The spiritual double of a living human being, created at the time of birth in Egyptian belief and which comes into its own in the afterlife. The ka could be released during life in dreams, but was finally released at death. It was symbolized by a pair of upraised arms and received mortuary offerings, including food for daily provision. The ka was considered to be the essential ingredient that differentiated a living person from a dead one, and is therefore sometimes translated as 'sustenance'.