Ancient Egyptian Religion

Ancient World History

Mr. Blais

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 NEW KINGDOM

The Sun GodKing 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)