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Akh
(Khu)
by
Alex Hopson
The
Akh is one of the five constituents of the human personality;
the others being Ka, Ba,
Name and Shadow. It has been referred to as a kind of
glorified being of light (spirit). There seem to be two
variations of the relationship between the Ba, Ka and
Akh:
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The
Akh is the result of the Ka and Ba being reunited in
the after life; once reunited the Akh is unchanged for
all eternity. The Akh was the form in which the deceased
occupied the afterlife, once he had became an Akh, the
deceased would become a part of the Akh-Akh (Starry
sky) along with the other deceased, gods and birds.
The Akh was an entity that co-existed with the Ka and
Ba, it could have a positive or negative affect on the
living world, in which it still bore responsibilities.
- When
someone died their Ka split into two, the Akh and the
Ba. The Akh, in the form of a bird flew to the afterlife
where it turned back into the Ka. While the Ba remained
on earth, inhabiting the physical body of the deceased.
The
physical form of the Akh is represented by a mummiform figure,
similar to that of a shabti figure. However the hieroglyph
representing the Akh is the sign of the crested ibis (Geronticus
Eremita) sometimes called the hermit ibis. The crested Ibis
is a less well known variety of Ibis, which is now rare
in Egypt although once it was more common. It has long legs
and a long neck, with a distinctive ruff that led to its
name. The word ‘Akh’ also means ‘to shine’, it is from the
term ‘Radiant light’. The transformation into the Akh is
symbolized by the adding of a crest to the normal Ba bird
to make it an Akh bird. The largest section of the Pyramid
text is devoted to ‘Glorifications’ (Sakhu) which literally
means ‘That which makes one an Akh’.
The
following is a chapter from the Book
of the Dead, as translated by Wallis Budge, note that
the Akh is referred to as Khu in this chapter dedicated
to the making of the Akh.
THE
BOOK OF MAKING PERFECT THE KHU
In
the heart of Ra, of making him to have the mastery before
Tem, of magnifying him before Osiris, of making him mighty
before Khent-Amentet, and of setting awe of him before the
Company of the Gods. It shall be recited on the day of the
New Moon, on the sixth day festival, on the fifteenth day
festival, on the festival of Uak, on the festival of Thoth,
on the Birthday of Osiris, on the festival of Menu, on the
night of Heker, [during] the Mysteries of the Tuat, during
the celebration of the Mysteries in Akertet, at the smiting
of the emissions, at the passage of the Funerary Valley,
[and] the Mysteries... [The recital thereof] will make the
heart of the Khu to flourish and will make long his strides,
and will make him to advance, and will make his face bright,
and will make it to penetrate to the god. Let no man witness
[the recital] except the king and the Kherheb priest, but
the servant who cometh to minister outside shall not see
it. Of the Khu for whom this Book shall be recited, his
soul shall come forth by day with the living, he shall have
power among the gods, and it will make him irresistible
forever and ever. These gods shall go round about him, and
shall acknowledge him. He shall be one of them. This [Book]
shall make him to know how he came into being in the beginning.
This Book is indeed a veritable mystery. Let no stranger
anywhere have knowledge of it. Do not speak about it to
any man. Do not repeat it. Let no [other] eye see it. Let
no [other] ear hear it. Let no one see it except [thyself]
and him who taught [it to thee]. Let not the multitude [know
of it] except thyself and the beloved friend of thy heart.
Thou shalt do this book in the she chamber on a cloth painted
with the stars in colour all over it. It is indeed a mystery.
The dwellers in the swamps of the Delta and everywhere there
shall not know it. It shall provided the Khu with celestial
food upon in Khert-Neter. It shall supply his Heart-soul
with food upon earth. It shall make him to live forever.
No [evil] thing shall have the master over him.
This
excerpt from the Book of the Dead shows the Akh as one of
the four rudders.
THE
ADDRESSES OF THE FOUR RUDDERS
- Hail,
Power of Heaven, Opener of the Disk, thou Beautiful Rudder
of the Northern Heaven.
- Hail,
Ra, Guide of the Two Lands, thou Beautiful Rudder of the
Western Heaven.
- Hail,
Khu, Dweller in the House of the Akhemu gods, thou Beautiful
Rudder of the Eastern Heaven.
- Hail,
Governor, Dweller in the House of the Tesheru Gods, thou
Beautiful Rudder of the Southern Heaven.
Source(s):
- Shaw,
Ian; Nicholson, Paul. British Museum dictionary of Ancient
Egypt
- Watterson,
Barbara. Gods of Ancient Egypt.
- Wallis
Budge, E.A. (trans.) The papyrus of Ani. (The Egyptian
book of the dead)
- Lehner,
Mark. The complete Pyramids.
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