EGYPTIAN RELIGION RELIGION AND THE AFTER-LIFE

Ancient Egyptian Religion  Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life.  Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities.  The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses, but only a few were worshipped by all Egyptians.  Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life.  Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities.  The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses, but only a few were worshipped by all Egyptians.

Ancient Egyptian Religion  Many gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal.  For example, Horus, the sky god, had the head of a hawk, and body of a human.  They considered animals such as the bull, the cat, and the crocodile to be holy.  Many gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal.  For example, Horus, the sky god, had the head of a hawk, and body of a human.  They considered animals such as the bull, the cat, and the crocodile to be holy.

Ancient Egyptian Religion  Their two chief gods were Amon-Ra and Osiris.  Amon-Ra was believed to be the sun god and the lord of the universe.  Osiris was the god of the dead and the necropolis.  Their two chief gods were Amon-Ra and Osiris.  Amon-Ra was believed to be the sun god and the lord of the universe.  Osiris was the god of the dead and the necropolis.

Ancient Egyptian Religion  The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains the major ideas and beliefs in the ancient Egyptian religion.  Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world.  The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains the major ideas and beliefs in the ancient Egyptian religion.  Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world.

Major Gods and Goddesses  Anubis  Osiris  Ra  Horus  Hathor  Anubis  Osiris  Ra  Horus  Hathor

Anubis-God of Mummification and Death

Osiris- God of The Underworld & King of Dead

Ra-God of Sun & Supreme Judge

Horus-Sky God or Falcon God

Hathor-Goddess of: Love, Birth, Death, Music, & Pleasure Shown as: Women with horned head dress or a Cow

Hathor- as a cow

Death and Funerals  The Egyptians saw death as a transitional stage in the progress to a better life in the next world.  Egyptians were resurrectionists, they believed each persons soul would return to the body and they would live again in the afterlife.  Therefore, it was essential for the body to survive intact.  The Egyptians saw death as a transitional stage in the progress to a better life in the next world.  Egyptians were resurrectionists, they believed each persons soul would return to the body and they would live again in the afterlife.  Therefore, it was essential for the body to survive intact.

Mummification  Funerals were very expensive.  A person would need to: 1. Have a tomb carved out of solid rock. 2. Gather all necessary objects to place in the tomb. 3. Appoint their son or a priest to bring an offering for the deceased daily for up to one year.  Funerals were very expensive.  A person would need to: 1. Have a tomb carved out of solid rock. 2. Gather all necessary objects to place in the tomb. 3. Appoint their son or a priest to bring an offering for the deceased daily for up to one year.

Mummification  Mummification was a long and expensive process. The expense of mummification limited the full procedure to the very rich.  For the poor, a shallow grave near the desert was common. The dry, hot climate caused natural mummification to occur.  But all wanted to insure their journey into the afterlife.  Mummification was a long and expensive process. The expense of mummification limited the full procedure to the very rich.  For the poor, a shallow grave near the desert was common. The dry, hot climate caused natural mummification to occur.  But all wanted to insure their journey into the afterlife.

THE TOMB

The Tomb in Ancient Egypt  The tombs were created to provide the dead with a place to store the necessary supplies needed in the journey to the afterlife.  Inside the tombs clothing, jewelry, food, and weapons were stored, all placed there as supplies for the afterlife.  The tombs were created to provide the dead with a place to store the necessary supplies needed in the journey to the afterlife.  Inside the tombs clothing, jewelry, food, and weapons were stored, all placed there as supplies for the afterlife.

A BOAT FOR THE AFTERLIFE-FROM KING TUT’S TOMB

The Tomb in Ancient Egypt  In addition to the material in the tomb, the walls of the tomb where painted with scenes from every day life.  As shown on the next slide.  In addition to the material in the tomb, the walls of the tomb where painted with scenes from every day life.  As shown on the next slide.

The Tomb in Ancient Egypt  Before the body is laid to rest, a burial mask would be placed over the mummified body.  The most famous burial mask was found the in tomb of King Tut (shown on next slide).  Before the body is laid to rest, a burial mask would be placed over the mummified body.  The most famous burial mask was found the in tomb of King Tut (shown on next slide).

TUT’S GOLDEN MASK

Journey into the After Life  The journey into the afterlife was a difficult one.  To help, scripts would be left with magical spells to help the deceased navigate through the afterlife.  The journey into the afterlife was a difficult one.  To help, scripts would be left with magical spells to help the deceased navigate through the afterlife.

Journey into the After Life  These scripts became known as the "Book of the Dead."  The spirit would begin it's journey by crossing a wide river and then pass through a gate guarded by monsters.  These scripts became known as the "Book of the Dead."  The spirit would begin it's journey by crossing a wide river and then pass through a gate guarded by monsters.

“The Judgement”-copied from Tut’s Tomb

Journey into the After Life  The deceased then would have to go to the "Hall of Two Truths" to be judged.  The person would be brought before a tribunal of the gods and be accused of forty-two different crimes each charge dealing with one event in the dead person’s life. He would have to answer the charges.  The deceased then would have to go to the "Hall of Two Truths" to be judged.  The person would be brought before a tribunal of the gods and be accused of forty-two different crimes each charge dealing with one event in the dead person’s life. He would have to answer the charges.

Journey into the After Life  After successfully answering these charges, his heart would be put on a scale and weighed against a feather.  If the heart is found to be lighter then the feather, [true and without sin] the person would be allowed into the afterlife.  After successfully answering these charges, his heart would be put on a scale and weighed against a feather.  If the heart is found to be lighter then the feather, [true and without sin] the person would be allowed into the afterlife.

Journey into the After Life  If the heart was not lighter then the feather, a monster [with the head of a crocodile, the body of a lion and hippo] would immediately devour the heart.  Without a heart, the person would have no memory or personality and no chance for eternal life.  If the heart was not lighter then the feather, a monster [with the head of a crocodile, the body of a lion and hippo] would immediately devour the heart.  Without a heart, the person would have no memory or personality and no chance for eternal life.

Journey into the After Life  Egyptians believed the afterlife to be an eternal [never-ending] time of leisure [no labor] and pleasure.  Life there would be much better than anything on earth--except possible being pharaoh.  Egyptians believed the afterlife to be an eternal [never-ending] time of leisure [no labor] and pleasure.  Life there would be much better than anything on earth--except possible being pharaoh.