Which element is considered the heart or consciousness in Egyptian beliefs?

In Egyptian beliefs, the element that is considered the heart or consciousness is the Ib, often referred to simply as the heart. The heart was deemed the seat of emotion, thought, and intention, playing a crucial role in the afterlife. During the judgment process called the "weighing of the heart," the deceased's heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at, which represented truth and justice. A heart that was lighter than the feather indicated a virtuous life and allowed the individual to proceed to the afterlife.

Other elements such as Ka and Ba do not represent consciousness in the same way. The Ka is believed to represent the life force and sustains an individual during life and after death, while the Ba is thought to represent one’s personality and individuality that could travel between the living and the dead. The Akh, on the other hand, refers to the transformed spirit of a person who has achieved a higher state after death. While each of these elements plays a significant role in Egyptian funerary beliefs, it is the Ib that is central as the embodiment of one’s consciousness and moral character.