Class 3.2 Egypt: Death and Demons—Constructing the Afterlife

These flashcards cover essential terms and concepts related to the afterlife beliefs and practices in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, helping students prepare for their exams.

Afterlife

The existence after death, as conceptualized by different cultures, particularly in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Duat

The Egyptian underworld where the dead are judged and must journey through before reaching the afterlife.

The Book of the Dead

An ancient Egyptian funerary text containing spells, prayers, and guidance for the deceased to navigate the afterlife.

Democratization of the Afterlife

The concept that access to the afterlife was made available to a broader range of people beyond the elite; reflected in texts and burial practices.

Ka

The life force or spirit of a person in ancient Egyptian belief that required sustenance after death.

Ba

The part of the soul in ancient Egyptian belief that could travel between the living world and the afterlife.

Mummification

The process of preserving the body after death, crucial for ensuring the deceased's survival in the afterlife in ancient Egyptian culture.

Judgment of the Dead

The process by which the deceased's heart is weighed against the feather of Ma'at to determine their fate in the afterlife.

Ammit

A composite creature in ancient Egyptian mythology, known as the Devourer, who consumes the hearts of the unworthy in the afterlife.

Pyramid Texts

Ancient Egyptian religious texts inscribed on the walls of pyramids, serving as spells for the deceased, dating to the Old Kingdom.

Coffin Texts

Funerary texts found in coffins from the Middle Kingdom that included spells for protection and guidance in the afterlife.

Liminal

A state of transitioning or being in-between, especially relating to the souls of the dead as they pass into the afterlife.