Duat

In Egyptian mythology, Duat (or Tuat) (also called Akert, Amenthes, or Neter-khertet) is the underworld.

This was the region through which the sun god Ra traveled from west to east during the night, and where he battled Apep.

It also was the place where people's souls went after death—for judgment. The structure of Duat, and the dangers faced there by dead souls, are detailed in texts such as the Book of Gates and the Book of the Dead.

The most famous scene from the discussions of Duat is the Weighing of the Heart, in which the dead were judged by Anubis, using a feather, representing Ma'at, the goddess of Truth and Justice. She was responsible for maintaining order in the universe after having eliminated the emptiness of chaos as the beginning of creation.

The heart was thought to be the location of the soul by the ancient Egyptians. The hearts of souls which were out of balance because of sin, any hearts heavier or lighter than the feather of Ma'at, were rejected and eaten by the goddess Ammit (Also known as the Devourer of Souls). Those souls that would be allowed to travel toward the paradise of Aaru had to have hearts that weighed exactly the same as Ma'at's feather.

External links

• Egypt Legends - Apophis in the Duat

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Last updated on Monday March 03, 2008 at 20:26:23 PST (GMT -0800)
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