Summary
The ancient Egyptian god of the underworld was Osiris, king of the dead and judge of every soul. Around him worked a whole team of gods of death:
- Anubis, the jackal god who embalmed the dead and guided them;
- Isis and Nephthys, the sisters who mourned and protected them;
- Thoth, who recorded the judgement;
- Maat, whose feather the heart was weighed against;
- Ammit, the monster who ate the hearts of the wicked.
Below is each of them, what they did and where you can still see them in Egypt’s tombs and temples.
The Gods of Death at a Glance
| God | Role in death and the afterlife | How to recognise them |
|---|---|---|
| Osiris | King of the underworld and judge of the dead | Mummy-wrapped, green or black skin, crook and flail |
| Anubis | God of embalming, guardian of cemeteries, guide of souls | Black jackal, or a man with a jackal head |
| Isis | Brought Osiris back to life; protector of the dead | Throne-shaped crown, outstretched wings |
| Nephthys | Goddess of mourning, guardian of the coffin | A house-and-basket sign on her head |
| Thoth | Scribe who records the weighing of the heart | Ibis head, or a baboon |
| Maat | Truth and order; her feather is weighed against the heart | A single ostrich feather on her head |
| Ammit | Devours the hearts of the unworthy | Crocodile head, lion body, hippopotamus back legs |
| Sokar | Falcon god of the Memphis necropolis | A falcon, often on a boat |
| Meretseger | Cobra goddess who guarded the Valley of the Kings | A coiled cobra, sometimes with a woman’s head |
| Apophis | Serpent of chaos who attacks the sun boat in the night | A giant snake |
Osiris: King of the Underworld
Osiris was a king murdered by his brother Seth and brought back to life by his wife Isis. From then on he ruled the land of the dead, the Duat. Every Egyptian hoped to become “an Osiris” after death and live again as he did, which is why mummies and coffins were made to look like him. His great cult centre was Abydos, where pilgrims came for his festival. Osiris was also a god of the Nile flood and new growth, so death and rebirth were two sides of the same story.
Anubis: Embalmer and Guide of the Dead
Anubis was the oldest god of the dead, before Osiris took over the underworld. Jackals roamed the desert cemeteries, so the Egyptians made a jackal their protector. Anubis watched over mummification, and priests wore his mask while they worked. He led the dead into the hall of judgement and adjusted the scales. The four protectors of the organs in the canopic jars were the Sons of Horus, with Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Selket as their guardians.
The Weighing of the Heart: Thoth, Maat and Ammit
The most famous scene of the Egyptian afterlife comes from the Book of the Dead:
- Anubis weighs the heart of the dead person against the feather of Maat.
- Thoth writes down the result.
- A light heart, free of wrongdoing, lets the soul pass to Osiris and the Field of Reeds, an endless version of Egypt.
- A heavy heart is eaten by Ammit, and the person dies a second and final death.
More in the ancient Egyptian afterlife.
Goddesses of Death: Isis, Nephthys and the Protectors
The goddess most linked with the dead is Nephthys, who mourned Osiris with her sister Isis. The two are often painted at the head and foot of coffins, as kites with wings spread over the body. Other protectors include Selket, the scorpion goddess, and Neith, who guard the canopic shrine. Imentet, “she of the West”, welcomed the dead into the western land where the sun sets. In Thebes the cobra Meretseger, “she who loves silence”, guarded the royal tombs from the peak above the Valley of the Kings.
The Night Journey of the Sun and Apophis
Every night the sun god Ra sailed through the twelve hours of the underworld in his boat. The dead could join him and be reborn with him at dawn. His enemy was Apophis, a giant serpent of chaos, who attacked the boat each night and was defeated each morning. These journeys are painted on the walls of the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
Where to See the Gods of Death in Egypt
- The Valley of the Kings: the underworld books and the sun’s night journey on the tomb walls. The tomb of Ramesses VI has some of the finest.
- The tombs of the nobles and Deir el-Medina in Luxor: Anubis tending mummies and the weighing of the heart.
- The Grand Egyptian Museum: Tutankhamun’s Anubis shrine and his gilded canopic shrine with its four goddesses.
- The Mummification Museum in Luxor: the tools and gods of embalming.
To see them with a guide, take our Valley of the Kings tour. For all the gods, see our guide to ancient Egyptian gods.
Egyptian Gods of Death: FAQ
Who was the Egyptian god of the underworld?
Osiris, the king of the dead and judge of souls. Anubis was the god of embalming and the guide of the dead.
Who is the Egyptian goddess of death?
No single goddess ruled death. Nephthys was the goddess of mourning and protector of the dead, and Isis protected and revived Osiris. Meretseger guarded the Theban tombs.
Is Anubis the god of death?
Anubis was the god of embalming, cemeteries and the journey of the dead. Osiris ruled the underworld itself.
What happened at the weighing of the heart?
The heart was weighed against the feather of Maat. A light heart passed to the afterlife; a heavy one was eaten by Ammit.
