Before proceeding with the description of psychostasia, it is necessary to say a few words concerning the deities taking part in the weigh ing of the heart in the supreme tribunal of Osiris, called "The Double Hall," represented in this plate.
The name which every dead Egyptian as sumed was that of the chief deity of Amenti, called °Osiris." As Osiris was considered the type of life after death, it was only natural that in the development of their mythology he should become the chief god of Amenti — the Justifier of the dead.
Osiris, according to Egyptian legend, was a prehistoric king, the embodiment of goodness. His brother, the wicked Set, becoming envious, treacherously killed him, cut the corpse in pieces and hid them in different parts of the land. Osiris' sister-wife, Isis, accompanied by her sister Nephthys, collected the scattered parts, which were then embalmed by the god Anubis. By means of magic, which Thoth, the god of letters and science, taught Isis, she re suscitated the body. Finally, Horus, son of Osiris and Isis. avenged the death of his father, by engaging Set,.or Typhon, in com bat and killing him. In the course of time Isis, Horus, etc., came to be considered as gods, and Osiris became identified with Tuns, the setting sun symbolizing death; and Horus on the horizon (Her-emIchu,. sometimes called Her-em-Khuti), the type of birth and resur rection.
Thus the Ka, whilst wandering through the regions of darkness and molested by demons, is the dead Osiris. After the weighing of his heart and if found not wanting, he is beatified and obtains new life. He is no more Osiris the dead, but Osiris Horus, the resurrected.
Plate b represents the weighing of the heart in the tribunal of the netherworld, ,Amenti; presided over by the supreme deity Osiris (Ausar). On the extreme right and left of the hall are two massive pillars, carved to imitate bundles of lotus stalks, fastened together near the top of the column. The deceased at the entrance to the hall is in an adoring attitude; his uplifted arms are supported by Maat, the goddess of truth and justice. She is always present in the Judgment Hall and is represented headless, with an ostrich feather in place of the head. Her figure, sometimes only the feather of her headgear, is placed in the scale-pan, opposite the one containing the vase with the heart.* The jackal-headed Anubis and the
hawk-headed Horus superintend the weighing. In the scale-pan to the right is the weight in the shape of the goddess Maat. This scale is adjusted by another divinity unnamed in the hieroglyphic text. In the scale-pan to the left is a jar containing the heart of the departed. Upon the beam of the balance sits the dog headed ape deity called Hapi. The little figure seated on the crook to the left represents the new birth after the justification of the °Osiris." Close to the balance stands the ibis-headed scribe Thoth, with his tablets, recording the re sult of the weighing. Close in front of him, upon a shrine, sits the adversary (the Egyptian Cerberus), called in hieroglyphics Amemit, the devourer of the dead, in the shape of a strange being composed of three beasts: hippopotamus, lion and crocodile, ready to destroy the Ka in case he should, after weighing, be found want ing. Immediately facing the throne is an altar full of sacrifices, consisting of bread, geeie, onions, lotus flowers, buds and burning incense. Beneath the altars are jars containing wine and other liquids for oblations. At the head of the hall is Osiris himself, sitting upon a throne which is richly decorated with ankhs, emblems of life and uas, emblems of purity. He is close ly shrouded, and wears the white crown of upper Egypt, called Atef, ornamented with two ostrich feathers, the symbols of truth and jus tice; his hands crossed upon his breast, on his wrists are bracelets. He holds in his right hand the Nekhekh, scourge; and in his left, Hek, the *Many of the Pharaohs adopted her name in their royal titles, i. e., Ramesis II styled himself Se Re Una Ma, "Son of the Sun. the Keeper of Truth." crooked staff, symbolical of justice. Above are the 42 divine assessors, seated in two rows of 21 each, with different type of head, such as the heads of apes, serpents, crocodiles, etc., adorned with the feather representing truth and justice, and each holding in his hand a sharp-pointed knife. The Ka of the deceased stands, in beseeching posture, with hands raised, in front of each row of the judges.