1. Ancient Egyptian Religion
CHW 3M

2. Ancient Egyptian Belief System
Complex polytheistic belief system
Gods controlled nature and nature was divine itself
Religion was a conglomeration of different cults
As new beliefs were developed old ones were discarded
Gods lived in temples were
preists tended to the needs of the gods
pharaoh was “go-between” with

3. Important Beliefs
1. Ma’at: fundamental force that governs the Universe
Includes concepts of truth, justice and order
allowed forces of nature to existence in balance and order, any disruption was harmful
common man expected to behave in accordance with ma’at
2. Divinity of Pharaoh
kingship was a divine force of nature
pharaoh viewed as both human and god
“go-between” for common man and gods
expected to uphold ma’at in Egyptian society

4. 3. The Afterlife: Egyptian were obsessed with death and how best to journey to the other side
Egyptian believed the soul had two parts:
Ka – life force
not unique
left the body after death
Ba – personality
unique
remained with the body after death
rituals meant to release Ba from body to join ka in afterlife
It was important to preserve the body because ba would return occassionally to “get new life”
Journey to Afterlife
had to avoid many supernatural obstacles
Mummies buried with everything they would need for journey
lead to final judgement
Book of the Dead: collection of hymns, spells, and instructions to allow the deceased to pass through obstacles in the afterlife.

5. The Final Judgement Weighing of the Heart (final judgement)
Osiris compared the heart of deceased to the feather of ma’at
heart in balance (found worthy)
life meet code of standards
ka and ba are reunited
allowed to pass to eternal paradise
heart heavier (found unworthy)
life fell short of code of standards
devoured by demon Ammut
eternally death

6. Pharaoh and the After-Life
Pharaohs divine and housed the spirit of God Horus who lead them on the path of Ma’at
in afterlife would be incarnation of Osiris, God of the Dead
Pharaohs spent most of their lives preparing for their death
Pyramids
burial monuments for the Pharaohs
construction began when new Pharaoh was crowned
may have been designed to “magically launch” the pharaoh's soul directly into the abode of the gods.

7. Great Pyramid of Giza Construction Most famous of the Pyramids
built for Khufu around 2500BC
5.5 millions tonnes of stone
height: 146m, side length: 230 m
Tallest man made structure for 3800 years
Construction
how Pyramid was made unknow
probably made by small team of skilled stone masons (2500) working year round.
peasants would have helped during floods