ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELIGION BASIC PRINCIPALS OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELIGION
BASIC PRINCIPALS OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION � Like most ancient civilizations the Egyptians were polytheistic. � Their gods and goddesses controlled all aspects of nature � Egyptians also lived in a theocracy where their government’s rule was based on religious authority
THE PHARAOHS � Pharaohs were seen as kings, priests, and gods. � Pharaohs were believed to rule the earth as the gods ruled the heavens. � People believed what happened in Egypt was directly dependent on the pharaoh’s actions � Pharaohs also controlled all aspects of government and religious rituals
THE AFTERLIFE � Egyptians were one of the first peoples to believe in the concept of eternal life, or life after death. � This is why the Egyptians developed elaborate burial rituals such as mummification (preservation of the physical body) and built elaborate tombs for their pharaohs called pyramids
MUMMIES AND TOMBS � Mummification was practiced by Egyptians because they believed that every individual would need their body in the after life � Tombs were used as a place to store the body and all the possessions the deceased individual would need in the afterlife (clothes, weapons, jewelry, furniture, etc. ) � Tombs were constructed and designed to protect the body and its possessions for eternity
ATUM • The Creator God
RA AND AMON-RA OLD KINGDOM The Sun God NEW KINGDOM King of the Gods and the Sun God [A combination of the god of Thebes (Amon) and the Sun god (Ra). ]
HAPI (HAPY) • God of the Nile and its Yearly Flood
OSIRIS • God of the Underworld and Agriculture
ISIS • Goddess of Fertility and Motherhood (Wife of Osiris)
ANUBIS • God of Mummification
SET (SETH) • God of Chaos, Storms, and Disorder (Brother of Osiris)
HORUS • God of the Sky (Son of Osiris and Isis)
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