The Lake of Fire was a prominent feature in the ancient Egyptian conception of the afterlife, the Duat. Unlike the Christian notion of eternal damnation, this fiery lake symbolized both purification and annihilation—a place where the righteous could be renewed, and the wicked destroyed.

For the blessed dead, passing near or through the Lake of Fire was believed to cleanse and regenerate the soul, ensuring safe passage toward rebirth. For the unworthy, however, it was a place of obliteration, where the Ba (soul) and Akh (spirit) were consumed, preventing eternal existence.

Baboons frequently appear in depictions of the Duat, often linked with judgment, time, and the sun god Ra’s nightly journey. Sacred to Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing, baboons sometimes appear in the Hall of Ma’at, observing the weighing of the heart. They were also shown as guardians of sacred lakes, temples, and underworld gates, sometimes using fire as both a purifying and destructive force.

In other scenes, baboons greet the rising sun, symbolizing rebirth and the cyclical nature of life. Their connection to the sun’s journey through darkness made them fitting protectors of the Lake of Fire—a realm balancing renewal and destruction.

In this depiction, the central rectangular panel marked by a zigzag pattern represents the Lake of Fire itself. The zigzag motif evokes water, primordial chaos, or “fire-water,” a fiery liquid that embodies both creation and peril. The four baboons stand as its guardians, ensuring that only the worthy may approach for purification, while the unworthy are consumed.

Taken on  Tuesday 06th of August 2019

Device: Google

Model: Pixel 3 XL

Tags:  animal | monkey