ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELIGION Creators Gavin Corey Sarah Aaron

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RELIGION Creators: Gavin Corey Sarah Aaron Egyptian Gods

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN REGION MAP = Cairo Giza: Royal Cemetery Valley of the Kings: Royal Cemetery Temple of Amun in Karnak

AMUN (GOD) - King of the Gods - One of the most powerful gods in Ancient Egypt - Combined with Sun-god Ra = creation of Amun-Ra - Temple in Thebes was built to honor Amun - Egyptian equivalent of Zeus

Amun. Ra

RA (GOD) - Principle Egyptian Sun God for centuries - Also god of great antiquity - Central God of the Egyptian Parthenon - Recognized as an off world God - Symbolized setting sun + trip through underworld East

Ra Symbol of Ra

SEKHMET (GODDESS) - Daughter of Ra - Represented destructive force of the sun - Known as “Eye of Ra” - Lioness-headed goddess of war and destruction (Offspring of fire in Ra’s eye) - Known to pierce enemies with fire - Created as a weapon to destroy man

Sekhmet

NEKHBET (GODDESS) - Goddess of motherhood, queen ship, wild birds, creator of life/death/rebirth - In the form of a vulture - Originally the patron of Upper Egypt in the old Kingdom. - Carries symbols of life and power in talons - Protector of the King + his mother of his divine nature

Nekhbet seated on the left

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CREATION MYTH In the beginning, there was only Nu (swirling water chaos) From the water rose Atum, who created himself from his thoughts & will After creating the first land, Atum created more gods When Atum’s tears hit the ground, man was created

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CREATION MYTH Atum’s Daughter Tefnut Atum and his Offspring Atum’s Son Shu

MYTH OF OSIRIS AND ISIS - Osiris (divine ruler) murdered by Set (jealous brother associated /w chaos) - Osiris’ wife + sister resurrected Osiris conceived a heir, Horus - Years later, Horus defeated Set + became king himself - Symbolizes pharaonic succession + the changing of seasons

OSIRIS AND ISIS Set Horus Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys

RA’S UNDERWORLD JOURNEY - Each night, Ra traveled through the Duat (underworld) - During his journey, Ra met Osiris + renewed his life - Each night, Ra fought /w Apep (serpentine god representing chaos) - Apep’s defeated + meeting with Osiris lead to the rising of the sun each morning. - Represented rebirth + victory over chaos

RA’S UNDERWORLD JOURNEY Apep Ra’s Journey

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MYTHS & BELIEFS Structure of Egyptian Religion: - Each town had at least one temple - Priests of temples dedicated their lives and offering to the gods - Priests and Egyptians worshipped many gods + differed from area to area Ancient Egyptian Temple

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HOLIDAYS Sham el-Nessim - Marks the start of the spring - “Sniffing the Breeze” - People ate salted fish (Fissekh) - Offered many foods/items to the gods Time of Celebration

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HOLIDAYS Yom el-Neel - The overflowing of the Nile - Very big event - Processions to Nile from all over Egypt - Involved human sacrifice Humans (specifically women) were thrown into the river

FOUNDATION RITUAL - Ancient equivalent of “ground breaking” ceremony - Involves placing food + other offerings key structural points - Present through all Kingdoms (Old, Middle, New) - Performed: give godly protection to buildings

DEATH RITUALS - Bodies embalmed and mummified - Placed in sarcophagus - After 70 days, funeral profession held - Involves elaborate “opening of the mouth” ceremony - Food + Drink sacrifices made - Performed: allowed dead to move on to the afterlife

DEATH RITUALS Mummification Process Scarab Amulet Egyptian Sarcophagu s

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN AFTERLIFE - Afterlife = in the heavens (realm of the sun) - After someone died, they were judged - Ceremony = “Weighing of the Heart” - Ceremony occurred before Osiris (deceased had to swear hadn’t committed any crimes) - If declared “true of voice” sent to afterlife - In addition to this test…

WEIGHING OF THE HEART - - - Heart of the deceased weighed against the principles of truth + justice (maat) Heart balanced with maat sent to Fields of Hetep (eternal paradise) If heart was heavy /w wrongdoings heart eaten by Ammit (the gobbler)

WEIGHING OF THE HEART Ammit Ceremony

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION This goddess of war and destruction was the daughter of Ra. A. Seth B. Hathor C. Sekhmet D. Isis

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION Each night, Ra traveled to (the) _____ and fought Apep. A. Fields of Hetep B. Underworld C. Iaru D. Cairo

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION This god had a temple built after him in Thebes. A. Amun B. Sekhmet C. Bastet D. Osiris

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION After someone died in ancient Egypt, their soul went through this ceremony. A. “Opening of the Mouth” B. “Sniffing of the Breeze” C. “Test of Justice” D. “Weighing of the Heart”

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION This important Egyptian holiday marked the beginning of the spring. A. Feast of Montu B. Sham el-Nessim C. Eid-al-Adha D. Yom el-Neel

BIBLIOGRAPHY "Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Ankh. " Ancient Egypt: the Mythology and Egyptian Myths. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. egyptianmyths. net/ankh. htm Bizzari, Heba Fatteen. "Sham El Nessim (Sham El Nisseem, Sham El Niseem), Egypt Spring Festival. " Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. touregypt. net/featurestories/shamelnaseen. htm "Death rituals. " King Tut. N. p. , n. d. Web. 15 Sep 2011. http: //www. king-tut. org. uk/egyptian-mummies/deathrituals. htm. Dr. Mourad B. Personal Interview. 13 Sept. 2011.

BIBLIOGRAPHY "Egypt: The Gods of Ancient Egypt - Nekhbet (Nekhebet, Nechbet). " Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. touregypt. net/godsofegypt/nekhbet. htm "Gods and Goddesses. " Introduction. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. ancientegypt. co. uk/gods/explore/main. html Hill, J. "Ancient egypt foundation rituals. " ancient egypt online. N. p. , 2010. Web. 15 Sep 2011. http: //www. ancientegyptonline. co. uk/foundationritual. html. Ions, Veronica. Egyptian Mythology. New York: Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1968. Print. Oakes, Lorna. Ancient Egypt. London: Hermes House, 2005. Print.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Seawright, Caroline. "Egypt: Nekhbet, Goddess of Upper Egypt, Childbirth and Protector of Pharaoh. " Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http: //www. touregypt. net/featurestories/nekhbet. htm>Takla, "Sekhmet, Powerful One, Sun Goddess, Destructor. . . " Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. touregypt. net/godsofegypt/sekhmet. htm "The Gods of Ancient Egypt -- Ra. " Egypt Travel, Tours, Vacations, Ancient Egypt from Tour Egypt. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. http: //www. touregypt. net/godsofegypt/ra. htm