Famous Egyption Tale: The Brave Spirit Who Faced Anubis
Long, long ago in ancient Egypt, there was a land of golden deserts, mighty pyramids, and powerful gods. One of the most important gods was Anubis, the jackal-headed god of the afterlife. He helped guide souls to the next world and judged if they had lived good lives.
Most spirits respected Anubis. But once, a very bold spirit did something no other soul had ever dared to do—it challenged Anubis himself.
This is the story of the spirit who would not follow the rules, and the lesson he—and others—learned from it.
Who Was Anubis?
Anubis was no ordinary god. He had the head of a jackal and the body of a man. He watched over the dead and protected their journey to the afterlife. His job was very important: when someone died, their heart was placed on a golden scale.
On the other side of the scale was a feather—the Feather of Truth. If the heart was light and full of goodness, the soul could go to the Field of Reeds, a paradise like a dream. But if the heart was heavy with lies or bad deeds, the soul was sent to the underworld.
Anubis was always fair. He didn’t punish anyone without reason, and he never showed anger. But even he was surprised when one day, a mysterious spirit appeared and refused to be judged.
A Spirit Like No Other
This spirit’s name was Nekhet. In life, Nekhet had been a clever and powerful man. He believed he could outsmart anyone—even the gods.
When Nekhet died, his spirit arrived in the Hall of Judgment, where Anubis stood tall beside the scale. Nekhet looked around, smiled proudly, and said, “I don’t need to be judged. I choose my own afterlife.”
The gods in the hall gasped. No soul had ever spoken like that.
Anubis looked at him calmly and said, “All spirits must face the scale. Even the clever ones.”
But Nekhet raised his chin. “What if I win a challenge? What if I prove I am worthy in my own way?”
Anubis Accepts the Challenge
Anubis could see the pride in Nekhet’s heart. But he also saw something else—a chance to teach a lesson. So Anubis nodded and said, “Very well. I accept your challenge. You must face three tests. If you succeed, you may pass without judgment.”
The other gods watched in silence.
Test One: The Puzzle of the Past
Anubis asked Nekhet, “What is the one thing no spirit can change?”
Nekhet thought hard. He loved puzzles. He answered, “The truth. No one can change what truly happened.”
Anubis smiled. “Correct.”
Test Two: The Path of Shadows
Next, Nekhet had to walk through a path filled with shadows of his own bad deeds. He saw times he lied, cheated, and hurt others. The shadows whispered, “You cannot escape us.”
But Nekhet kept walking. He said, “I know what I’ve done. I won’t run.”
At the end of the path, Anubis waited. “You have faced your past. Well done.”
Test Three: The Weight of the Heart
Finally, Anubis said, “Now place your heart on the scale.”
Nekhet froze. “But I passed your tests!”
Anubis replied gently, “Courage and wisdom are only part of the truth. We must still weigh your heart.”
Nekhet sighed and placed his heart on the scale.
The feather balanced perfectly with his heart.
He had faced the truth, admitted his wrongs, and tried to grow. And that made his heart lighter.
The Lesson Learned
Anubis smiled. “You are ready. You may enter the Field of Reeds.”
Nekhet bowed deeply, not with pride, but with respect.
The gods cheered, and Nekhet’s spirit walked into the light—not because he avoided judgment, but because he earned his place by learning the truth about himself.
What This Story Teaches Us
- Even the strongest must face the truth.
- Cleverness is not enough—kindness and honesty matter more.
- It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you try to fix them.
- True strength is in knowing who you really are.
So, if you ever feel like avoiding a mistake or hiding from the truth, remember Nekhet—the spirit who challenged Anubis and became wise in the process.
And who knows? Maybe Anubis is still watching, waiting to see who will be brave enough to face the truth in their heart.