Aaru

Aaru (/ɑːˈruː/; Ancient Egyptian: jꜣrw, lit. 'reeds'), or the Field of Reeds (sḫt-jꜣrw, sekhet-aaru), represents the heavenly paradise in Egyptian mythology. Governed by the god Osiris, this realm has been characterized as the ka of the Nile Delta.

In Egyptian belief, the soul resided within the heart, requiring each person to undergo a "Weighing of the Heart" after death. This ceremony involved balancing the human heart on a great scale against an ostrich feather symbolizing the goddess Maat. Hearts that achieved balance earned their owners passage on a lengthy and dangerous journey to Aaru, where eternal peace and pleasure awaited. However, hearts burdened with evil would fall from the scale into the jaws of the goddess Ammit. Souls suffering this "second death" were condemned to restlessness in the Duat.

Deserving souls faced many trials before reaching Aaru. Upon arrival, they passed through a series of gates—accounts vary between 15 and 21—guarded by deities and malevolent demons. After successfully navigating these final obstacles, the deceased would be ferried across the water to the shores of the Field of Reeds.

Typically situated in the east where the sun rises, Aaru consisted of vast reed fields resembling the Nile Delta. This perfect hunting and farming territory allowed worthy souls to live eternally across a series of reed-covered islands. The specific region where Osiris resided later became known as the "field of offerings" (sḫt-ḥtpt).