7The Afterlife: A Central Belief
Ancient Egyptians had a complex belief system centered around the afterlife. They believed that life continued after death, and the soul, or “ka,” needed to be preserved for the journey to the afterlife. This belief led to elaborate burial practices, including mummification, which preserved the body for eternity. Tombs were filled with goods, food, and treasures to assist the deceased in the afterlife. The famous phrase “Judgment of the Dead” refers to the belief that one’s heart would be weighed against the feather of Ma’at, determining the individual’s fate in the afterlife.
