"The doors of the horizon are opened; its bolts are unlocked. He comes to you, O Red Crown; he comes to you, O Fiery One. He has passed the moment of shaking."
At the exact moment of physical death, the unity of the human being was shattered. The Ka (life force) and the Ba (personality) were believed to separate from the body (Khat). This separation was not merely a biological event but a cosmic crisis. The deceased entered a liminal state—neither fully alive nor fully dead—marking the beginning of a dangerous but hopeful journey through the underworld (Duat).
The Great Separation
When the last breath was drawn, the coherence of the self dissolved.
- The Ka: Liberated from the body, it would theoretically starve unless fed. It remained near the body or in the tomb chapel, waiting for offerings.
- The Ba: Often confused and terrified, the Ba hovered over the body, reluctant to leave its physical home. It is frequently depicted as a bird with a human head flying down the tomb shaft to bring air and food to the mummy.
The Liminal State
During the 70 days of mummification, the soul was in a state of high vulnerability. The body was being prepared to become a Sah (noble mummy), but until the rites were complete, the spirit was at risk of "dying a second death" by demons or chaotic forces.
This period mirrored the nightly journey of the sun god Ra. Just as the sun dies at sunset and passes through the darkness to be reborn at dawn, the deceased had to pass through the darkness of death to be reborn as an Akh (transfigured spirit).
Restoring the Senses
The most critical moment of transition occurred at the burial, with the Opening of the Mouth ceremony.
The Ritual
A priest, wearing the mask of Anubis or the panther skin of a Sem-priest, touched the mummy's face with a ritual adze made of meteoric iron.
The Purpose
"I open your mouth for you... I open your eyes for you." This magically re-activated the senses of the spirit, allowing it to speak, see, eat, and drink in the afterlife. It turned the mummy from a dead object into a living vessel.
Into the West
Once the tomb was sealed, the true journey began. The deceased was now a "Westerner" (one who has entered the land of the dead). Armed with the spells of the Book of the Dead, they had to navigate the gates, answer the riddles of the guardians, and face the ultimate test in the Hall of Judgment.