Egypt: Society & Culture - Religion

Gods and Goddesses In Egypt, over 80 gods/goddesses were worshipped by the people. Egyptians welcomed many different deities. Ancient Egypt had the most polytheistic (more than one God) religion. Believed that the Gods influenced nature and human activity. Religion and Myths Video

Gods and Goddesses Turn to page 94 in the textbook. NameMeaning/Symbolization Re (Main God)Sun; relied on for good harvest Isis (Main Goddess)Female fertility; good wife/mother OsirisVegetation; death and renewal of life AnubisEscort for the dead to the afterworld; invented the elaborate funeral rituals HorusFalcon; God of the sky Each city and household had it’s own God, such as Thebes, a city, which worshipped Amon, a sun god.

Gods and Goddesses AnimalSymbolization Dog/CatLoyalty Crocodile/SerpentFear Hawk/FalconSwiftness Many gods and goddesses were associated with animals, or were pictured with human bodies with animal heads.

Religious Beliefs and Practices Believed that the creator god; Khnum, created infants on his pottery wheel and placed them in a mother’s womb. For each human made, Khnum created a spiritual double, called ka (soul). Another element entered the body at birth/left at death, called ba (personality). This looked like a human headed bird (sometimes along with a small lighted lamp). Believed that both (ba and ka) returned to the body after death if the body was properly preserved and had earthly belongings, food and drink.

Religious Beliefs and Practices Ancestor worship was important, as they took great care of maintaining tombs of departed relatives. People kept busts of ancestors alongside their statues of household gods in the main rooms of their house. Priests had daily religious services to honor various state gods, but these services were closed to the general public. Ordinary citizens worshipped at smaller shrines and acted as their own priest. Religious festivals were highly attended. During these festivals, statues of the God being honored would be carried in a parade through the streets to allow people to ask it questions.

Religious Beliefs and Practices At times, citizens were influenced by their peers (peer pressure) and began to worship one God more heavily than others. Although, they never forgot their original favorites but instead devoted more time to the cult favorite. First ruler to be buried was Amenophis I; who gained a religious following (cult) and acted as a mediator between the Gods and humans. His worship spread all along the west bank of the Nile and had temples being built to devote him.

Religious Beliefs and Practices During the New Kingdom period, oracles were very important. Oracles offered citizens a chance to communicate with their Gods. Oracles answered pressing yes-or-no questions presented by the people. The citizens would know the response when the statue of the God moved forward (yes) or backwards (no). Ancient Egyptians believed in superstitions and the power of good luck charms. They wore amulets made in the shape of sandal straps, called the ankh (the sign of life) used to combat forces of evil. They planned their lives according to the planets and their dreams because they believed planets had the power of making a day good/bad; and that dreams could help them foresee the future.

Death and Afterlife Egyptians were known for their elaborate burial practices used to help the dead continue into the afterlife. Only the New Kingdom Egyptians had fully understood how to preserve a corpse. The body had to be preserved in a recognizable form. The body was mummified to prevent decomposition and was then placed in a tomb. Shabti (small carved figurines) were then placed in tombs to act as deputies and make sure that the deceased agricultural duties were carried out. Mummification Video

Mummification Process Removal of all organs except the heart Drying in salt for 40 days Packing and Sealing Wrapping the body for 15 days The burial Total time: 70 days

Assignement: Page 98 #3

Comparing Mesopotamia vs. Egypt MesopotamiaBothAncient Egypt Gods were seen as human, with human qualities --- Gods are often pictured as animals, or humans with animal heads ---Polytheistic Religion--- Each city has own God--- Gods are associated with nature --- Main Gods are Enil, An, Enki, Eridu ---Main Gods are Re and Isis Built Ziggurats to honor Gods (high temples) --- Built pyramids to honor Gods ---Placed food with the dead---

Read pages 101 and 102 Class Discussion: Page 102 #3