Our last painting on the museum tour is the Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer, which portrays Hu-Nefers walk through his tomb at Thebes. This particular painting is on papyrus scroll and dates from 1290-1280 B.C. or around the time of the early nineteenth dynasty of Egypt (Egyptian Art 2010). This particular scene is part of the judgment that all Egyptians must face before entering into the afterlife. The primary purpose of this painted scene is to emphasize the Egyptian belief in the importance of the Afterlife (Egyptian Art 2010).
The Last Judgment is an important event in an Egyptians afterlife in that it determines how the afterlife will be spent. In this painting, Hu-Nefer is being guided into the hall of judgment by Anubis, the jackal-headed god of embalming (Egyptian Art 2010). The god leads Hu-Nefer down the hall and to the first scene where Anubis places Hu-Nefers heart on a balance to determine whether his actions on earth were moral and true enough to outweigh the feather of Maat, the goddess and protectoress of truth and everything right (Egyptian Art 2010). If his heart does not outweigh the feather then the crocodile headed god Ammit will devour it and Hu-Nefer will be denied entrance into a positive and good afterlife (Norfleet 2009). If it outweighs the feather then Hu-Nefer will be judged true and he will be led to Horus (Osiris son), the falcon headed god who will then lead Hu-Nefer to Osiris the judge and god of the underworld (Papyrus Scroll 2010).
Hu-Nefers moral goodness on earth is portrayed by the scene in the top register of the painting in which he is presenting gifts and offerings to a line of sitting gods (Egyptian Art 2010).
The god Osiris is always portrayed as a mummy wrapped with white bandages with green skin. In this painting Osiris is also with the goddesses Isis and Nephthys. They are said be standing behind Osiris in a somewhat of a protective mode (Papyrus Scroll 2010). Both Isis (Osiris wife) and Nephthys are providing protection and services to Osiris as he takes on the final role of passing the last judgment of Hu-Nefer. Hu-Nefer actually will pass through the veil of Isis to reach the domain of Osiris. Passing through the veil is a symbol of raising or opening of the veil of the material world, thus obtaining of state of true spiritual awareness concerning the mysteries of nature (Platapagan). Hu-Nefer will walk through and meet Osiris before moving on into the afterlife or the Aaru (Norfleet 2009).
Each god plays a particular role in the Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer. Their parts are key in walking Hu-Nefer through the phases of the judgment and ushering him into the afterlife. Their presence is of vital importance to the Egyptian people. Isis and Osiris are dominating themes throughout the ancient Egyptians religion. The worshipping of Osiris came about as a result of a legend portraying Osiris as a former pharaoh of Egypt. His ruling was a time of prosperity however, his brother Seth was jealous and set out to kill Osiris. According to legend, Seth dumped Osiris body in the Nile where its said to have floated out into the Mediterranean Sea. It was Isis who located the dead body and brought it back to Egypt where she used magic to conceive of Osiris and gave birth to Horus. Seth discovered the body, cut it into pieces and got rid of it. Isis found the pieces and bandaged him up in mummy clothing. It was said that Osiris was then brought back to life and descended to the underworld where he became the new ruler (Norfleet 2009). By New Kingdom times, virtually every deceased man or woman was entombed with observances honoring Osiris (Norfleet 2009).
The painting Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer tells the story and emphasizes the importance of the Egyptians belief in the afterlife as well as reminding Egyptians of the importance of living a moral life of integrity and purity. Actions in the present determine where they will find themselves in the life to come. It is a masterpiece of Egyptian culture representing centuries of religious beliefs and culture.
The Last Judgment is an important event in an Egyptians afterlife in that it determines how the afterlife will be spent. In this painting, Hu-Nefer is being guided into the hall of judgment by Anubis, the jackal-headed god of embalming (Egyptian Art 2010). The god leads Hu-Nefer down the hall and to the first scene where Anubis places Hu-Nefers heart on a balance to determine whether his actions on earth were moral and true enough to outweigh the feather of Maat, the goddess and protectoress of truth and everything right (Egyptian Art 2010). If his heart does not outweigh the feather then the crocodile headed god Ammit will devour it and Hu-Nefer will be denied entrance into a positive and good afterlife (Norfleet 2009). If it outweighs the feather then Hu-Nefer will be judged true and he will be led to Horus (Osiris son), the falcon headed god who will then lead Hu-Nefer to Osiris the judge and god of the underworld (Papyrus Scroll 2010).
Hu-Nefers moral goodness on earth is portrayed by the scene in the top register of the painting in which he is presenting gifts and offerings to a line of sitting gods (Egyptian Art 2010).
The god Osiris is always portrayed as a mummy wrapped with white bandages with green skin. In this painting Osiris is also with the goddesses Isis and Nephthys. They are said be standing behind Osiris in a somewhat of a protective mode (Papyrus Scroll 2010). Both Isis (Osiris wife) and Nephthys are providing protection and services to Osiris as he takes on the final role of passing the last judgment of Hu-Nefer. Hu-Nefer actually will pass through the veil of Isis to reach the domain of Osiris. Passing through the veil is a symbol of raising or opening of the veil of the material world, thus obtaining of state of true spiritual awareness concerning the mysteries of nature (Platapagan). Hu-Nefer will walk through and meet Osiris before moving on into the afterlife or the Aaru (Norfleet 2009).
Each god plays a particular role in the Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer. Their parts are key in walking Hu-Nefer through the phases of the judgment and ushering him into the afterlife. Their presence is of vital importance to the Egyptian people. Isis and Osiris are dominating themes throughout the ancient Egyptians religion. The worshipping of Osiris came about as a result of a legend portraying Osiris as a former pharaoh of Egypt. His ruling was a time of prosperity however, his brother Seth was jealous and set out to kill Osiris. According to legend, Seth dumped Osiris body in the Nile where its said to have floated out into the Mediterranean Sea. It was Isis who located the dead body and brought it back to Egypt where she used magic to conceive of Osiris and gave birth to Horus. Seth discovered the body, cut it into pieces and got rid of it. Isis found the pieces and bandaged him up in mummy clothing. It was said that Osiris was then brought back to life and descended to the underworld where he became the new ruler (Norfleet 2009). By New Kingdom times, virtually every deceased man or woman was entombed with observances honoring Osiris (Norfleet 2009).
The painting Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer tells the story and emphasizes the importance of the Egyptians belief in the afterlife as well as reminding Egyptians of the importance of living a moral life of integrity and purity. Actions in the present determine where they will find themselves in the life to come. It is a masterpiece of Egyptian culture representing centuries of religious beliefs and culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment