The Weighing of the Heart scene from the Book of the Dead is my absolute favorite type of religious art from ancient Egypt ππ ππ. As a kid, I loved it because Anubis πππͺπ ±π’ was the central god πΉ in the scene, and Anubis πππͺπ ±π’ is my favorite Egyptian god πΉ . As an adult, I love what the scene represents and the symbolism behind it. While I have posted multiple versions of this scene from various Books of the Dead, this is the first time I saw it on a coffin and I was just in awe. Itβs amazing how well preserved it is and how bright the colors are.
For those unfamiliar with the context of the scene, Anubis πππͺπ ±π’ weighs the heart πππ£ of the deceased π ππ± against Maatβs π΄ππ£ππ¦ feather. If Anubis determines thereβs balance between the two, then the deceased would be presented to Osiris πΉπ¨ π by Horus π π. This simplified version of the scene is missing Thoth π €π and Amemet.
If youβre looking at the coffin π ±ππΎ from the front, you can see Khepri π£πππ(the winged beetle) and the Four Sons of Horus beneath him. I feel like this coffin π ±ππΎ is the Sparks Notes version of the Book of the Dead – it kinda gives you some of the most important parts in a very small amount of space!
This coffin π ±ππΎ belonged to man named Gautseshenu and is made of cartonnage (ancient paper mache). It is dated to the 25th Dynasty (Third Intermediate Period). It was found in Thebes πππ.