10. What is the significance of the feather left in place of the heart stolen in each of the murders?

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The feather left in place of the heart represents the judgement of a person's soul when they die to decide if they will go into the afterlife. The judgement occurs when the feather and heart are placed on a scale, and if the heart is lighter (good) or heavier (bad), determines the fate of the person. If the soul is lighter, they are allowed into the afterlife. However, if it is lighter, it will be devoured by Ammut, the Devouress. For Egyptians, there was no such thing as hell, the alternative being nonexistence. The feather signifies the weight of the heart and that the person killed's heart was too heavy.

Eater of Souls, by Lynda S. Robinson P.105

http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/ammut.htm

Image: http://www.egyptianmyths.net/ammut.htm