The Weighing of the Heart from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer
Funerary manuscript (roll), papyrus support • Ancient Egyptian royal scribes and painters of the Theban workshop
Style & Movement
Ancient Egyptian Art (Ramesside period), characterized by the use of registers, composite perspective, and idealized figures
Medium & Technique
Ink and pigments on papyrus, featuring precise outlined drawing and polychrome painting using minerals such as ochre and lapis lazuli
Creation Period
New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, approximately 1275 BCE
Dimensions & Format
Landscape format scroll; original height approximately 45 cm, total scroll length significantly longer
Subject Description
A continuous narrative showing the scribe Hunefer being led by Anubis to the scales of Maat to weigh his heart against a feather. Thoth records the result while Ammit waits. Horus then presents Hunefer to Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys in the final judgment
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent (for its age); the pigments remain vibrant and the papyrus fibers are largely intact
Estimated Market Value
N/A (Indispensable Cultural Heritage of the British Museum; if ever sold, price would exceed $50 million)
Auction Estimate
Unavailable due to status as a permanent museum treasure
Provenance History
Discovered in the tomb of Hunefer in Thebes; acquired by the British Museum in 1852
Art Historical Significance
A masterpiece of Egyptian funerary art, it serves as the definitive visual example of the judgment of the soul and the high quality of New Kingdom scribal art
Notable Features
Includes the 'Devourer' Ammit and the detailed representation of the Ennead (twelve gods) as judges along the top register
Condition Issues
Minor fraying at edges, some darkening of the papyrus substrate, and micro-cracking of the painted layers
Conservation Recommendations
Framed in acid-free mounts under UV-filtered glass; strictly controlled humidity (45-50% RH) and low light levels (50 lux)