In honour of Valentine's Day: the 'ib'



D18-20, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY.



The heart, or as the Ancient Egyptians called it, the 'ib' was regarded as the core of an individual. An individual's knowledge, memory and emotions stemmed from this single organ. To the Ancient Egyptians, the 'ib' was equally important in life and death.

This is because it was compulsory for everyone who entered the underworld, to participate in a judgment ritual known as the 'Weighing of the Heart'; where the individual's heart would be weighed against the feather (a representation of Maat). If the 'ib' weighed equal to the feather, then the individual could proceed to live a decent life in the underworld. If not, Ammit, the gobbler would devour the organ and the owner of the 'ib' would cease to exist in life or death.

Because the 'ib' was such a valuable part of an individual, it was not removed during mummification, instead a heart amulet (above) was placed over it to protect the physical organ and to ensure the 'ib' spoke no evil against its owner.


-chelle-