|
This book sounds quite interesting! I thought that I would just tell you what I thought that the body in the afterlife was comprised of, now that we have gone of on a tangent:
An Egyptian's ka was thought to be created at the same time as they were born (sculpted by Khnum from clay and tears). The physical body was regarded as the future container for that ka. The ka would then arrive at the mummified body and use the it as a body in the afterlife. The ka was essentially the life force that could re-control that same body whilst it was still mummified- for eternity. (A bit like in 'The Matrix'- when the people can be in two places at once, both in the Matrix and in their ships).
As well as the ka (which was primarily for controlling and awakening the mummified body in the afterlife, as well as determining physical features) there was also the ba (the bird with a human head). The ba was simmilar to the ka, but the ba gave the person in the afterlife the same personality (an non-physical attributes) as they had in their first life.
The ba and ka needed to be able to recognise their body before they could join together with it and so this is another reason why good preservation of the body was so important. when the ba and ka finally did manage this herculean task they formed the Akh, which was the final combination of: a) the dead mummified corpse
b) the ka (physical)
c) the ba (personality)
I am quite confused now- I think I have it right, but I may be wrong. Tell me what you think. (Interesting isn't it!?)
|
