THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

The Weighing of the Conscience

This scene, known as the Psychostasia, represents the central ordeal of the Egyptian afterlife. The deceased's heart is weighed against the feather of Ma'at (Truth).

Vignette: Above, twelve gods sit as judges before a table of offerings. Below, the jackal-headed Anubis The god of mummification and protector of the dead. kneels to check the plummet of a Great Balance. In the left scale-pan sits the heart of Ani; in the right sits the feather of Ma'at The goddess of cosmic order, truth, and justice..

To the left of the scales stand Shai The personification of Destiny or the lifespan allotted to a person. and the goddesses Renenit and Meschenit Goddesses associated with birth, nursing, and the luck assigned to a child at the moment of birth.. Above them, the Ba The soul-spirit of the deceased, capable of traveling between the physical and spiritual realms, depicted as a bird with a human head. of Ani watches the proceedings.

To the right of the scales, the ibis-headed Thoth The god of wisdom and writing, acting here as the divine clerk. prepares to record the verdict. Behind him waits Ammit Original: "Amemit," the "Devourer of the Dead," a demon who consumes those found unworthy., a monster with the head of a crocodile, the body of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus.

The Prayer for the Heart (Continued)

Continuing from the previous page, Ani addresses his own heart to ensure it does not betray him during the weighing.

...ple original: "people" who establish the positions of men. Do not tell lies against me in the presence of the Great God, the Lord of the West. Behold, your reputation depends on the verdict being righteous!

The Report of Thoth

Thoth announces the results of the weighing to the Great Council of Gods.

Thoth, the judge of truth for the Great Council of Gods, says:
"Hear this word in truth! The heart of Osiris The deceased is identified with Osiris, the god of the dead, to ensure resurrection., the scribe Ani, has indeed been weighed, and his soul has stood as witness for him. His character is righteous according to the Great Balance. No wickedness has been found in him. He did not diminish the offerings in the temples. He did not act with malice. He did not speak evil while he was upon the earth."

The Verdict of the Gods

The Council of Gods responds to Thoth, confirming Ani’s worthiness.

The Great Council speaks to Thoth:
"That which comes forth from your mouth is true. The Osiris, the scribe Ani, is victorious and righteous Ma'a Kheru Literally "True of Voice" or "Justified." This title was given to those who passed the judgment of the dead.. He has committed no sin, and he has no record of evil before us. Ammit the Devourer shall not be permitted to prevail over him. Let there be given to him the offerings of meat and the right to enter into the presence of the god Osiris, along with a permanent estate in the Fields of Peace, as is granted to the Followers of Horus."