Egyptian Beliefs
How to Make a Mummy
Step one:
Wash the body in the Nile and make a large cut in the side. Take out the organs. To take out the brain stuff a hook into the dead body's nose and jiggle it around. Then pull the brain out and throw it away.
Step two:
Clean the liver, intestines stomach, and lungs. Put them in four canopic jars that have lids that look like gods. This will protect these organs. The heart will need to be put back.
Step three:
Salt the body with a special salt called natron and leave it to dry for 40 days. This will remove all the liquid and prevent it from rotting away.
Step Four:
Scoop out all the salt and stuff the body with plants and rags. This will prevent the body from deforming and will let it keep its shape.
Step Five:
Tuck some amulets in and around the body to protect it. Wrap the body in linen bandages and place the body in a coffin. Put that coffin into another coffin and so on. For extra protection, put the coffins into a tomb.
Question: How did religion influence every aspect of ancient Egyptian life?
Religion influenced every aspect of Egyptian life because it gave power to some people. For example, the priest had lots of power because of his connection with god. Their beliefs in multiple gods, or polytheism, led to them believing that the gods controlled nature's forces. In Discovering Our Past: A History of the World, it states, "The Egyptians depended on the sun to grow their crops and on the Nile River to make the soil fertile. Thus, two of the most crucial gods were the sun god Re and the river god Hapi (HAH • pee). Another important god was Osiris (oh • SY • ruhs). According to legend, Osiris was an early pharaoh who gave the Egyptian people laws and taught them farming. His wife Isis (EYE • suhs) represented the faithful wife and mother. Osiris and Isis together ruled over the world of the dead. Thoth (THOHTH) was the god of learning. He could take human or animal form—or both—as did most gods and goddesses." This shows that the Egyptians believed that the god's controlled things like the Nile and sun. There belief in the gods Osiris and Isis, who are gods of the dead, they developed something called embalming. This was a process of treating a dead body so it could enter the afterlife. This was how mummys were formed. Following this, people realized they needed a place to keep the important people. As a result of this, pyramids and temples developed. All of this shows that religion was very important part of ancient Egyptian's life.
↑A pyramid and a sphinx
↑Osiris(left) and Isis(right)
↑This shows the inside of a pyramid. The pictures on the walls are hieroglyphs and pictures of gods. I think this is for decoration so that the pharaoh could enjoy them in the afterlife.
Q: What are 3-5 characteristics of the ancient Egyptian religion/belief system.
The Egyptians belief in the afterlife was an aspect of their religion. Their belief in the gods Isis and Osiris strenghtened their belief in the afterlife. The Egyptians had a positive attitude about the afterlife for they thought it would take them to a better life. Another aspect of their religion is that they thought the gods controlled nature's forces. For example, Re is the sun god and controlled the sun and Hapi is the river god. The Egyptians worshipped them so they believed they could have a bountiful harvest. As a result, many temples developed. Embalming is also an aspect of Egyptian religion. This resulted in many of the pyramids being built to keep the bodies of dead pharaohs.
Q: Why and how were the pyramids built, and how does it connect to the the Egyptian religion/belief system?
The pyramids were built so the bodies of the dead pharaohs were protected. The Egyptians believed that this was essential to the pharaoh successfully entering the afterlife. The pyramids were built through hard work and labor. First, workers searched along the Nile for stone. Next, skilled artisans cut out the blocks of stones. The blocks of stone were then loaded onto barges and sent to where the pyramid will be built. The blocks are loaded onto sled and dragged to the incompleted pyramid. Finally, workers dragged and pushed them up ramps so as to place it onto a new level. This connects with the belief systems because of the afterlife. The pyramids protect the bodies of the pharaohs so they could enter and enjoy the afterlife.