1. Ancient Egyptian Mythology

2. Ancient Egypt Civilization developed between 4000 and 3000 BCE.
In about 3000 BCE, Upper and Lower Egypt combined, becoming the first great nation of the Western World.
Egyptians invented hieroglyphics, a kind of picture writing
Allowed them to record thoughts and establish written heritage.
More politically stable than Mesopotamia
Quality of life was better
Secluded from Mesopotamia by the Mediterranean sea and large expanses of desert

4. Ancient Egypt
Egyptians lived with more predictability than Mesopotamians
Nile River fluctuated regularly while the Tigris and Euphrates was sporadic.
Therefore, the gods were believed to be more benevolent than Mesopotamia’s.
The Nile was the lifeblood of Egyptians; the desert was the great environmental enemy
Desert represented death

5. Egyptian Religion
Egyptians prayed for children, success in farming and hunting, and victory in war.
Believed in resurrection of the dead soul into a new life in a different world

6. Egyptian Gods Osiris God of grain and of the Nile
Nourished all life
Taught people how to cultivate, how to irrigate, and how to prevent unwanted flooding.
Like the Nile dried up and flooded, Osiris lived, died, and was reborn.
The worship of Osiris turned people away from cannibalism.
Began to believe humans were part divine
King of Egypt and the earth
Both god and man
Well-liked because he had once been a man
He could sympathize with humans and help those in both realms

7. Egyptian Gods Horus the Younger Isis
Son of Osiris; intermediary between the Egyptians who were destined to die and Osiris, who could grant them immortality.
Isis
Osiris’ sister and wife; greatest goddess in Egypt
Lady of abundance; Lady of green crops
Represented the loving wife and nurturing mother
Human and goddess

8. Egyptian Gods Set Thoth Osiris’ brother and enemy God of the desert
Represented the evil in the universe: natural catastrophes, darkness, destruction, and death.
Thoth
god of wisdom, inventor of writing, patron of scribes and the divine mediator
questions the souls of the dead about their deeds in life before their heart is weighed by Horus

9. Egyptian Gods Amun Ra/ Re Sun god; creator of all
 Important to the Egyptians—the sun represented light, warmth, and growth

10. Egyptian Gods Geb Nut Shu God of the earth Goddess of the sky
Goddess of the air