Chapter 5

Ancient Egyptian Religion

Things to know…Religion provided the Egyptians with a sense

of security.They had no word for religionReligious ideas represented an inseparable

part of the entire world orderInvented stories to explain the world

around them

They were polytheistic Definition – belief in many gods

Egyptians hoped to gain new life after death.

When we try to make some sense out of the many Egyptian gods and goddesses, we must keep in mind that because ancient Egyptian civilization existed for more than three thousand years, the deities and myths gradually changed over time as a result of new ideas, contact with other peoples, and changing cultural values.

Egyptian gods were also thought of as characters in human-like bodies, but often with animal heads.

Paintings were discovered on caves of priests wearing animal masks.

Gods were connected to animals. They believed that immortal spirits inhabited the bodies of animals. They hoped that by pleasing the spirit with their prayers, it would provide them with plenty of animals for the hunt. They also prayed to dangerous animals to keep themselves safe.

The Power of the Sun - Ra (Re)

Ra (Re), the sun god, is pictured with the falcon-head of Horus and the sun disk and the sacred serpent

Ra had been the main sun god of Egypt since as far back as the Old Kingdom.

He is the most important deity because he creates life and death. Egyptians knew this because the sun gave life and could take it away.

Belief in an AfterlifeThey believed, like crops, people could

return to lifeDeath viewed as a beginning, not an

end.Everyday Ra was reborn in the

morning, traveled across the sky in his boat, then traveled to the Land of the Dead when the sun set

His journey symbolized life, death, and rebirth.

Myth of Osiris Explains the miracle of rebirthOsiris’s evil brother, Seth tricked him

into getting into a chest, then threw it into the Nile. Isis and her sister found it.

Seth then cut Osiris into 14 pieces and threw them into the Nile. Isis gathered the pieces and took them to the Anubis, who wrapped them in linen and restored Osiris to life.

Anubis – god of mummiesJackal-headed god responsible for the

processes of embalming and the protection of cemeteries.

He guided the deceased through the underworld which entailed a special judgment ceremony called "The Weighing of the Heart" which

determined whether or not the person could go on to Osiris. If the heart is heavy with sin, it is thrown to Ammut!

AmmutHead of a crocodile, mane and

front legs of a lion, and hindquarters of a hippo.

It was believed that when a person died, the soul had to pass through a dangerous underworld known as Duat where it faced all sorts of dangers like monsters and lakes of fire. If the heart is heavy with sin, it is thrown to Ammut,

"the devourer of the dead," who gobbles it up, denying the spirit an afterlife and causing it to cease to exist!

IsisQueen of the gods. Both sister and wife of Osiris,

mother of Horus and the daughter of Nut and Geb. Goddess of fertility and

motherhood, love and gaiety, and she had magical skills. Also goddess of the harvest

Who’s who among deities: NUT – Goddess of the skyGEB – God of the earth SETH – God of violence. Evil brother of OsirisHORUS – Son of Osiris and Isis; defeated his

evil Uncle Seth and became the king of EgyptBASTET – Spirit of the cat, symbolized by

this goddess was called “miu”HAPI – God of the Nile’s flooding cycle and

provider of rich, fertile soil. Released the water from a jar

The Power of Ma’at

Ma’at State of perfect harmonyAlso the name for the goddess, depicted with

outstretched wingsWhen Ma’at was upheld Egypt prospered – the Nile flooded normally, enough crops were produced, and invaders stayed out

If Ma’at was disturbed, there was a return to Chaos

Vocabulary SCARAB BEETLE – This insect becamea symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Placing one of these in a tomb helped the person achieve an afterlife

EYE OF HORUS – Symbol of good health

Vocabulary ANKH– Egyptian symbol foreternal life

Vocabulary AMULETS – Small statues

of the gods worn around the neck to bring luck

APIS – Sacred bull in the temple of Ptah, said to have magic and medicinal powers.

So Many Deities!Remember, the Egyptians didn’t

eliminate old beliefs when they added something new.

Some gods, like Osiris and Ra were worshipped by everyone

Others were regionalTaweret – goddess of childbirthBes – god of pleasureMeretseger – worshipped to prevent snakebites

Priest

• Had the power to communicate with the gods and interpret messages for the people. • Priesthood was passed down from father to

son• Pharaoh was the highest priest• Greatest legacy was passing down reading

and writing to the next generation

Typical Day of a Priest…Awakens the gods by singing and

burning incenseTakes old robes off the statue and puts

new ones onOffers the god food and wine. The statue

receives three meals a dayStatue gets a fresh robe at nightPriest bathes four times and shaves

twice during the daySweeps floor of sanctuary and backs out

to erase footprints

Amonhotep IV

• Pharaoh who tried to change Egypt’s religion from polytheistic (worshipping many gods) to monotheistic (worshipping one god)

• The one god was the sun god, Aten, who was the creative force of the universe

• He changed his name to Akhenaten, which means “pleasing to Aten”

• Wife was the beautiful Nefertiti