EGYPTIAN RELIGION
I.
EG
EG
EGYPTIAN RELIGION
A.
INTRODUCTION
1.
RELIGION INFUSED EVERY PART OF LIFE
a.
SOCIALLY, POLITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY
2.
ART - EXPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM
3.
LITERATURE & PHILOSOPHY SUFFUSED W/RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS
4.
TRUE OF MOST ALL ANCIENT CULTURES
5.
MAN'S LIFE FROM FLOODING OF NILE
6.
TO DEATH OF A CAT DEPENDED ENTIRELY ON ATTITUDE OF GODS
7.
ROOTS OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION VERY ANCIENT EVEN BEFORE ADVENT OF
PHARAOH
8.
IN BEGINNING EACH CITY OR AREA APPEARS TO HAVE HAD ITS LOCAL
DEITIES
9.
UNIFICATION OF COUNTRY SAW FUSION OF DIVINITIES AS WELL
10.
EGYPT AS MOST EARLY PEOPLES REVERENTIAL TOWARDS WONDERS OF
NATURE
11.
a.
WORSHIP OF SUN
b.
DURING OLD KINGDOM PERIOD WORSHIPING SUN
c.
ITS CHIEF FUNCTION AS TO GIVE IMMORTALITY TO STATE &
PEOPLE
d.
AS SO DEPENDENT ON SUN WORSHIPPED IT BY VARIOUS NAMES
(1)
RE
(2)
AMON-RE FROM MIDDLE KINGDOM & LATER
12.
1ST DIVINITIES TO ARISE FREQUENTLY REPRESENTED IN ANIMAL FORM
13.
ALSO IN AWE OF POWER & ADMIRABLE TRAITS OF ANIMALS
14.
NUMBER & TYPE OF DIVINITIES CONTINUED TO DEVELOP IN EGYPTIAN HX
15.
GOD OF LEARNING & WISDOM EITHER BABOON OR IBIS (WADING BIRD
W/LONG LEGS)
a.
PERHAPS GRAVE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS SUGGESTED THOUGHTFULNESS
16.
LIVE ANIMALS ASSOCIATED W/GODS MAINTAINED IN TEMPLES
17.
LIVED IN PAMPERED LUXURY
18.
AS SOCIETIES BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED & AWE OF MYSTERIES OF
NATURE DIMINISH
19.
GODS UNDERWENT TRANSITIONS FROM ZOOMORPHIC TO ANTHROPOMORPHIC
CONCEPTS
20.
BUT TRADITION DOES NOT DIE OUT EASILY
21.
EGYPTIANS ADOPTED ANTHROPOMORPHISM GRADUALLY
22.
IN PROCESS FUSED IDEAS OF NATURE, ANIMAL & MAN
a.
HATHOR, GODDESS OF LOVE & CHILDBIRTH
(1)
GIVEN HUMAN BODY & HEAD BUT RETAINED PAIR OF COW'S
HORNS
b.
ANUBIS
(1)
BECOME JUDGE OF DEAD & GUARDIAN OF TOMBS
(2)
HUMAN BODY BUT KEPT HIS JACKAL'S HEAD
B.
OSIRIS
1.
1 OF MOST NB
2.
GOD OF NILE
3.
GOD OF RESURRECTION
4.
OSIRIS OWN DEATH & RESURRECTION
a.
REGARDED AS PROMISE OF PERSONAL IMMORTALITY
b.
HE DIES EACH YEAR
c.
EACH YEAR HIS WIFE ISIS BRINGS HIM BACK TO LIFE
d.
AS OSIRIS HAD TRIUMPHED OVER DEATH
e.
SO IF INDIVIDUALS WORSHIPED HIM THEY TOO WOULD INHERIT
EVERLASTING LIFE
5.
LONG AFTER FALL OF EGYPT TEMPLES DEDICATED TO OSIRIS & ISIS ALL
OVER MIDDLE EAST IN GREECE & ROME
C.
ISIS
1.
CHIEF FEMALE GODDESS IN EGYPTIAN RELIGION
2.
IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA INANNA, ISHTAR, ASTARTE
a.
SAME AS ISIS IN EGYPT
b.
ISIS THEN APPEARED LATER IN GREECE AS PERSEPHONE
3.
IN EGYPT SHE REPRESENTED THE MOON
4.
SHE TAUGHT AGRICULTURE TO EGYPTIANS
5.
& ALSO TAUGHT THEM THE ART OF HEALING
6.
INSTITUTED MARRIAGE
7.
TEARS ISIS SHED OVER HER SLAIN HUSBAND CAUSED YEARLY OVERFLOW
OF NILE
8.
ON HEAD SYCAMORE THRONE, COW HORNS, SUN DISK
D.
CREATION MYTHS
`
E.
F.
II.
2
MANY IN EGYPT
ORIGINALLY NUT, FEMALE DEITY, THEN MALE DEITY
a.
GOD PTAH CONCEIVED OF IDEA OF UNIVERSE
b.
HE CREATED "THROUGH THOUGHT & WORDS...ALL THE DIVINE
ORDER REALLY CAME INTO BEING THROUGH WHAT THE HEART
THOUGH & THE TONGUE COMMANDED...AFTER HE HAD MADE
EVERYTHING PTAH RESTED."
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION RE DEITIES & RITUALS
1.
GODS ARISING LATER PORTRAYED IN FULLY HUMAN FORM
2.
SOME 2000 GODS THROUGH HX OF EGYPT
3.
TEMPLES BUILT FOR WORSHIP
4.
MANY TEMPLES LIKE SMALL CITIES
a.
WORKSHOPS
b.
SCHOOL
c.
LIBRARY
d.
GRANARIES
e.
STOREROOMS
5.
MOST NB ROOM SANCTUARY WHERE GOD LIVED
6.
EACH MORNING A CELIBATE, CIRCUMCISED PRIEST, NEWLY SHAVED &
WASHED ENTERED SANCTUARY
7.
HE TOOK STATUE OF GOD OUT OF ITS SHRINE
8.
SPRINKLED WATER ON IT, CHANGED ITS CLOTHING & OFFERED IT FOOD &
DRINK
9.
THEN PUT IT BACK INE SHRINE & LEFT DOORS OPEN UNTIL EVENING
10.
AS HE EXITED HE WIPED AWAY HIS FOOTPRINTS
11.
WOMEN SERVED AS PART-TIME PRIESTESSES
12.
WOMEN SOMETIMES PERFORMED SAME FUNCTIONS AS MALE PRIESTS
13.
BUT MOSTLY PRIESTESSES - SINGERS & MUSICIANS
14.
POLYTHEISM PREVAILED EXCEPT FOR BRIEF FLIRTING W/MONOTHEISM
a.
AKHENATEN
(1)
TRIED TO OVERTHROW OLD GODS OF EGYPT
(2)
& REPLACE W/1 GOD ATEN, SUN'S RAYS
15.
ALL HIS EFFORTS IN VAIN FOR DURING REIGN OF BOY KING
TUTANKHAMEN RETURN TO POLYTHEISM
RELIGIOUS ROLE OF PHARAOH
1.
NEW TESTAMENT INJUNCTION RENDER TO CAESAR THINGS THAT ARE
CAESAR'S & TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S
a.
WOULD HAVE MEANT NOTHING TO EGYPTIAN
b.
CAESAR A PHARAOH & PHARAOH A GOD
2.
PHARAOH CONSIDERED CHILD OF SUN GOD RE
3.
ALSO CONSIDERED TO BE FALCON-GOD HORUS IN HUMAN FORM
a.
HORUS SON OF OSIRIS & ISIS
4.
SO PHARAOH, A LIVING GOD ON EARTH, BECAME 1 W/OSIRIS AFTER
DEATH
5.
PHARAOH NOT SIMPLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GODS & EGYPTIAN PEOPLE
6.
PHARAOH - GUARANTEE TO HIS PEOPLE
a.
A PLEDGE GODS OF EGYPT CARED FOR THEIR PEOPLE
7.
BELIEF IN LIFE EVERLASTING FOR EGYPT'S PHARAOHS
8.
ANCIENT RELIGIOUS TEXT DECEASED KING ASKS OF CREATOR-GOD
a.
O ATUM, WHAT IS MY DURATION OF LIFE?' DEITY REPLIES THOU
ART DESTINED FOR MILLIONS OF MILLIONS OF YEARS, A
LIFETIME OF MILLIONS"
1.
2.
BURIAL CUSTOMS
A.
GENERAL REMARKS
1.
TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR LIFETIME OF MILLIONS,
2.
KINGS DESIGNED TOMBS & MORTUARY TEMPLES TO LAST FOREVER
3.
PEOPLE OF EGYPT WILLINGLY LABORED TO BUILD THESE MONUMENTS FOR
THEIR DEAD RULERS
4.
WHY ABLE TO GET LABORERS TO BUILD THESE?
a.
BELIEVED THEIR OWN WELL-BEING TIED TO GOD-RULERS,
PHARAOHS
b.
IF PHARAOHS JOURNEYED WELL TO THEIR ETERNAL GLORY,
c.
LIFE ON EARTH WOULD FLOURISH
5.
NOT SLAVES AS THOUGHT BEFORE BUT WILLING WORKERS
6.
ALSO, TEAM CONCEPT & COMRADERIE
a.
BORNE OUT BY MARKS FOUND ON VARIOUS PYRAMID STONES
(1)
VIGOROUS TEAM
(2)
ENDURING TEAM
(3)
CRAFTSMAN GANG
B.
PYRAMIDS
3
BUILT DURING OLD KINGDOM FOR TOMBS FOR PHARAOHS
a.
DURING SPAN OF JUST 400 YRS
b.
FROM 2770 B.C. - 2200 B.C.
2.
ABOUT 80 SURVIVE TODAY
3.
1ST PYRAMID - STEP PYRAMID OF PHARAOH ZOSER
4.
IMHOTEP
a.
ARCHITECT & CHIEF COUNSELOR TO PHARAOH
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
1.
LIMESTONE QUARRIES CLOSE TO PYRAMIDS THEMSELVES
2.
GRANITE 500 MILES AWAY SO USED SPARINGLY
3.
USED RAMPS & CAUSEWAYS - NOT BLOCK & TACKLE
4.
ENTIRE PYRAMID SURROUNDED W/MUD BRICK SUPPORT WHILE BUILDING IT
5.
NO WHEEL AT TIME SO DRAGGED TO SITE ON WOODEN SLEDGES
6.
USED COPPER TOOLS - LEVERS, WEDGE & CHISEL & SAW
7.
MADE GROUND LEVEL USING CANALS OF WATER
a.
AS WATER FINDS OWN LEVEL
b.
GREATEST PYRAMID CHEOPS 1/2" OFF LEVEL
8.
MOST PYRAMID SOLID STONE
9.
BURIAL & OTHER CHAMBERS HID SO GRAVE ROBBERS NOT FIND
a.
SERIES OF LABYRINTHINE PASSAGES, FALSE DOORS, DUMMY
CHAMBERS
10.
PHARAOHS BURIED W/GOLD, JEWELRY & HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS
11.
MOST TOMBS INEVITABLY DISCOVERED
12.
ONLY TOMB OF KING TUT (TUTANKHAMEN
a.
NOT ROBBED DURING ANTIQUITY
PYRAMID OF CHEOPS LARGEST
1.
2700 B.C. BUILT
2.
NEARLY 500' HIGH
3.
BASE COVERS NEARLY 15 ACRES
4.
RANKS AS 1 OF 7 WONDERS OF WORLD BY GREEKS
5.
ORIGINALLY COVERED W/ POLISHED WHITE LIMESTONE BUT STRIPPED
OVER YRS TO BUILD CAIRO
6.
ABOUT 100,000 MEN FOR 20 YRS BUILT
7.
WORKED IN SUMMER WHEN NILE FLOODED
PYRAMID OF CHEPHREN AT GIZA
1.
ON TOP ARE REMAINS OF ORIGINAL LIMESTONE CASING
SPHINX AT GIZA
1.
C. 2500 B.C.
2.
BUILT BY CHEPHREN IN HIS IMAGE
3.
THOUSANDS OF SPHINXES IN EGYPT
4.
THIS IS LARGEST
5.
ORIGINALLY COVERED W/PLASTER & PAINTED BRIGHT COLORS
6.
FROM EARLIEST PERIOD OF EGYPTIAN HX CUSTOMARY TO REPRESENT KING
OR PHARAOH AS LION
7.
TO SYMBOLIZE HIS STRENGTH & DIVINE ROLE
8.
CARVED FROM NATURAL BLUFF - 66' TALL
9.
SPHINX WEARS URAEUS OR COBRA HEADDRESS
a.
SYMBOL OF SOVEREIGNTY OVER LOWER EGYPT
VALLEY OF TOMB OF KINGS AT THEBES
1.
LATER BURIAL PLACE FOR PHARAOHS
2.
THEBES CAPITAL OF ANCIENT EGYPT
3.
KARNAK
a.
LARGEST RELIGIOUS EDIFICE EVER BUILT
DEIR EL BAHARI
1.
GREAT TEMPLE OF QUEEN HATSHEPSUT
2.
NEAR VALLEY OF KINGS
3.
SHE RULED 1490-1468 B.C.
4.
1ST EFFECTIVE WOMAN RULER
a.
WOMEN BEFORE BUT BRIEFLY & W/LITTLE POWER
5.
SHE POSED & DRESSED AS IF SHE WERE A MAN
6.
REGENT FOR HER STEPSON TUTHMOSE III
7.
RULED FOR 20 YRS
8.
WHEN TUTHMOSE FINALLY TOOK POWER HE TRIED TO WIPE OUT MEMORY OF
WOMAN WHO HAD USURPED HIS POWERS
RAMESES II 1290-1224 B.C
1.
LONGEST REIGN OF PHARAOHS 67 YRS
2.
BEST-KNOWN OF EGYPT'S RULERS
3.
SIRED MORE THAN 100 CHILDREN
4.
ATTEMPTED TO CONQUER ASIAN EMPIRE
5.
GAINED FAME AS OPPRESSOR OF HEBREWS
KING TUTANKHAMEN (CA. 1352-1434 B.C.)
1.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
4
MINOR PHARAOH BUT HAS RECEIVED MUCH PUBLICITY TODAY BECAUSE OF
HIS TOMB SURVIVING CENTURIES OF GRAVE ROBBERS
2.
DISCOVERED 1922 BY CARTER OF ENGLAND
a.
HE SPENT YRS LOOKING FOR IT
3.
SOLID GOLD COFFIN WEIGHS 2500 LBS.
MUMMIFICATION
1.
PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON PRESERVATION OF DEAD IN REASONABLY
LIFELIKE FORM
2.
BELIEF PROBABLY ORIGINATED FROM OBSERVATION OF NATURAL
PRESERVATIVE EFFECTS OF BURIAL IN SHALLOW SAND-FILLED GRAVES
a.
USED PRE 3100 B.C.
b.
INTERRED IN SMALL CIRCULAR OR OVAL PITS
3.
MUMMIFICATION SEEN AS LIFE-GIVING PROCESS
4.
IF BODY FELL TO PIECES IT WOULD BE AS IF PERSON HAD NEVER
EXISTED
a.
SO MUST MUMMIFY IT
5.
EMBALMING ROOM CALLED HOUSE OF VITALITY
6.
GOD OF MUMMIFICATION HAD HEAD OF JACKAL
a.
ANUBIS
7.
EVERYONE MUMMIFIED
a.
EVEN SOMETIMES CATS & BIRDS
8.
PURPOSE TO PRESERVE BODY FROM DECAYING
9.
LIFE COMPOSED BOTH OF LIFE OF BODY & LIFE OF SOUL
a.
KA = SOUL
10.
AS LONG AS EITHER SPIRIT LIVED OR BODY REMAINED
11.
A PERSON NOT REALLY GONE BUT READY TO LIVE AGAIN IN AFTERWORLD
12.
ALTHOUGH DIFFICULT TO TELL HOW LONG PERSON'S SPIRIT MIGHT LAST
OR HOW WELL IT COULD FUNCTION IN AFTERLIFE W/O BODY,
13.
EGYPTIANS FELT PLAYED SAFE BY ENSURING BODY WOULD REMAIN AS
INTACT AS POSSIBLE
14.
IN PYRAMIDS SMALL HOLE FOR SOUL OR KA TO LEAVE
15.
DEPENDING ON FINANCES MUMMIFICATION COULD BE SIMPLE OR
ELABORATE
16.
OVER CENTURIES PROCESS CHANGED FROM WRAPPING CORPSE IN RESINSOAKED LINEN
a.
BODY DECOMPOSED BUT WRAPPINGS RETAINED APPEARANCE OF BODY
17.
TO MORE COMPLEX PROCESSES IN OLD & MIDDLE KINGDOMS
a.
NATRON AS DEHYDRATING AGENT AROUND BODY
b.
FACE MASK ADDED IN MIDDLE KINGDOMS
c.
BUT SUCCESS OF THESE TECHNIQUES LIMITED AS MOST SOFT
TISSUE LOST
18.
BY NEW KINGDOM MUMMIFICATION PROCESS AT APEX
19.
HAD REFINED TREATMENT OF CORPSE EVEN FLESH, HAIR & FINGERNAILS
PRESERVED
20.
INTERNAL ORGANS REMOVED EXCEPT FOR HEART & KIDNEYS THROUGH AN
INCISION IN FLANK
21.
PRESERVED IN SPECIAL CONTAINERS - CANOPIC JAR
22.
BRAINS REMOVED ALSO FOR ELABORATE MUMMIFICATION
a.
PULLED OUT W/HOOKS THRU NOSE
23.
BODY STUFFED W/SPICES, OR SAND
24.
THEN WRAPPED W/BANDAGES (LINEN STRIPS) HELD IN PLACE BY RESIN
OR GUM
25.
BODY COULD THEN BE KEPT INDEFINITELY
26.
MUMMIFICATION PRACTICES FOR ALMOST 3000 YRS
27.
& EVEN ADOPTED BY FOREIGN SETTLERS IN EGYPT
FUNERAL & BURIAL PRACTICES
1.
FUNERAL & BURIAL TOOK PLACE AFTER 70 DAY MUMMIFICATION PROCESS
2.
FUNERARY OFFERINGS OF FOOD EITHER IN REAL FORM OR PAINTED
(MAGICALLY WOULD TURN INTO FOOD_
3.
TOMBS STOCKED W/FURNITURE, FOOD , ETC.
a.
EVERYTHING NEEDED TO ENJOY DEATH IN COMFORT
4.
PLUS A COPY OF THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
5.
BOOK OF THE DEAD
a.
MANY OF THE TEXTS WHICH HAVE COME DOWN TO US FROM ANCIENT
EGYPT ARE DEVOTED TO SECURING ETERNAL HAPPINESS FOR EACH
INDIVIDUAL WHOM THEY ACCOMPANIED INTO GRAVE & THENCE ON
HIS JOURNEY IN UNDERWORLD
b.
THEY HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BY MODERN SCHOLARS UNDER GENERAL
TITLE OF BOOK OF DEAD
c.
ONE'S DEEDS ON EARTH MUST BE ANSWERED FOR
d.
& SO PERSON MUST DENY HAVING PERPETRATED ANY CRIMES
1.
K.
L.
M.
III.
5
JOURNEY AFTER DEATH
1.
DEAD PEOPLE MUST GO FOR TRIAL BEFORE OSIRIS
a.
LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD
b.
ONLY GOOD PEOPLE PASS TRIAL
c.
REST ARE SWALLOWED UP FOREVER
2.
JACKAL-HEAD GOD ANUBIS WILL TEST PERSON'S CLAIM TO BEING GOD BY
BALANCING PERSON'S HEART AGAINST FEATHER OF TRUTH
a.
FROM GODDESS MAAT'S HEADDRESS
3.
WINGED SCARAB INSCRIBED W/ CHARM LAID ON MUMMY'S BREAST
4.
TO SILENCE GUILT OF HEART SO OSIRIS WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE EVIL
DECEASED PERSON HAD DONE
5.
IF PERSON LIED HE WOULD DIE FOREVER
6.
BUT IF GOOD, PERSON WOULD BE TAKEN TO THRONE OF OSIRIS TO
WORSHIP HIM
CONCLUDING REMARKS RE EGYPT
A.
RE RELIGION
1.
IN GENERAL EGYPTIANS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN VERY RELIGIOUS
2.
BELIEVED IN AFTERLIFE
3.
& DEVOTED MUCH OF THEIR ENERGY TO PREPARING FOR THIS
4.
BELIEVED DESTINED FROM BIRTH TO PARTICULAR FATE
5.
BUT ALSO OPTIMISTIC & PERHAPS W/HELP OF GOD
a.
CHANGE AN UNFORTUNATE FATE
6.
THEY DESIRED LONG LIFE & EVENTUALLY A PROPER EGYPTIAN BURIAL