INTERTWINED DEMONS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GATE GUARDIANS AND THE DEMON AMMIT

IN TWO BOOKS OF THE DEAD AS EXPRESSED THROUGH SYNECDOCHE

Solar Journey Names and Epithets by Jessica Johnson Conclusions
Each gate in the Book of the Dead M.A. Art History, University of Memphis
spells 144-147 was guarded by a
“doorkeeper” (jrj-ᶜɜ), “guardian” (sɜw),
and/or “herald” (smj). The names,
Mythological Function
The deceased who did not pass safely by the Gate Guardians was mut “dead” and condemned to
“doorkeeper” and “guardian,” parallel
Every night on the solar bark, the torture, ultimately resulting in a “second death,” where the deceased’s existence was erased from
earthly administrative titles. An earthly
Sun crossed the underworld and the cosmos. Because the underworld journey was modeled after the solar journey, the “dead” was
doorkeeper protected an area with The concept of synecdoche manifests in the
overcame obstacles in order to equated with the foes of the sun god. The final Judgment was regarded as an inescapable barrier
restricted access. A guardian escorted
that needed to be passed by everyone. The demon Ammit, whose name, the “swallower,” of the
personification of Ammit as the “second death”
reunite with the corpse of Osiris
people between locations. The Gate encompassing all of the lesser, individual acts of
and emerge at dawn. Success was unjust dead, reveals her mythological function and capabilities, personified the potential for failure
Guardians, like their earthly violence, which the Gate Guardians personify.
ensured through adherence to in the final Judgment. However, the ultimate purpose of Ammit and the Gate Guardians was to
counterparts, protected restricted and This connection is further supported by the
Ma’at. A deceased individual ensure the continuation of Ma’at, the obstruction of chaos, and the perpetuation of the solar cycle
liminal spaces from deceased
embarked on a similar journey and the cosmos. This commonality in particular supports the hypothesis of a synecdochical animal iconography, epithets, and mythological
individuals who were not in
through the underworld and
accordance with Ma’at. The
relationship between Ammit and the Gate Guardians. function, as well as the overarching concept of a
likened their journey to that of the tumultuous journey through the underworld.
Guardians’ epithets told of their
Sun in order to achieve the same
outcome. The Gate Guardians and
capabilities to enforce this purpose. Animal Iconography Crocodile Lion Hippopotamus
Ammit served as obstacles that Tomb of Lady of the altar, Lady of the sky,
ensured the deceased adhered to Sennedjem rich in offerings, she mistress of the two
Ma’at. Knowing the names and with whom every lands, She who causes
god is gladdened the land to fear from
epithets of the Guardians allowed the place of the body
one to pass the final judgment. The fear of animals (and animal-headed demons) comes from the viewer’s association
with the animals’ natural behavior. Animals used in Gate Guardian representations Papyrus of Loud-voiced’ Grim of visage who He who cuts up an
also comprise Ammit, who is the product of the combined attributes of Egypt’s most Ani (Reporter) repels the aggressor opponent (Doorkeeper)
(Keeper)
fearsome predators: the crocodile, the lion, and the hippopotamus. Evidence
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TT1, Tomb of Sennedjem EA 10470.11/12 Papyrus of Ani