Chapter Three Section Three Egyptian Religion I. Egyptians Gods and Goddesses A. Regional Differences

Chapter Three

Section Three

Egyptian Religion
I. Egyptians Gods and Goddesses

A. Regional Differences

1. Early Egyptian towns had their own gods, goddesses and temples

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  Shown as humans with animal bodies
  

2. All Egyptians worshipped principal gods

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  Re- Sun God
  
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  Horus- Falcon God
  

3. Later ancient Egyptians came to believe in several groups of gods

B. Important Gods

1. Amon-Re- protected the rich and poor

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  Born each morning with the sunrise and died with the sunset in the west
  
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  Western desert was where the dead would go
  

2. Osiris- god of the living and dead

3. Isis- goddess who protected children

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  Married to Osiris
  

4. Horus-sky god

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  Osiris and Isis son
  

II. Belief in an Afterlife

A. Journey to the Afterlife

1. Could get to afterlife in heavenly boats

2. IF gods were pleased you lived with Osiris and lived a life

of pleasure and ease

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  Dead would be buried with possessions so that they could have them in the afterlife
  
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  By the Middle Kingdom all classes looked to go to afterlife
  

B. Preparing the Dead

1. Before pyramids- most were buried in shallow graves in desert

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  Weather would preserve body
  

2. Dead would leave body but return for food

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  Left food offerings
  

3. Fourth Dynasty- Egyptians began mummification

4. Mummification- preserving the body of a dead person

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  Expensive
  
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  Took several months
  
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  Coffins would be carved during this time
  
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    Pharaohs had 3-4 coffins
    
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      Nestled inside one another
      

III. The Pharaoh’s Tombs

A. The Pyramids

1. Building would begin shortly after being crowned Pharaoh

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  Fourth Dynasty built most elaborate
  

2. Huge buildings with four sloping triangle shaped sides

3. Great Pyramid is the largest built for Khufu

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  Giza, Egypt
  

B. The Building Process

1. Could take up to 20 years to build

2. Built along the west bank of the Nile

3. Stones were carved from quarries

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  Fine stone came as far as Nubia
  

4. Peasants would build for a few months at a time