Writing was also important in keeping the government running. One such group, the Ennead, assembled nine deities into a theological system that was involved in the mythological areas of creation, kingship, and the afterlife. Their gods had hewn order from chaos and bequeathed the richest land on earth to the Egyptian people. But the well known gods are only about 100~200. Therefore, the authority of the Egyptian religion was controlled heavily by the government. [40], Egyptian myths were metaphorical stories intended to illustrate and explain the gods' actions and roles in nature. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Often the dead were said to dwell in the realm of Osiris, a lush and pleasant land in the underworld. Because of this, Egyptians domesticated, or made pets of, animals very early and took very good care of them. Shu and Tefnut returned with the eye of Atum (later associated with the Udjat eye, the Eye of Ra, or the All-Seeing Eye) and their father, grateful for their safe return, shed tears of joy. In time, Atum became concerned because his children were gone so long, and so he removed his eye and sent it in search of them. [134] In late antiquity, the Christian conception of Hell was most likely influenced by some of the imagery of the Duat. [33] Several beliefs coexisted about the akh's destination. Some information is also provided by allusions in secular texts. Also important was the “opening of the mouth” ritual. If one's heart was lighter than the feather, one waited while Osiris conferred with the Forty-Two Judges and the god of wisdom, Thoth, and, if considered worthy, was allowed to pass on through the hall and continue one's existence in paradise; if one's heart was heavier than the feather it was thrown to the floor where it was devoured by the monster Ammut (the gobbler), and one then ceased to exist. Ancient Egypt History And Mysteries Full National Geographic Documentary Amun, Mut, and Khons of Upper Egypt (where Thebes was located) took on the attributes of Ptah, Sekhmet, and Khonsu of Lower Egypt who were much older deities. Each region of Egypt originally had its own patron deity, but it is likely that as these small communities conquered or absorbed each other, the god of the defeated area was either incorporated into the other god's mythology or entirely subsumed by it. Different forms of the myth describe the process of creation in various ways: a transformation of the primordial god Atum into the elements that form the world, as the creative speech of the intellectual god Ptah, and as an act of the hidden power of Amun. In the course of this journey, Ra met with Osiris, who again acted as an agent of regeneration, so that his life was renewed. Other methods included interpreting the behavior of cult animals, drawing lots, or consulting statues through which a priest apparently spoke. Its deities included Anubis, Isis, … At many sacred sites, the Egyptians worshipped individual animals which they believed to be manifestations of particular deities. Individuals could interact with the gods for their own purposes, appealing for help through prayer or compelling the gods to act through magic. Religion was very important to Ancient Egyptians. Often they favored deities affiliated with their own region, or with their role in life. Outside the temple were artisans and other laborers who helped supply the temple's needs, as well as farmers who worked on temple estates. For these reasons, he oversaw all state religious activity. The Greek concept of Elysium may have derived from the Egyptian vision of the afterlife. Although she was associated with beer, Tenenet was the principal goddess of beer and also presided over childbirth. Ahy, Aken, Aker, Am-heh, Amun, Andjety, Anhur, Anubis, Apep, As, These religions were brought by influences from outside. Only in the New Kingdom did professional priesthood become widespread, although most lower-ranking priests were still part-time. [135], Traces of ancient beliefs remained in Egyptian folk traditions into modern times, but its influence on modern societies greatly increased with the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria in 1798 and their seeing the monuments and images. [64], Temples existed from the beginning of Egyptian history, and at the height of the civilization they were present in most of its towns. According to these stories, the world emerged as a dry space in the primordial ocean of chaos. This is probably where the concept of health started. These gods then gave birth to all the other gods in one form or another. [19][20] The Egyptians also believed in a place called the Duat, a mysterious region associated with death and rebirth, that may have lain in the underworld or in the sky. [7], Many gods were associated with particular regions in Egypt where their cults were most important. [31] Over the course of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC), however, he came to be more closely associated with the daily rebirth of the sun god Ra and with the underworld ruler Osiris as those deities grew more important. Among the latter were coronation ceremonies and the Sed festival, a ritual renewal of the pharaoh's strength that took place periodically during his reign. Humans could also use it, however, and magical practices were closely intertwined with religion. Evidence of this type of personal piety is sparse before the New Kingdom. Eternity, then, was not an ethereal, nebulous concept of some 'heaven' far from the earth but a daily encounter with the gods and goddesses one would continue to have contact with forever, in life and after death. The Book of Coming Forth by Day, as well as the earlier texts, present spiritual truths one would have heard while in life and remind the soul of how one should now act in the next phase of one's existence without a physical body or a material world.
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