The document contains sections from three authors (L.M., M.R., C.A.) on different topics related to ancient Egypt. L.M.'s sections discuss Egyptian religion, including rituals like mummification. Sacred animals like cats and their associated gods are also mentioned. Myths are briefly introduced, such as the story of Osiris, Isis and Horus. Rituals centered around caring for gods and the afterlife are described in detail.

1. Table Of Contents
• L.M: Intro, Rituals, Sacred Animals, Myths,
Conclusion, Bibliography.
• M.R: Intro, Culture, Government,
Environmental CondiEons, Geography,
Conclusion, Bibliography.
• C.A: Intro, Rulers in Egypt, Intro, Social Classes,
Intro, Math/Science/Technology,
Bibliography. . L.M

2. IntroducEon to the EgypEan Religion
EgypEans are known for their unique culture. Their temples,
•
FesEvals, deserts, myths, and other things that no other
L.M.
country has.
• Common EgypEan rituals known around the world are
mummificaEon and the burying.
• Religion pracEcally controls the whole EgypEan culture
because of its importance.
• EgypEan religion isn’t actually a ‘religion’, but actually a
variaEon of different yet same religions interacEng.
• EgypEan gods are usually half human and half animal, usually
sacred.
• Pharaohs, EgypEan Kings, are thought to be god while
Mesopotamia Kings represent god.
• Such sacred animals, such as bulls, cats, and crocodiles, are
animals you see a lot in Egypt today.
• EgypEan gods are like super man, immortal with superior
power compared to humans.
• EgypEans believe in the aQer life and are polytheisEc, which
means they believe more than one god.
• There are more than 200 gods and goddesses.
• They worship many deiEes.

3. EgypEan Rituals
• Like humans, gods need to eat, drink, and be clothed (which really
isn’t a need). They also need to be purified in order to support their
L.M. strength. This is provided through rituals.
• In temples, there are statues of a specific god, usually the god that
represents that city. They are to be washed, perfumed, and dressed
in clothes with occasional jewelry daily.
• Some regions have fesEvals on a annual basis, and some are some
famous and/or important, it aWracted people from far away land
(tourist aWracEon)
• Another ritual that early EgypEans are famous of is mummificaEon,
where a deceased person’s body is embalmed in clothing aQer
several procedures.
• MummificaEon Procedures:
1. Right aQer the person dies, the priests say prayers over the body,
then performs a last aWempt to revive that person.
2. Body is then purified, then taken to an embalmer’s workshop where
all the organs would be removed and stored in canopic jars, then
the body would be packed with natron, a type of salt.
3. The body, aQer 40 days of preservaEon, is then mummified,
wrapped in bandages.
4. The chief embalmer would wore a jackal mask to represent Anubis,
who is the god of mummificaEon, protector of tombs.
5. Items that are usable in the aQer life would be put in the tomb
along side of the mummy, then the “open of the mouth” ritual was
performed, where it gives the dead the ability to speak, eat, and use
their body even aQer death.
• Temples were dwelling places for gods.
• The priest’s duty was to care and aWend to the god’s needs, funeral
rites, teaching schools, supervising the arEsts and works, and
advising people with their problems.
• EgypEans thought death is a stage in a progress to a beWer life in
the next world.
• You could only reach full potenEal aQer death.

4. Sacred Animals
• Worshiping animals are a large part of the EgypEan daily life
and culture because animals are the closest contact with the
deiEes.
• The most famous and popular animal, is the cat, the sacred
and respected beast. They are also a integral part of the
ancient EgypEan family life.
• Mafdet is the first EgypEan feline deity, Bastet is the most
famous cat goddess, and Sekhmet, a ferocious lioness‐
goddess, counterpart of the gentle cat‐goddess Bastet.
• Bastet has the roles of ferElity, to protect the children and
cats.
• Sekhmet is the goddess of destrucEve force, therefore
Sekhmet and Bastet balance each other out.
• BubasEs, a tomb/cemetery for cats, contain the mummified
remains of over 30,000 household and wild cats.
• When the cat dies, the owners shave their eyebrows in grief.
• Cats were protected by gods and the law.
• Persian collected as many cats they can steal in Egypt, then
during baWle with the EgypEans, released then into the
baWlefield. Egypt quickly surrendered so to not harm the cats.
L.M.

5. EgypEan Myths
• EgypEans also had myths, like the Greeks. One for each
god.
• The most famous myth is the main myth which is about
Osiris, Isis, and Horus where the murder and rebirth of
Osiris and his son, Horus taking revenge.
• The myth was about the cycle of nature and its ferElity,
it tells about the unity of Egypt and works as an
explanaEon of sacred kingship.
• The 2 chief gods were Amen‐Ra and Osiris.
• Osiris is the god of the underworld.
• Amen‐Ra is the ancient EgypEan sun god; supreme god
of the universe, and Amen and Ra were combined
during principal deity; Theban supremacy.
• There are many tales of how the world began.
• There is one legend about how god emerged from a
sacred blue lotus that grew out of mud. Another about
how god appeared as a scarab beetle on a eastern
horizon.
L.M.

6. Conclusion
• Ancient EgypEan daily life/culture was
centered around their religion as you
have seen in the slides.
• EgypEan Myths are like copies of the
Greek Myths, the drama, the human
features, the power.
• Religious views of things can give
disadvantages and weaknesses.
• Most rituals like praying are supposed
to be done everyday and are very
important to EgypEan culture. Rituals
take up at least 10% of everybody’s
daily schedule.
L.M.

7. Bibliography
• Carr, Karen. quot;EgypEan Religion” Kidipede ‐ History for Kids. 2007. November 16, 2008. hWp://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/religion/.
• “Ancient EgypEan Religion” St. Petersburg Times. 1999. November 16, 2008. hWp://www2.spEmes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html
• Beck, Roger B. Black, Linda. Naylor, Phillip C. Shabaka, Dahia Ibo. “Pyramids on the Nile” World History; PaWerns of InteracEon. 1999. November 16,
2008
• Jonsson, K.M. “History of the EgypEan Religion Part I” Ancient EgypEan Religion, History, Culture of Ancient Egypt. 1998. November 16, 2008.
hWp://www.philae.nu/akhet/history1.html
• Kjeilen, Tore. “Ancient Egypt/ Religion” LookLex Encyclopedia. 1996. November 17, 2008. hWp://lexicorient.com/e.o/egypt_rl.htm
• Ruiz, Ana. “Cats in Ancient Egypt” The Spirit of Ancient Egypt. NY, Algora Publishing 2001.
hWp://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/religion/cats.html
• “egypEan_statue_bast_cat_black_mini_02”
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• “Egypt”
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• “Egypt_Through_Other_Eyes_Sig_335”
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• “djed‐2”
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L.M.

8. EGYPT
Ancient Egypt’s culture, government,
geography and environmental condiEons
make Egypt what it is today.
M.R.

9. Cultural Diffusion
• Egypt adapted their culture on there own. Some of their
neighboring countries, however, contributed to their culture
in some ways.
• Egypt had a strong interacEon with the Middle East. Nubians
gave them gold, ivory and other materials.
• Babylonian cultures were similar to Egypt's being that they
were in the same geographical region.
M.R.

10. Government
• EgypEans were mainly ruled • When it came to religion,
by Pharaohs. Pharaohs were pharaohs were expected to
said to have received their lead the sacred rituals of all
authority from the Gods. the temples of Egypt.
• Pharaohs had two roles in • Egypt was known as a
EgypEan society. They were theocracy. Only the pharaoh’s
the kings as well as priests. advisors were worthy enough
• PoliEcally speaking, pharaohs to obey his commands.
had to command armies and
seWle legal disputes.
M.R.

11. Environmental CondiEons
• Egypt’s environmental
condiEons were based around
the Nile River.
• The Nile River was Egypt’s
main water source and every
so oQen it would flood.
• The flooding of the Nile was
good for farming purposes,
but someEmes the river
overflowed causing it to
destroy parts of the EgypEan
civilizaEon.
M.R.

12. • Egypt is almost all desert.
• The Nile is it’s main river.
Geography • Egypt was divided into two lands,
the Red land and the Black land.
• The Black land was where the ferEle
silt was formed when the Nile
flooded.
The Nile River • The Red land was where the Barren
Desert was located.
• The Barren Desert protected Egypt
against invading ciEes and also gave
them stones and metal.
The Barren Desert
M.R.

13. Conclusion
Therefore, all of these factors have contributed
to Egypt. It’s culture has definitely been
affected by it’s geography, government and it’s
environment.
M.R.

14. Bibliography
• hWp://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/
egypt/dailylife/nubiaandegypt.html
• “World History PaWerns of InteracEon”
McDougal LiWell
• hWp://library.thinkquest.org/3011/egypt3.htm
• hWp://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/geography/
home.html
M.R.