Transcript Ancient Egypt

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
AmunRa
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
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
Sarcophagus
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