亡者之書是一本寫滿咒語的卷軸，其內容及大小不定，端視出資者的選擇。古埃及人將其置於死者身邊，或繪於棺木，或繪於墓壁，幫助他順利通過冥間的危險，到達天堂。本件作品為當代的埃及藝術家所繪，描述亡者之神阿努比斯測量死者的心臟，書記之神特托則在旁記錄的情形。咒語中向眾神宣誓死者純正無罪的心，要求公正的判決。

The Book of the Dead are spells written on a scroll. The size of its contents varies, depending on the benefactor. The ancient Egyptians put the Book of the Dead by the dead body or painted it on the coffin or on the mural, helping it survive the dangers when passing through the underworld to ascend into heaven. This work is painted by a contemporary Egyptian painter, telling the story of Anubis, the God of the Dead, measuring the dead’s heart. Thoth, the Clerical deity is recording at a side. The spells announce the pure and innocent heart of the dead to the deities, demanding a fair judgement.

審判元素

秤
Libra of Anubis

秤被視為評斷正義的象徵。古埃及神話中胡狼神阿努比斯操作秤台，測量亡者心臟與正義羽毛相衡後的結果。
Libra is the symbol of justice and judgment. In ancient Egypt mythology, wolf god Anubis works the libra to measure the heart of the dead against the feather of Ma’at.

羽毛
Feather of Ma'at

古埃及正義女神瑪雅特，祂頭頂羽毛跟亡者心臟比較重量，當亡者之心輕於羽毛即為無罪者，可進入冥界。
Ma’at is ancient Egypt’s goddess of truth and justice. The feather on her head is used to measure the heart of the dead. If the heart is lighter than the feather, it means that the dead is innocent and can continue their journey to the afterlife.