The Influence of Religion:
The god-like Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt was also its chief priest, the person through whom the gods spoke. As a descendant of the first king of Egypt, (the god called Horus), he sat on the Horus throne. He protected his people by making sure that Egypt was ruled in the way the gods approved – with order, justice and stability (called maat).
Priests and priestesses wore nothing but white linens to appear clean and pure for the gods. Male priests were said to bathe as many as seven times a day and were shaved completely bald. Certain temples, mostly of Horus, would have statues that were bathed and dressed every day. Almost every Egyptian had a name involving a deity, so it would be hard to ignore such a religion. The Egyptians were so anxious about the afterlife that they spent their current-lives pleasing the gods to ensure they were accepted into the western paradise. The Pharaoh himself was seen to be a reincarnation of Horus. Whichever cult he favoured, the majority of his people would turn to. Many jewellery pieces were of "religious" base. Art was also swamped with religion. Most everything drawn or written was religious. Needless to say, the gods and goddesses were the life of the Egyptians.
The god-like Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt was also its chief priest, the person through whom the gods spoke. As a descendant of the first king of Egypt, (the god called Horus), he sat on the Horus throne. He protected his people by making sure that Egypt was ruled in the way the gods approved – with order, justice and stability (called maat).
Priests and priestesses wore nothing but white linens to appear clean and pure for the gods. Male priests were said to bathe as many as seven times a day and were shaved completely bald. Certain temples, mostly of Horus, would have statues that were bathed and dressed every day. Almost every Egyptian had a name involving a deity, so it would be hard to ignore such a religion. The Egyptians were so anxious about the afterlife that they spent their current-lives pleasing the gods to ensure they were accepted into the western paradise. The Pharaoh himself was seen to be a reincarnation of Horus. Whichever cult he favoured, the majority of his people would turn to. Many jewellery pieces were of "religious" base. Art was also swamped with religion. Most everything drawn or written was religious. Needless to say, the gods and goddesses were the life of the Egyptians.
Everyday Life
Religion was interwoven, not only into the pharaoh’s power, but into life itself. It was the deity of a town who the people turned to, in order to prevent the everyday hazards of living. They used magic spells, charms, folklore and amulets to appealed to the deity for protection against hazards, and to negotiate on their behalf, for anything from the Nile flooding, to sowing seeds and harvesting crops, to protection from poisonous snakes, and for safe childbirth.
Egyptians spent their lives constructing their tombs, more or less excited to join their family in the afterlife with the god Osiris. Many homes and family temples have been found with usahbti figures (small mummy-form figures) and idols in a niche or space reserved in the h ome for worship. Even their writing system, cursive and heretic hieroglyphics, included figures of gods and goddesses.
Religion was interwoven, not only into the pharaoh’s power, but into life itself. It was the deity of a town who the people turned to, in order to prevent the everyday hazards of living. They used magic spells, charms, folklore and amulets to appealed to the deity for protection against hazards, and to negotiate on their behalf, for anything from the Nile flooding, to sowing seeds and harvesting crops, to protection from poisonous snakes, and for safe childbirth.
Egyptians spent their lives constructing their tombs, more or less excited to join their family in the afterlife with the god Osiris. Many homes and family temples have been found with usahbti figures (small mummy-form figures) and idols in a niche or space reserved in the h ome for worship. Even their writing system, cursive and heretic hieroglyphics, included figures of gods and goddesses.
Temples
There were many temples in Egypt, which indicated how essential religion was to the Ancient Egyptian people. It also indicates how essential they were to the function of everyday life and the religious function was not always the whole story. Often one temple was built so close to another that whole temple complexes, even temple cities arose, cities like Giza, or Thebes. Within these temples, the Egyptians performed a variety of rituals, the central functions of Egyptian religion; giving offerings to the gods, re-enacting their mythological interactions through festivals, and warding off the forces of chaos. These rituals were seen as necessary for the gods to continue to uphold maat, the divine order of the universe.
There were many temples in Egypt, which indicated how essential religion was to the Ancient Egyptian people. It also indicates how essential they were to the function of everyday life and the religious function was not always the whole story. Often one temple was built so close to another that whole temple complexes, even temple cities arose, cities like Giza, or Thebes. Within these temples, the Egyptians performed a variety of rituals, the central functions of Egyptian religion; giving offerings to the gods, re-enacting their mythological interactions through festivals, and warding off the forces of chaos. These rituals were seen as necessary for the gods to continue to uphold maat, the divine order of the universe.
Reference List:
Anderson, M., Keese, I. & Low, A. (2009) Retroactive: World History Volume 1 (3rd ed.). Australia: John Wiley and Sons Australia.
Clyne, J., Ford, R. et. Al. (2012) History 7: The Ancient World. Victoria: Macmillan Education.
Schulz, R. & Seidel, M. (2007) Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs. Germany: h.f.ullmann.
Anderson, M., Keese, I. & Low, A. (2009) Retroactive: World History Volume 1 (3rd ed.). Australia: John Wiley and Sons Australia.
Clyne, J., Ford, R. et. Al. (2012) History 7: The Ancient World. Victoria: Macmillan Education.
Schulz, R. & Seidel, M. (2007) Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs. Germany: h.f.ullmann.