Per Aru

Per Aru (Egyptian: pr ˁrw) translates to "House of Reeds" or "Field of Reeds." It is the ancient Egyptian name for what was believed to be a paradise or afterlife realm. It's frequently described as a mirror image of the Egyptian landscape but ideally fertile and bountiful.

In the Egyptian afterlife beliefs, after successfully navigating the Duat (underworld) and being judged worthy by Osiris during the Weighing of the Heart ceremony, the deceased could enter Per Aru. Life in Per Aru was thought to be similar to life on earth, but without suffering or hardship. The deceased would continue their earthly occupations, cultivating fields and tending to their families, but in an environment of perpetual abundance.

The descriptions of Per Aru varied across different periods and texts, but the general consensus was that it was a blissful realm of eternal life. Access to Per Aru was not guaranteed; it was reserved for those who had lived a righteous life and proven their worthiness before the divine judges. The concept of Per Aru illustrates the ancient Egyptian hope for a continuation of life after death, where the challenges and difficulties of the earthly world were replaced by everlasting peace and prosperity.