Genuine Papyrus Painting - Judgement Scene
Made in Egypt, this genuine papyrus painting beautifully depicts a Judgement scene.
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.
The ceremony was believed to have been performed in front of Osiris, the chief god of the dead and the Afterlife, and a tribunal of 42 dieties.
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.