In Egyptian mythology Ammut, sometimes spelt Ammit, Ammet, Amam, Amemet or Ahemait, dwelled in the Halls of Ma’at near the scales of justice in the Egyptian underworld. The Egyptians believed that this is where their souls would go upon passing away, it is here that the hearts of the dead where weighted by Anubis against the feather of Ma’at, the principal of truth and justice. If the heart was found to be heavy with sin and weight more than the feather the heard would fail the test, these hearts, along with the individuals soul, where given to Ammut to be devoured, their souls not permitted to enter The Fields Aaru, the Egyptian version of Christian Heaven.

First documented in The Book of the Dead, Ammut, also sometimes referred to as The Eater of Hearts, The Devourer and Greatness of Death, embodied all of what the Egyptians feared, threatening to bind them to eternal restlessness if they did not follow the principles of Ma’at.

Because of this fear Ammut is depicted with the head of a crocodile, the front of a lion or leopard and the back end of a hippopotamus, a combination animals which represent the most feared creatures in ancient Egypt. In some traditions, Ammut was said to stand by a lake of fire, into which the unworthy hearts were cast, rather than Ammut eating these hearts. In this role, Ammut was more of the lakes guardian than the destroyer, and is sometimes thought to be the guardian of Anubis as well.

The Evidence
The Ammut exists purely in Egyptian mythology, hence there is no physical evidence a this time.

The Sightings
No documented sightings could be found at this time.

The Stats – (Where applicable)

• Classification: Hybrid
• Size: Roughly the same as a hippopotamus
• Weight: Unknown
• Diet: Human hearts heavy with sin
• Location: The Halls of Ma’at
• Movement: Four legged walking
• Environment: Unknown