stage of the afterlife, he will require a change of clothes. It shows how deeply rooted these afterlife beliefs were in Egyptian society.
The amulets and charms interred with King Tutankhamun reflect the ancient Egyptian belief that such objects possessed magical powers to safeguard the deceased. As dictated by ancient Egyptian religion, many amulets were required to be placed in specific positions on the mummified body to protect the deceased in the netherworld. The most important was the heart scarabs placed over the dead person’s heart. It was done to prevent the heart from separating from the body in the netherworld.
The heart was important in ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs due to the belief that it contained records of a person’s actions. This was essential in the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony, overseen by the god Anubis and Maat, to determine one’s worthiness to enter the underworld (Gieseke and Tyler 54). Naturally, the status of Tutankhamun gave him access to all these requirements.
The golden mask was the most remarkable item buried with King Tutankhamun’s body. It bears a resemblance to the Egyptian god Osiris, widely thought to be done to allude to King Tutankhamun’s royal status and ensure the continuity of that status in the underworld. It also includes an ancient spell from the Book of the Dead, an ancient funerary text placed in the deceased’s burial chamber. The text was intended to impart mystical knowledge of the afterlife to King Tutankhamun. It was also intended to protect him from hostile forces, guide him in the underworld, and be used in the “Weighing of the Heart” ritual. The book is organized into four sections, covering a deceased person’s journey into the underworld and the final stage of assuming power as a god. In conclusion, ancient Egyptian society strongly believed in the afterlife, and the tomb of Tutankhamun provides evidence of this belief.
Works Cited
Boozer, Anna Lucille. “Cultural identity: housing and burial practices.” A Companion to Greco‐Roman and Late Antique Egypt (2019): 361-379.
Broschat, Katja, et al. Iron from Tutankhamun’s Tomb. American University in Cairo Press, 2022.
Gieseke, Tyler. Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. ABDO, 2021.
Nyord, Rune. Seeing perfection: Ancient Egyptian images beyond representation. Cambridge University Press, 2020.
Sousa, Rogério. “Gilded flesh: coffins and afterlife in Ancient Egypt.” Gilded Flesh (2019): 1-272.