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The Egyptian Heaven and Hell · 75 of 96 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 21 (part 2)

The ape may be the equivalent of the dog-headed ape which sits on the beam of the Balance in the pictures in the Theban papyri, and the pig may represent the Eater of the Dead; but at present these are matters of conjecture. With reference to the pig it is interesting to note that p. 161 Click to view The Judgement Hall of Osiris according to the Book of Gates. (From Champollion, Monuments de l'Égypte , tom. iii, pl. cclxxii.) p. 163 in the Papyrus of Nekht the deceased is seen grasping a chain by which a serpent is fettered, and spearing a pig. The chief point of interest in the whole scene is the fact that the Judgment here depicted is of a more primitive character than that given in the Book of the Dead. The Boat of AFU-RA, having passed through or by the Hall of Osiris, now enters the abode of the blessed, and the pictures of the SIXTH DIVISION are intended to show us the occupations of those who have been declared to be "right and true." The Boat is towed through this DIVISION by four gods of the Tuat and immediately in front of it is a series of jackal-headed sceptres of SEB, to each of which two enemies are tied; by the side of each sceptre is a god, who takes care that the punishments which have been decreed by Osiris are duly executed. It is noteworthy that the two eyes of Ra are placed between the first two sceptres (vol. ii., p. 172). The Egyptian text (vol. ii., p. 183) makes it quite clear that the enemies of Osiris are tied to the standards of SEB according to the god's decree, and preparatory to slaughter in the Hall of Ra. Click to view Nekht spearing the pig of evil . To the right of the path of AFU-RA are twelve MAATI gods who carry MAAT, and twelve HETEPTIU p. 164 gods who carry provisions. These are they who offered up incense to the gods, and whose kau or "doubles have been washed clean, whose iniquities have been done away, and who were right in the judgement." Therefore has Osiris decreed them to be "Maat of Maat," i.e., most "righteous," and he has given them a place of abode in his own presence with peace and the food of Maat thereon to live (vol. ii., pp. 177, .186). To the left of the path of AFU-Ra are twelve gods, each of whom is tending a colossal ear of wheat, and twelve gods provided with sickles, engaged in reaping. The ears of wheat here growing are the "members of Osiris," ( hat Sar ), that is, they are regarded as parts of the god's own body, 1 and the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Osiris and human beings on earth alike ate the body of the god when they ate bread of wheat. The wheat which grew in the kingdom of Osiris was, of course, larger, and finer in every respect than that which grew on earth, and it is expressly said that the "Khu," i.e., beatified spirits, feed upon the divine grain (NEPRA) in the land of the Light-god (vol. ii., p. 188). Therefore since the divine grain is here a form of Osiris, the Khu live upon the god himself, and eat him daily; this is exactly the kind of belief which we should expect the primitive Egyptians at one period to possess. The idea of a heaven wherein p.
Themes
◆Archonscosmology

Malevolent planetary rulers or demiurgic powers that govern the material world and obstruct the soul's ascent.

A monster serpent guards the gate of the Sixth Division, functioning as an obstructive power before the soul can enter.

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◆Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The weighing process contrasts the heart against a symbol of 'evil,' establishing a moral opposition between righteousness and wickedness.

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◆Eschatological Judgmentsoteriology

Final, collective cosmic judgment as an event in which the wicked are sentenced and the cosmos restored; distinct from psychopomp_journey (individual passage at death) and emphasising verdict where Zoroastrian frashokereti emphasises restoration.

The Judgment Hall of Osiris is depicted where the deceased is weighed and a verdict is ratified by the gods before entry into the kingdom.

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◆Self Examinationpraxis

Daily review of thought and action as spiritual practice.

The weighing of the heart against Maat implies a post-mortem review and assessment of the deceased's moral conduct.

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◆Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

The Boat of Afu-Ra passes through successive divisions of the Tuat to arrive near the kingdom of Osiris, indicating a staged journey upward.

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◇Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] Deities are depicted with human characteristics and actions, such as grasping paddles, sitting on baskets, and singing.

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◇Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

[auto] The uraei pour out fire to lighten the darkness of the underworld, representing divine illumination in a sacred context.

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◇Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage explicitly describes the divisions of the Tuat and the movement of the Boat of AFU-RA through the underworld, serving as a guide for the journey after death.

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◇Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] The gods are portrayed as active and dynamic entities who paddle, sing, scatter water, and provide offerings.

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◇Maat Cosmic Ordercosmology

The Egyptian principle of truth, balance, and right order underlying both the cosmos and human conduct; the parallel to Zoroastrian asha and Greek dike.

[auto] The passage explicitly describes the weighing of the heart against the feather symbolic of Maat or righteousness as a central requirement for entering Osiris's kingdom.

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◇Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

[auto] Specific numbers structure the cosmology of the division, including twelve sailor-gods, three deities, and four divisions.

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◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The text details the guided passage of the god's boat through afterlife realms accompanied by deities who assist in the journey.

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◇Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

[auto] Fire is utilized by divine serpents (uraei) as a medium to combat darkness within the sacred division of the Tuat.

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◇Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The passage lists specific divine names for divisions, gates, and goddesses, which in Egyptian tradition carry ontological power.

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Related passages · 1 parallel
◆western_esoteric|Transcendental Magic II: The Ritual (Éliphas Lévi)|22. The Book Of Hermesk
“The second beast, emblem of the northern conquerors, who reigned by iron during the second age, was like unto a bear; it had three rows of sharp teeth, images of three great conquering families, and they said unto it: Arise, devour much fle…”
Both passages describe a judgment scene in the afterlife where the righteous are rewarded and the wicked are punished. Passage A details the Egyptian judgment hall of Osiris, while Passage B describes a similar judgment scene involving the Ancient of Days and the new Christ. Both involve a divine tribunal and the allocation of rewards and punishments based on moral conduct.