Expert: Irulan Serena - 12/14/2006

Question
What is the name of the animal in the underworld in Egyptian mythology that eats the hearts of evil Egyptians.

Answer
Hello Mike,

It is not an animal, it was AMMUT, a female demon.

Judgement after death was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat (truth and justice). The heart must not be heavier then the feather of Maat. This was not a physical weighing of the organ by living Egyptians, it was a ceremony that took place in the afterlife and was performed by the gods.

Ammut (Ammit, Ahemait, Ammemet were her other names.

She was known as the 'Eater of Hearts', 'The Devourer' and 'Great of Death' because she was a demoness of punishment.

She had the head of a crocodile, the body of a leopard and the backside of a hippopotamus - all fierce creatures to the Egyptians. All man-eaters. It's no wonder that she was depicted as one who consumed the unworthy dead.


Here is a link to more information about Ammut and the Book of the Dead.

http://touregypt.net/godsofegypt/ammut.htm

Regards and Happy Holidays,

Iru