In
Egyptian mythology, 'Duat' (or Tuat) (also called 'Akert', 'Amenthes', or 'Neter-khertet') is the
underworld. The term is feminine.
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. 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
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Egypt Legends - Apophis in the Duat