AVI 1OI Grade 9 Visual Arts
Ancient Gods and Goddesses in the Afterlife! – AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WEBHUNT
Part A - Introduction
Read the story below and answer the following questions:
Thieves lead to discovery of Egypt tombs
The arrest of tomb robbers led archaeologists to the graves of three royal dentists, protected by a curse and hidden
in the desert sands for thousands of years in the shadow of Egypt's most ancient pyramid. The thieves launched their own dig
one summer night two months ago but were apprehended.
That led archaeologists to the three tombs, one of which included an inscription warning that anyone who violated the
sanctity of the grave would be eaten by a crocodile and a snake. A towering, painted profile of the chief dentist stares down at
passers-by from the wall opposite the inscription.
The tombs date back more than 4,000 years to the 5th Dynasty and were meant to honor a chief dentist and two
others who treated the pharaohs and their families. Their location near the Step Pyramid of King Djoser — believed to be
Egypt's oldest pyramid — indicate the respect accorded dentists by Egypt's ancient kings, who "cared about the treatment of
their teeth." Although their services were in demand by the powerful, the dentists likely did not share in their wealth.
The tombs, which did not contain their mummies, were built of mud-brick and limestone, not the pure limestone
preferred by ancient Egypt's upper class. "The whole point of a tomb was to last forever," said Carol Redmount, associate
professor of Egyptian archaeology at the University of California at Berkeley. "So you wanted to make it out of materials that
would last forever. And mud-brick ... didn't last forever."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15384819/
Reflection Questions
1. How do you think ancient artworks and architecture are usually found?
2. Describe the Egyptian tombs that were found. Why were they so significant?
3. What can you conclude about the Egyptian belief of death based on the above information?
Part B - Early Egyptian Spirituality
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/death.html
Click on Mummification
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Who is involved in the "Purification"? What are their roles?
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The heart was left in the body. Why?
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What is the purpose of the following: bath of natron, perfumes and oils, wax/metal plate.
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Explain why the Egyptians used the mask on the mummy.
Click on 'The Burial'. Briefly explain the following:
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Funeral
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The Wabet
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Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
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Offering Ritual
Click on "The Tombs throughout the Years". Briefly explain the following:
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simple pit graves
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Mastabas
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Rock-cut Chapels
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Pyramid - tombs
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Built Mortuary Chapel - tombs
Click on 'The Underworld'.
Describe how the Egyptians viewed spirituality (using these key terms: ba, ka, akh, immortality).
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/home.html
a) Step Pyramid
b) Bent Pyramid
c) Giza Pyramids
Copy and Paste into the URL line again: http://members.tripod.com/~ib205/death.html
Click on ‘Tombs of Eternity’.
Explain the position and type of grave that the following people were given:
a) Kings/Queens
b) Nobles
c) Workers
To look at the different images of these graves above, check out the following website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/pyramid_gallery.shtml
Part C - Early Egyptian Civilization
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/egypte.html

Describe where the early Egyptians lived. Why did people live near the Nile River? (Hint: Egyptian Civilization)

Describe the daily lives of early Egyptians. (Hint: under Egyptian Civilization)
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.discoveringegypt.com/k-q-menu.htm
Describe who was involved and their contributions in the following Egyptian eras:
Early Kingdom (approx. 3100 BC)
Middle Kingdom (approx. 1800 BC)
New Kingdom (approx. 1570 BC)
Part D - The Great Pyramids and the Sphynx
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/explore/
Click on Enter Here and go on the virtual tour of the Pyramids.

Describe how the Pyramid is set up (who is highest to who is lowest). Why do you think the graves are set up this
way?
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What are the similarities between these graves and today’s graves?
The Great Sphinx
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.egyptvoyager.com/pyramids_giza_sphinxmain_1.htm

Whose Pyramids is the Great Sphinx located at?
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Describe how the Great Sphinx was created.
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What was the purpose of the Great Sphinx?
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What are the different damages (and causes to these damages) of the Great Sphinx?
Copy and Paste into the URL line: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/explore/sphinx.html
Check out the different views of the Great Sphinx.
Draw at least 3 images representing the Great Sphinx.