Ba, Ka, and Akh Concepts in the Old Kingdom, Ancient Egypt

The study of religious concepts in a synthetic and unified framework is necessary to understand the ancient texts on the basis of Egyptian features. This is required since there are numerous religious concepts and their complex usages appearing in various religious texts and in non-religious texts as well. The study of religious concepts in ancient Egypt is one of the keys by which we can approach to the understanding of Egyptian texts and Egyptian mentality. Some characteristics of Egyptian religious anthrology are elucidated around Ka, Ba and Akh in this paper. In addition, “Pseudo-Dualism” and “Peculiar Usage with Following Genitive” are applied to the religious concepts. While the body and the spirit (soul) seem to be divided, the Egyptian regarded each of them as perfect being as a whole, which cannot be divided (Pseudo-Dualism). This leads to anthor idea that the subject can be indicated by the following genitive (Peculiar Usage with Following Genitive). Without understanding these peculiar usages, moderns would be puzzled about the seeming plurality of entities, which is one character in fact.