ANCIENT EGYPT: MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION TO WRITING?

ORIGINS OF EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICSORIGINS OF EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS

The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been dated to 3400 BC

The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by the god Thothinvented by the god Thoth

The ancient Egyptians called their hieroglyphic script “mdju netjr” or “word of the gods”

CHRONOLOGYCHRONOLOGY

Timeline Early dynasties I and II : 3400-2980 BC Early dynasties I and II : 3400 2980 BC Old kingdom aka pyramid age, dynasties III to VI: 2980-

2475 BC Middle Kingdom aka Feudal Age dynasties XI and XII: Middle Kingdom aka Feudal Age, dynasties XI and XII:

2160 to 1788 BC The empire dynasties XVIII to XX: 1580 to 1150 BC Decadence Dynasties XX to XXVL 1150 to 660 BC Restoration Dynasty XXVI 663-525 BC Persian conquest 525 BC Persian conquest 525 BC Greek Conquest 332 BC Roman Conquest 30 BC

NATURE OF EGYPTIAN RELIGIONNATURE OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION

MYTHOLOGY NATUREMYTHOLOGY NATURE

EGYPTIAN RELIGION

HELLIIOPOOLLIS

HELIOPOLITAN CREATION MYTH

The Great Ennead-The Great Ennead-Beginning of time= Nu

ATUUMM

-First god to appear from NuC t f th W ld-Creator of the World

-Mated with Shadow to create Shu and Tefnut

SHU AND TEFNUTSHU AND TEFNUT

TefnutTefnut-Goddess of rain and moisture-Represented the principle of p p porder

*Exemplified the Egyptian

Shu

Egyptian society’s belief of nature’s intrinsic link to the -Patron of dry air

-Creator of wind

link to the actions of the Gods.

GEB AND NUTGEB AND NUT Children of Shu and TefnutG b E hGeb: EarthNut: Skyy

OSIRISOSIRIS God of

F tilit G d Fertility, God of Agriculture, God of the God of the Underworld, King of the gDead

Life//Death//// //Rebirth

Tricked and killed by his brother Seth

ISISISIS

Wife of Osiris Wife of Osiris Recovered his body

R d hi i i ft S th Recovered his pieces again after Seth scattered them across Egypt

Preserved her husband’s body partswith cloth wrappingpp g

MYTHOLOGY MOVES TOWARDS RELIGIONMYTHOLOGY MOVES TOWARDS RELIGION Atum was first in line as the highest god, with

Osiris as second in line Amen was a figure similar to Atum in a different Amen was a figure similar to Atum in a different

creation myth. When Uast became state capitol of Eg pt in the Middle Kingdom Amen became of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom, Amen became the state god, later combining with Ra (aka Atum), to become Amen-Ra, king of the Gods.

HORUSHORUS

Son of Isis and Osiris Set out to avenge his Set out to avenge his

father’s death and kill his uncle Sethkill his uncle Seth

Represented by a bird

MA’AT PRINCIPLE OF HARMONY AND BALANCEMA AT- PRINCIPLE OF HARMONY AND BALANCE

Concept based on alleged goddess, Ma’at, who stood for justice and harmony

In charge of viziers and officials in the governmentgovernment

Offerings were made to her by pharaohs who wished to instill peace and harmony

TAWARET Aka the Great One Goddess known to look over Goddess known to look over

women during pregnancy and childbirthchildbirth

Her amulet is said to have powers of protection over familiesof protection over families

Head of a hippopotamus, arms and legs of a lion tail of a and legs of a lion, tail of a crocodile, breast and stomach of a pregnant womanpregnant woman

GODS& ANIMALS?GODS& ANIMALS?

A byproduct of a primitive branch of Egyptian faith and religion

Animals represent totems or emblems of society?society?

Myths of creation were largely established by the end Myths of creation were largely established by the end of the Old Kingdom

Religious customs during Pre dynastic and Early Religious customs during Pre-dynastic and Early Dynastic period

Painted pottery holds remains of religious shrines

TEXTS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFSTEXTS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Hieroglyphic texts, ivory tablets, cylinder seals all succeeded in preserving examples of religious shrines

Rituals also helped preserve religious custom Rituals also helped preserve religious custom

Egyptian style of society progressed to a developed theocratic system during the Old developed theocratic system during the Old Kingdom

Religion and politics became very closely tied New royal family new state god New royal family, new state god

RELIGION THROUGH THE SOCIETAL LADDERRELIGION THROUGH THE SOCIETAL LADDER

Wisdom Literature - Wisdom Literature interacting properly with people of all different rungs of

the social ladder living by the rule of rule of law living by the rule of rule of law pursuing a life of safety and in turn, success

Three main texts Three main texts -Instructions of Ptahotep -Instructions to Kagemni

Instructions of Duauf -Instructions of Duauf

INSTRUCTIONS OF PTAHOTEPINSTRUCTIONS OF PTAHOTEP

Ptahotep -vizier to King Isesivizier to King Isesi-four parts to his teachings“How to make achievements in the world”

INSTRUCTIONS TO KAGEMNIINSTRUCTIONS TO KAGEMNI

K i Kagemni-son of King Huni, of the 3rd Dynastyi d-instructed

*discretion of speech* modification of behavior*restraint of greed Let your name go forth,

while your mouth is silent while your mouth is silent, when you are summoned don’t boast of strength,Among those your age lest you be opposed, one knows not what may happen, what God does when he punishes

INSTRUCTIONS TO DUAUFINSTRUCTIONS TO DUAUF

Duauf: son of Khety; man of low birth Teachings for the son of Duauf, to guide him in Teachings for the son of Duauf, to guide him in

finding success as a scribe

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Much of ancient Egyptian society was shaped by their Much of ancient Egyptian society was shaped by their specific religion and culture, beliefs which originated from their creation myths

Everything that people could not explain directly from their own actions was attributed to the whims of the gods

It is unsure whether or not religion and mythology were the It is unsure whether or not religion and mythology were the specific driving forces for the creation of writing, however there is much evidence to show that once created, writing was quickly utilized to preserve religious shrines and legendswas quickly utilized to preserve religious shrines and legends

If not the main cause for creation, need to record religious custom was definitely a catalyst for its progression into new y y p gforms.

SOURCESSOURCES

http://www.love-egypt.com/animal-gods.html http://unitedorder.org/maat.php http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/osiris.htm http://www.egyptianmyths.net/shu.htm Willis Roy G World Mythology New York: H Holt 1993 Print Willis, Roy G. World Mythology. New York: H. Holt, 1993. Print. http://www.philae.nu/akhet/history8.html http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vYhfazYeAnUC&oi=fn

d&pg PA3&dq ancient+egyptian+religion+history&ots yCbMUVMgud&pg=PA3&dq=ancient+egyptian+religion+history&ots=yCbMUVMgu4&sig=g2SqG_NwZ7O4swZwhb1HDw1PDLU#v=onepage&q=ancient%20egyptian%20religion%20history&f=falsehtt // d / / hi t / g t/ ligi / th l g http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/religion/mythology.htm