Religion and Ritual in Ancient EgyptThis book is a vivid reconstruction of the practical aspects of ancient Egyptian religion. Through an examination of artifacts and inscriptions, the text explores a variety of issues. For example, who was allowed to enter the temples, and what rituals were preformed therein? Who served as priests? How were they organized and trained, and what did they do? What was the Egyptians' attitude toward death, and what happened at funerals? How did the living and dead communicate? In what ways could people communicate with the gods? What impact did religion have on the economy and longevity of the society? This book demystifies Egyptian religion, exploring what it meant to the people and society. The text is richly illustrated with images of rituals and religious objects. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
1 The Egyptian Mind | 3 |
2 Priests | 16 |
3 Inside the Temple | 39 |
4 Festivals | 56 |
5 Contacting the Gods | 76 |
6 In the Presence of the Gods | 104 |
7 Death and Funeral Rites | 119 |
8 Communicating with the Dead | 148 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abydos afterlife Akhenaten Amarna Period amulets Amun Amunhotep Ancient Egypt Ancient Egyptian Aten beliefs burial chapel coffin Contacting the Gods Courtesy cult statue daily offering dead deceased Deir el Bahri Deir el Medina deities Dendera divine dream Dynasty 18 Dynasty 20 Egyptian religion embalmers Emily Teeter enemies evil example father festival Figure figurines funerary God’s goddess Hathor Hatshepsut Horus images incense indicate individuals inscribed inscription Isis Karnak king lector priest Lichtheim 1980 linen living Luxor magician Medinet Habu Middle Kingdom mortuary mummy Murnane Museum necropolis netcher Old Kingdom oracle Oriental Institute Osiris papyrus Photo phyle procession protection Ptah Pylon Ramesses Ramesses III Ramesseum realm records refer religious sanctuary Saqqara scenes shrine society spells stela Strudwick 2005 temple texts Thebes theology Third Intermediate Period Thutmose Thutmose III tomb owner Tutankhamun University of Chicago Valley votive wabs walls western Thebes