Ancient Religion:
The ancient Egyptian religion was based on polytheism (“or the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akhenaton”). 200 Gods and Goddesses were believed to be "most important"- Gods and Goddesses were represented as humans and animals.
Polytheistic's believed that the world started with an ocean in darkness and when dry land began to rise, the sun of God was reborn/ reappeared; another theory was that the son of God emerged from a sacred blue lotus that grew out of mud; finally, the third version/ theory was that he appeared as a beetle on the eastern horizon. Many temples and pyramids were built and were considered a place for the God’s and Goddesses- that's where they always were.
All civilization was based on religion and their beliefs were most important to them
Death and Funerals:
The Egyptians thought of death as a good thing because when someone worthy died they started/was reborn into a better life in the next world.
Everyone was thought to have three souls and for these souls to properly work it was essential to survive intact. Their belief in rebirth after life on earth soon after became their driving force in funerals and the practice.
Embalming:
When someone would die the priests would recite a prayer that would "revive" the deceased body; once the prayer was recited the body was washed in ibu (washed and purified in special shelter). All organs were then removed and stored in containers for forty year. After forty years past the body was wrapped in bandages along with jewelry and prized possessions of that person or their loved ones. The wrapped body/mummy was later put into a coffin with the possessions still on its side.
Burial tombs:
After 70 days past the mummification process was finally completed; the body was placed in a decorated coffin.
The last ritual the priest perfumed was called “opening of the mouth” with caused the mummy to be able to eat and speak again (in the next life).
How does this affect modern Egyptian religion?:
All of the historical aspects of Egyptian religion have an affect on modern day religion because of the legends and theories that have been created due to the history behind the culture. Since antiquity, Egypt has been the attention builder/center of attention for religious thought. Although mummification and polytheism are still the main thought of Egyptian religion and culture, most people in Cario today are Muslim.
More Culture:
The ancient Egyptians thought of Egypt being separated into two types of land- ‘black land’ (fertile land on the banks of the Nile used or growing crops and farming) and ‘red land’ (the barren desert that protected both sides of Egypt).
The ancient Egyptian religion was based on polytheism (“or the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akhenaton”). 200 Gods and Goddesses were believed to be "most important"- Gods and Goddesses were represented as humans and animals.
Polytheistic's believed that the world started with an ocean in darkness and when dry land began to rise, the sun of God was reborn/ reappeared; another theory was that the son of God emerged from a sacred blue lotus that grew out of mud; finally, the third version/ theory was that he appeared as a beetle on the eastern horizon. Many temples and pyramids were built and were considered a place for the God’s and Goddesses- that's where they always were.
All civilization was based on religion and their beliefs were most important to them
Death and Funerals:
The Egyptians thought of death as a good thing because when someone worthy died they started/was reborn into a better life in the next world.
Everyone was thought to have three souls and for these souls to properly work it was essential to survive intact. Their belief in rebirth after life on earth soon after became their driving force in funerals and the practice.
Embalming:
When someone would die the priests would recite a prayer that would "revive" the deceased body; once the prayer was recited the body was washed in ibu (washed and purified in special shelter). All organs were then removed and stored in containers for forty year. After forty years past the body was wrapped in bandages along with jewelry and prized possessions of that person or their loved ones. The wrapped body/mummy was later put into a coffin with the possessions still on its side.
Burial tombs:
After 70 days past the mummification process was finally completed; the body was placed in a decorated coffin.
The last ritual the priest perfumed was called “opening of the mouth” with caused the mummy to be able to eat and speak again (in the next life).
How does this affect modern Egyptian religion?:
All of the historical aspects of Egyptian religion have an affect on modern day religion because of the legends and theories that have been created due to the history behind the culture. Since antiquity, Egypt has been the attention builder/center of attention for religious thought. Although mummification and polytheism are still the main thought of Egyptian religion and culture, most people in Cario today are Muslim.
More Culture:
The ancient Egyptians thought of Egypt being separated into two types of land- ‘black land’ (fertile land on the banks of the Nile used or growing crops and farming) and ‘red land’ (the barren desert that protected both sides of Egypt).