Egyptian Art Papyrus Painting

This bright and beautifully detailed scene is of the weighing of the heart ceremony.

The ancient Egyptians believed that, when they died, they would be judged on their behaviour during their lifetime before they could be granted a place in the Afterlife. This judgement ceremony was called the Weighing of the Heart.

A giant scale would weigh the deceased's heart against the principle of truth and justice (maat), represented by a feather, the symbol of the goddess of truth, order and justice, Maat. If the heart balanced against the feather then the deceased would be granted a place in the Fields of Hetep and Iaru. If it was heavy with the weight of wrongdoings, the balance would sink, and the heart would be grabbed and devoured by a terrifying beast that sat ready and waiting by the scales. This beast was Ammit ('the gobbler'), a composite animal with the head of a crocodile, the front legs and body of a lion or leopard and the back legs of a hippopotamus. Once the heart was devoured, the deceased would cease to exist - an idea which terrified the ancient Egyptians.

On the far right is the image of the deceased as he bows to Thoth and Anubis, who will judge his fate.

Thoth is the Ibis headed god who recorded all the happenings, while Anubis, god of cemetaries and embalming, watched over.

On the far left is Re-Horakhty, a combination of Re (the Sun god) and Horus (the sky god). He is seated as King, holding the crook and the flail and the 'was' sceptre of power.

Approximate Size : 40cm x 30cm (16 inches x 12 inches)

All of our papyrus paintings are hand painted in Egypt on to genuine Egyptian papyrus and are of the highest quality.
Supplied without frame.