What Is the Duat? Meaning of the Ancient Egyptian Underworld

Quick answer: The Duat was the hidden realm of the dead in ancient Egyptian religion and the region through which the sun god travelled each night before dawn. It is often translated as “underworld” or “netherworld”, but it was not equivalent to hell: it was a dangerous realm of gates, guardians, transformation and renewal.

How was the Duat written in hieroglyphs?

In hieroglyphic writing the word for the Duat, transliterated dwꜣt, is written with a five-pointed star inside a circle, sign N15 in the standard list of hieroglyphs compiled by the Egyptologist Alan Gardiner. A jewellery design built on the star within a circle is therefore drawing on the actual written sign for the netherworld.

Was the Duat the Egyptian afterlife?

Egyptian funerary religion imagined death as a passage. British Museum educational material describes the Duat as the place the dead had to travel through, a difficult journey that demanded knowledge and protection. Funerary texts named its gates and guardians so that the traveller could answer each one correctly.

The Duat was not the same as the Field of Reeds, the ideal afterlife sometimes loosely compared with heaven. The Field of Reeds was where the successful journey could end.

The sun's night journey

The sun also crossed the Duat. Each evening it entered the realm of darkness and each morning it rose renewed. New Kingdom royal tombs illustrated this passage in guides such as the Amduat, "That which is in the Duat", which divides the sun's journey into the twelve hours of the night. The sun's nightly rebirth mirrored the renewal hoped for by the dead.

Ka, ba and akh

The journey involved several aspects of the person. The British Museum explains that the deceased's ka and ba took part in the passage towards becoming an akh, an effective, transfigured spirit. See our story on the Ka for more on these ideas.

Duat in jewellery

A Duat design can evoke the Egyptian night, the sun's hidden journey and the hope of renewal after death. Take a look at the AURYN Egyptian Duat charm, or read our guide to ancient Egyptian symbols.

Frequently asked questions

What does Duat mean?

Duat, transliterated dwꜣt, is the ancient Egyptian term usually translated as the underworld or netherworld. It refers to the hidden realm traversed by the dead and by the sun during its nightly journey.

Is the Duat the same as hell?

No. The Duat contained danger, gates and hostile beings, but it was not simply a place of punishment. Egyptian funerary texts presented it as a realm through which the deceased could pass towards renewal and a successful afterlife.

Is the Duat the same as the Field of Reeds?

No. The Duat was part of the journey through the afterlife. The Field of Reeds was the idealised destination associated with a successful passage.