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this reason many ancient tombs included narrow channels created to allow the Ba access –though it is clear that the nature of the Ba was incorporeal and that such physical opening were symbolic rather than necessary.
Of the components of the Egyptian Soul the Ba is most comparable to the modern idea of Spirit or Soul.
Not only humans but also Gods were spoken of as having a Ba. It was the Ba of the God which manifested through the Divine image to commune with worshippers.
Interestingly, the theophany, or animal form, of a God was also described as its Ba. Thus the Phoenix, or Bennu, was looked upon as the Ba of Osiris. Similarly, the ram the Ba of Amon-Ra. Syncretically the Goddess Bast was spoken of as the Ba of Isis.
Above: The “Khu” |
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The Khu, or Akhu, was the part of the Soul that dwelt with the Gods among the Stars.
The word “Khu” means “Shining” and the Khu was considered to be something like a body of light, and was represented by a Crested Ibis.
Both the Ka and the Ba were considered to be united through the Khu. But where the Khu and the Ba were inherently immortal, the Ka was not, dissipating when forgotten by the living.
In certain eras the Khu was thought to reincarnate through the Ba as successive KaÂ’s, which each expressed the immortal nature of the Khu and Ba in differing ways.
Finally we have the Sekhem. The word “Sekhem” means something like “Power”, or “Magic” and is perhaps closest to the modern word “Spirit” in that it could be used in both general and particular ways.
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