In order to exist, a human needed to have five πΎ essential elements: the body πππΌ, the shadow πππ ±πΌ, the Ba π ‘π€, the Ka (soul/life force) ππ€, and the name ππ.
The Ba π ‘π€ is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body πππΌ. The Ba π ‘π€ can also be thought of as an individualβs personality. When a person died, the Ba π ‘π€ was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb ππ«ππ, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ. The Ba π ‘π€ was the part of the person that lived on after death π ππ±.
This particular Ba π ‘π€ statue πππππΎ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332β30 B.C.E.). Ba π ‘π€ statues πππππΎπ¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs ππ«πππ¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π΄π ±πππ±π¦ or added as an attachment to a stela ππ ±ππΈ.
The details on this Ba π ‘π€ statue πππππΎ are absolutely beautiful π€. The Ba π ‘π€ has a sun disk π³π€ on its head πΆπ€ and is wearing a broad collar π ±π΄ππΊπ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood π±ππΊ (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold ππππ leaf!