Ancient Egyptian Pyramids:
Resurrection Machines
The ancient Egyptians believed
that when the Pharaoh died, he or
she could be resurrected and live
in the afterlife. They also believed
that the Pharaoh was divine and
his or her soul or ba would be
transformed into a star where he
or she would live eternally.
In predynastic times, they associated the physical location
where this would occur and this place was among the
circumpolar stars, the stars that moved around the North
pole. These stars never rose and never set. They looked
as if they were fixed in the sky. They were seen as
“eternal” because they were always present in the
northern sky. These stars became associated with eternal
life and were also believed to be the immortal forms of
their gods as well.
The pyramids were constructed as “resurrection
machines” to help the soul or ba of a Pharaoh transition
from the bodily form into its immortal form. The soul was
believed to transform into the form of a star through the
help of the high priest and the funerary rites that were
performed. The pyramids and tombs were aligned or lined
up in a north-south orientation so that they faced north.
These structures were constructed to face the circumpolar
stars, which at this time, were the stars of the Big Dipper
in the Northern region of the sky. The Big Dipper is an
asterism, a group of stars, within the constellation of Ursa
Major or the “Big Bear.” It was thought that the Pharaoh’s
soul would be able to ascend or rise up to this location in
the sky if the pyramid or tomb was aligned with the star,
Alkaid, located in the handle of the Big Dipper. Once the
soul reached this destination, it became one of the
“eternal” stars.
Source:
Bauval, Robert and Thomas Brophy, PhD. Imhotep, The
African: Architect of the Cosmos. 2013. Disinformation
Books. Pp.
.
Knowledge and Comprehension
Words to Know:
Ba:
Circumpolar Stars:
Resurrection Machine:
Big Dipper :
Asterism:
Ursa Major:
Alkaid:
1. What did the Egyptians believe about the happens to a
Pharaoh when he dies?
2. Explain why the Big Dipper is an asterism.
Application, Analysis, Evaluation and Synthesis
3. Explain why the circumpolar stars were viewed as
“eternal” by the Egyptians.
4. How did the pyramid fulfill the role of a “resurrection
machine.”
5. Explain why tombs and pyramids were constructed to
face in the Northern direction.
Knowledge and Comprehension
Words to Know:
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:
:
:
:
1.
2.
Application, Analysis, Evaluation and Synthesis
3.
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