Mummification

In the hall of two truths your heart was placed on one side of the scales of justice and the feather of truth on the other. Three gods – Osiris, Anubis and Thoth – judged the result. Egyptians believed that the heart held the weight of a person’s conscience. If that person had been good his heart would be lighter than a feather and he’d be allowed through to the gates of Yaru. But if their heart was weighed down by sin, it would be heavier than the feather and he would be eaten by Ammut – who was part crocodile, part hippo and part lion – ate your heart, you were lost forever.

The Egyptian Gods

Ra – The Sun God. Some said he had made the Egyptian people. It is said when Ra shone his light on the afterlife, mummies came to life

Isis – The wife of Osiris who took care of all women and children. She was thought to be the most powerful magician in the whole universe

Thoth – The ibis – headed god of wisdom who invented writing and speaking. His job was to write down everything that happened.

Osiris – The god of death, rebirth, the underworld and the Earth. Long ago he taught people to farm. His brother Seth murdered him, but his wife Isis brought him back to life. Because he was the first god to die, he became lord of the dead.

Hathor – the cow – horned goddess of love. She also looked after happiness, dancing and music.

Anubis – The jackal headed god of the dead. He helped make mummies and embalmed the first one ever, Osiris. He also judged the scales of truth.

Ptah – the god who spoke the names of all things in the world. By doing this he made them exist. His job was making bodies in which men’s souls could live in the afterlife.

Sobek – the crocodile headed god. He controlled the water supplies. In the book of the dead, Sobek helped destroy Seth.

Seth – the god of the desert and storms. Enemy of his brother Osiris

Bes – the dwarf – god of happiness and protector of the family. Bes was also a children’s entertainer.

Horus – the falcon – headed god. He looked after pharaohs and was king of the living. He also defeated evil Seth.