Inancient Egyptian religion, thecrown of justification(mꜣḥ n mꜣꜥ ḫrw[1]) was awreath orfillet worn by the deceased to represent victory over death in theafterlife. Its symbolism is based on Chapter 19 of theBook of the Dead, in which the wearer is said to be "justified" by a triumph over death just as the godOsiris eventually rose above his enemies. A ritual text was recited as the dead person was crowned.[2]
The crown of justification might be made of laurel,palm, feathers,papyrus, or precious metals. It was syncretized with thesolar crown of thesun godRe, and might be made of gold to mimic the properties of the sun.[3] Among the collections of theMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston, is an intricately woven papyrus wreath with bronze insets to reflect light.[4] In theRoman era, initiates into themysteries of Isis might wear a wreath of palm leaves to suggest the rays of the sun.[5]
In thePtolemaic andRoman Imperial periods,religious art intemples shows the king offering the crown toHorus or otherdeities. These crowns of justification take the form of acirclet, which sometimes has auraeus orwedjat-eye.[6]Rose wreaths might be substituted during the Roman period, in reference to the use of rose garlands and wreaths in theRomanized mysteries of Isis.[7] The crown of justification was in this way integrated into the broader festal and religious uses of floral and vegetative wreaths in the Roman Empire.[8]
