1. Religion, Gods, Mythology

2. Learning Goals
Identify forces that tended to reinforce stability in the world before the sixteenth century
Organize and record information gathered through research

3. Egyptian Religion
Mentioned yesterday, the Ancient Egyptians had a polytheistic religion
Through archaeology, it has been discovered that there were hundreds of gods or simple deities
The Pharaoh served as the chief intermediary between gods and men
Priests served the Pharaohs and catered to the needs of the population

4. Priests Priests were primarily keepers of the temples
In temples they held ceremonies to honour the gods, yet the public was not welcome
They oversaw funerals, taught students, supervised artisans and advised the public on godly matters

5. Temples Religious temples served to worship a god
Most temples were dedicated to one god
Each city had a temple for god whom is believed to have created the city
Temples were also built in honour of Pharaohs

6. Ceremonies & Festivals
Religious Festival
Public event
Statue of god or goddess paraded
People celebrate and honour the gods
Festival of Osiris at Abydos lasted for day with crowds
Ancestor Worship
Great care in tomb maintenance
Often represented in home
Funerals
Most important ceremony of all
We will return to funerals

7. Spiritual Beliefs Khnum fashioned infants on potter's wheel
Spiritual double 'ka'
Another element 'ba'
The two would reunite in the preserved body
Importance of burial practices

8. Creation Story Before Egypt was created, there was only water
The god of this watery chaos was Nun
From Nun rose Ra and the first mound of land
Nun holds a ship filled with the chief gods

9. Sacred Symbols The Ankh Symbol of life Amulet to ward off evil The Cat
Known as guardians of the underworld
Cats were so important were often mummified

10. Egyptian Mythology Anthropomorphism
Giving human qualities to non human entities
Many gods have heads of animals
Pharaohs sculpt heads onto lions

11. Religious Cults
Groups of worshippers who were devout to one god over the rest
Shrines were made to honour these deities
Some were gods, others were Pharaohs, both had followings

12. The Gods To learn about the gods, we will be using the computer lab
Each student is to work on a chart found on the website