akh

In ancient Egyptian religion, the akh (often transliterated ḫꜥḫ) is the transformed or glorified state of a deceased person. The akh is conceived as an active, intelligent being that can operate in both the world of the living and the realm of the gods.

Origins and nature: The akh is said to arise after judgment and ritual. According to Egyptian texts, the akh forms when the deceased is judged favorably in the afterlife and receives the rites and offerings that enable it to endure. The akh is typically described as a bright, speech-capable, and mobile form that can travel through the Duat and interact with the living and with deities.

Relation to other soul concepts: The akh is distinct from the ba and ka. The ba denotes personality, the ka the life force; the akh represents the transformed, glorified being that results from a proper alignment of these elements with the ren, or name. It is often depicted as radiant and intangible, able to speak, move, and influence events.

Textual evidence and periods: The akh is mentioned in Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead. The concept develops from the Old to the New Kingdom and remains a central idea in funerary literature, appearing in later periods with varying emphasis.

Scholarly interpretation: Scholars differ on the nature of the akh. Some view it as a magical, effective state that allows the deceased to inhabit the heavenly realm, while others see it as a symbolic expression of moral immortality. Debates continue about its exact status and its relationship to other elements of the Egyptian soul.