Chapter 3.2 Egyptian Culture

3.2- Egyptian Religion Egyptian Culture Egyptian religion – polytheistic – worshipped many gods Some gods were traditional from the Old Kingdom, other were additions – Egyptian beliefs constantly evolving

3.2- Egyptian Religion Chief Gods and Goddesses Egyptians worshipped hundreds of gods, but some were more central God of the Sun – Re, later renamed Amon, Amon-Re Protector of the Dead – Anubis Osiris, Isis, Horus – Osiris replaced Anubis, Isis – goddess of nature and renewal, Horus – god of the sky, believed to be the pharaohs of Egypt Goddess of love – Hathor God of wisdom – Thoth Egyptians worshiped local gods as well as the central ones Priests performed rituals to appease the god’s needs Common people had no part in religious rituals

3.2- Egyptian Religion Temples and Religious Practices Built temples to honor their gods Massive and elaborate Featured obelisks Priest performed rituals to fulfill the god’s needs Caring for the gods was the priest responsibility Common people never entered into the temple

3.2-Mummification and burial Teachings on the afterlife The afterlife was central to Egyptian beliefs Because of this belief elaborate rituals were created for death and burial When the physical body dies a force called the “ka” escapes, which journeys to the land of the dead Ka- was believed to be the person personality Ka, needed food and drink to survive Believed the ka might vanish if the body decomposed, which lead them to create a method to prevent it

3.2-Mummification and burial Process used to prevent a body from decomposing Originally only kings and the royal family could be mummified, but later opened up to anyone who could afford it Complex process Remove organs except the heart Organs placed in jars to be buried with the mummy Body packed with materials to keep its shape Used salt to dry out the body before wrapped with linen strips Artists painted the features of the dead on the linen or masks so the ka could recognize it Burial Mummification only first step Buried with all possession believed necessary for afterlife Tombs were painted with scenes from person’s life or stories about the gods

Knowledge Check Point Why did the Egyptians bury food and possessions with the dead? What took place during mummification? Where on the Egyptian social scale do you think the people who prepared mummies would have been?

3.2-Daily Life Social structure – highly stratified 1. Pharaoh, royal family, government officials, priests, scribes 2. Artisans, merchants, craftpeoples 3. 90% of population comprised of peasant farmers 4. Slaves Possible to move up the social ladder, but rare Home and Family Life Family life varied from class to class Pharaohs usually married their sisters and had many wives Other men only had one wife Patriarchal society Wealth = nicer/larger homes

3.2-Daily Life Women and Children Appearance and Customs Primary duty of women to take care of children Women had more rights than most ancient civilizations Inherit/own property, divorce husbands, be priestess Often worked outside the home Few children received education, those who did were boys learned trades Appearance and Customs Appearance very important Both men and women shaved heads and wore wigs, wore make-up and perfume Linen and wool clothes – men loincloths, women dresses Played sports in free time – wrestling, dancing, hunting, board games

Knowledge Check Point How could getting an education change a boy’s life? How did the institution of marriage differ from one class to another in Egyptian culture Why do you think Egyptian wigs and makeup also served as sun protection

3.2-Art, Writing, and Science Egyptian Art Egyptians are best remembered for achievements in art, literature, and science Very distinctive – unique characteristics Paintings are detailed & colorful, subjects range widely – stories of gods, daily life, appear on walls of temples and tombs Position of the bodies in paintings Statues are huge to show power – The Sphinx

3.2-Art, Writing, and Science Egyptian Writing Recorded events of society in great detail System of writing based on hieroglyphics – picture symbols represent objects, sounds, ideas – very time consuming – used formally Two other writing systems to write faster: hieratic- for religious texts, demotic- for literary texts Used papyrus to write on- very durable Only Sumerian cuneiform is older than Egyptian hieroglyphics Writing was an art form in addition to language Rosetta stone – aided in translating Egyptian writings Egyptian Math and Science Used for practical applications and to improve life Math and engineering aided in the construction of the pyramids Medicine advances – human anatomy, hygiene, medicines, surgery

Knowledge Check Point What was Papyrus? Why do you think the Egyptians developed so many systems of writing? What would we have understood about Egyptian writing without the Rosetta Stone?

Assignment Crash Course- Egypt Begin working on your chapter 3 packet