Egyptian Culture Gods and Goddesses Osiris God of

Egyptian Culture

Gods and Goddesses Osiris – God of Nile / Underworld n Isis – Love story / Creation with Isis n Amon-Re – Chief God n The Sun God n Pharaoh linked to Amon-Re n

Mummification Process Preserved the ba (spirit) and ka (body) n Skilled workers labored for 70 days n Removed vital body organs – stored in canopic jars (heart remains) n Body then embalmed and wrapped n Pharaohs / officials buried in tombs n People buried in the sand n

Mummification

Canopic Jars

Egyptian Writing: Hieroglyphics Form of picture writing n Initially carved in stone or clay n Rosetta Stone – flat black stone with message in Hieroglyphics, Demotic, Greek

Demotic and Papyrus Simpler form of writing – 2500 BCE n Everyday use in Egypt n Use of writing in Egypt n Papyrus n Plant found along Nile River banks n Wrote on this paper material

Papyrus

Social Structure n n n n Pharaoh – Human God Royal Family – Queen Mother in charge / includes wives and children Officials – upper class lifestyle Title Office Holders – court life Middle Classes – landowners, artisans, scribes Peasants – small pay and long work days Slaves – few in Egypt / from military victories

Society n Clothing, jewelry, and perfumes popular with men and women n Wives = Equal Status to Husbands n n n Divorce Legal and Women get 1/3 Encouraged close kin marriages (especially upper class)