1. Chapter 4: The Nile Valley
Page 119: A Source of Religion
Chapter 4: The Nile Valley

2. How did nature affect Egyptians’ religious beliefs?
Essential Question:
How did nature affect Egyptians’ religious beliefs?

3. Standards
6.5.spi.11. identify characteristics including economy, social relations, religion, and political authority of various societies (i.e., Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek City-States, Roman Empire, Indian, Medieval).

4. Egyptians believed in many different deities
A source of religion
Egyptians believed in many different deities
Deities = “gods”

5. Used stories about gods to try to explain why acts of nature happened
A source of religion
Used stories about gods to try to explain why acts of nature happened
Flooding
Drought
Etc.

6. Re (or Ra) among most important
A source of religion
Re (or Ra) among most important
Sun god
Believed he was born each day & died each night

7. A source of religion

8. Egyptian settlements also had special god in addition to Re.
A source of religion
Egyptian settlements also had special god in addition to Re.
Memphis: Ptah (arts)
Hermopolis: Thoth (wisdon & writing)

9. A source of religion

10. A source of religion
Sky-god Horus

11. Most Egyptians believed in afterlife
Afterlife = “life after death”

12. Most Egyptians believed in afterlife
Afterlife = “life after death”

13. By 1500 B.C. Egyptian prayers collected into Book of the Dead
Afterlife
By 1500 B.C. Egyptian prayers collected into Book of the Dead
Placed in tombs of those who had died
Guide for the dead

14. Afterlife

15. Afterlife
Ancient Egyptians believed they would need their bodies in the afterlife

16. Learned how to preserve the bodies: mummies Took about 70 days
Afterlife
Learned how to preserve the bodies: mummies
Took about 70 days

17. Afterlife

18. Afterlife

19. Afterlife

20. Afterlife

21. Afterlife

22. Afterlife

23. How did nature affect Egyptians’ religious beliefs?
Essential Question:
How did nature affect Egyptians’ religious beliefs?