Ka statue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ka statue, here that of pharaoh Hor, provided a physical place for the ka to
manifest.
A ka statue is a type of ancient Egyptian statue intended to provide a resting
place for the ka (life-force or spirit) of the person after death. The ancient
Egyptians believed the ka along with the physical body, the name, the ba
(personality or soul), and the wt (shadow), made up the five aspects of a person.

Contents [hide]
1 Purpose and use
2 Design and construction
3 See also
4 Notes and references
4.1 Notes
4.2 References
Purpose and use[edit]
After death, the ethereal aspects of the soul were believed to be released from the
body, free to roam the earth, but required the physical body or a surrogate, such
as the ka statue, to return to as a permanent home.

Ka statues could also be set up as a type of memorial for the deceased in absentia;
for example in Abydos hundreds were set up to allow the dead to participate in the
yearly festivals commemorating the resurrection of Osiris.[1]

Because the ancient Egyptians believed statues could magically perceive the world,
they were ceremonially brought to life by priests in a special ritual called the
Opening of the mouth ceremony. In the full version of this ceremony, the mouth,
eyes, nose, and ears could be touched with ritual implements to give the statue the
power of breath, sight, smell, and hearing.[2]

Design and construction[edit]

D28
ka
in hieroglyphs
Ka statues were usually carved from wood or stone and sometimes painted in the
likeness of the owner to reinforce the spiritual connection and preserve the
person's memory for eternity. Many ka statues were placed in a purpose-built
mortuary chapel or niche, which could be covered with appropriate inscriptions.[3]
Like most ancient Egyptian statuary, ka statues display a rigid frontalism in which
the body faces squarely forward in a formal way. Whether seated or standing, their
posture reflects the need for the statue to see the real world in front of them and
conform to an ideal standard of beauty and perfection.[4]

The hieroglyph representing the ka is composed of a pair of upraised arms. It is

sometimes depicted on top of the head of the statue to reinforce its intended
purpose.

See also[edit]
Art of ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian religion
Notes and references[edit]
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ Oakes (2003) p. 162
Jump up ^ Oakes (2003) p. 419
Jump up ^ Stierlin (1995) p. 98
Jump up ^ Robins (1998) pages 19, 145
References[edit]
Oakes, Lorna (2003). Ancient Egypt An Illustrated Reference to the Myths,
Religions, Pyramids and Temples of the Land of the Pharaohs. New York Barnes &
Noble. ISBN 0-7607-4943-4.
Robins, Gay (2000). The Art of Ancient Egypt. Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard
University Press. ISBN 0-674-00376-4.
Stierlin, Anne; Stierlin, Henri (1995). The Pharaohs Master-Builders. Vilo
International. ISBN 2-87939-020-6.