1. Chapter 3.2
Egyptian Culture

2. 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. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?

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