The Weighing of the Heart πππ£ is my absolute favorite scene from the Book of the Dead, and just one of my favorite scenes from literature in general! I have been so fortunate to see many different version of the Book of the Dead in various museums! While this is a simplified version of the scene, I still love it! This papyrus π πππ is kinda hidden amongst many other papyri π ππππ¦ at the MET, and Iβve definitely missed it during other visits!
Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is the center of the scene so of course it is my favorite! Here, Anubis πππͺπ ±π’ weighs the heart πππ£ of the deceased π ππ± against Maatβs π΄ππ£ππ¦ feather. If Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ determines thereβs balance between the two π», then the deceased π ππ± would be presented to Osiris πΉπ¨ π by Horus π π. The deceased π ππ± would then enter the Duat πΌπΏππ, or the afterlife.
Thoth π €π records the findings. While Thoth π €π is usually represented in his human body/ibis πππ € head form during this scene, that is not the case here! Thoth π €π is in his baboon form and is sitting on top of the scale! Ammit ππ π π(the Devourer of the Dead/Eater of Hearts) is also absent from this version! Itβs always so interesting to see different versions of the same scene!
In the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, itβs interesting to see Osiris spelled like βπ©πΉβ instead of the common form βπΉπ¨π.β For some reason Iβm always fascinated when I see alternate spellings; I donβt know why!
In the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, the phrase βπ©πΉπππ³πβ or βOsiris, Lord of Eternityβ is written! We have learned all of those words through other posts!! Can you find it?!