Ammit

Ammit


 * Other Names:**

Amermait, Ahemait, Ammut, Ammut, Amam


 * Meaning of Name:**

“The Devourer”


 * Hieroglyphics:**

or

“Devourer of the Dead”
 * Titles:**

“Bone Eater”

//Am-Heh// (“Devourer of Millions”)

“Eater of Hearts”

“Great of Death”

Ammit was the annihilator of criminal souls in the Duat. She was a demoness who lived by a lake of fire. Ammit was present at //Maaty// ("The Hall of Two Truths,") where the deceased’s heart was weighed on the scales. If the heart was //maat heru// (“true of voice”) it would be allowed to pass by. Ammit swallowed the hearts of those who were deemed not fit to enter Sehet Aaru. Once Ammit swallowed the heart the soul was believed to become restless forever - this was called “to die a second time.”

Ammit was depicted with the head of a crocodile, the front part of her body like a lion or leopard, and her back part in the form of a hippopotamus. Thus she is a combination of those animals which were considered as the most dangerous to the ancient Egyptians. It has been suggested that this composite form of land and water animals left the damned no place to escape her wrath.

Ammit was not worshiped, and was never regarded as a goddess. Instead she embodied creatures that the Egyptians feared, threatening to eat them if they did not follow the principals of Ma’at. Some experts have linked Ammit with the goddess Taweret, who has a similar physical appearance. Other authors have noted that Ammit’s lion characteristics, and the lake of fire, may be pointers to a connection with the goddess Sekhmet. In some instances she was pictured with multiple breasts and falcon wings.


 * Quotes from the Book of the Dead and other sources:**

“The Osiris, whose word is true, is holy and righteous. He has not committed any sin, and he has done no evil against us. The Devourer Ammit shall not be permitted to prevail over him.”

Hymn Against Ammit

Egyptian Deities - A