The 5 Elements of Humans
Body
Shadow
Ba
Ka
Name
the physical shell in which humans exist
The heart was the most important part of the body
center of human thought, emotion, and physical activity
essential supplement to the human body, because everybody casts a shadow
since shadows derive from the human body, it was believed they had the essence of the human body and its owner
reason why some depictions of gods are called shadows
everything that makes person unique EXCEPT the body
like the modern idea of a "personality"
similar to the idea of a soul - spiritual rather than physical
Part of a human that lives on after death
thought to move freely from the mummy, out of the tomb, and into the living
often depicted as a human-headed bird
mostly associated with humans and gods, but inanimate objects can have one too
life force/ energy
death occurs when it leaves the body
Egyptians believe it originated with the creator god
transmitted to mankind by pharaohs
passed to individuals by fathers
was thought to be sustained by food and drink
origin of the custom of food offerings- spirits could use the food's energy without consuming it
essential for the existence of the other 4 elements
the wealthy would expend tons of money and effort to ensure their names survived
would have their names inscribed on their monuments and tombs
mention of a person's name brings to mind an image of that person, even if they are dead
writing someone's name next to an image identifies the image with that person, giving that person an alternate form other than their body
destroying a figurine with someone's name on it was believed to destroy the name's owner
gods had secret names that were too powerful for others to know, even other gods
Mummified after death
wrapped in linen & dried out with salt
major organs EXCEPT the heart removed and placed in canopic jars
bodies of the poor were wrapped in reed mats and buried in sang graves
bodies of the wealthy taken to their tombs in the necropolis, often in the desert cliffs on the western bank of the Nile
priests perform ceremonies like the "mouth opening ritual" on the body
sealed in chambers underground
believed that funeral ceremonies released the ba from its attachment to the body so it could come & go freely
after, the dead became "akh" meaning they could live without physical form
energy absorbed "charges" the ka, allowing the spirit to be active in the afterlife
some believed it could be released from a sleeping body to travel
able to eat, drink, speak , and move like humans
able to travel, but was attached to the body while the human was alive
4 sons of Horus