Egyptian Religious beliefs and Practices
Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic just like the Mesopotamians. Not only did they have have a good connection with their gods, but religion was part of their everyday social life. Religion was the center of their lives, they worshiped their gods, made offerings, and practiced rituals. Pharaohs were believed to be part god. When a pharaoh died it was believed that he became a god and ruled along side all of the other gods. Pharaohs were seen as the connected between men and the gods.
Mummification was another big part of Egyptian religion. First they perform many ceremonies while draining the body and taking out the organs. They place each of the major organs into little jars, this was called the embalming process. When they had finished stuffing and wrapping the body they would put it into a sort of casket. Before they buried the person even more ceremonies needed to be performed. Finally the body was placed in the tomb along with anything that was thought the person would need during their afterlife. Often animals such as cats were killed and mummified in the tomb with the person because cats were seen as part god or partially divine.
Temples are a huge part of Egyptain religion. They had temples for certain gods, temples for pharaohs, and places of practice of many things. There were also different types of temples state-run temples, which were homes for gods, Instead, the state-run temples served as houses for the gods, in which physical images which served as their intermediaries were cared for and provided with offerings. Temples were a major part of their religion and they put a lot of time, effort, and money to them to build and up keep them. Different types in Egyptian culture had different temples. The New Kingdom temples were sort of a mash up of Old and Middle Kingdom temples with new things in them as well. Almost all of the temples were built from the same bule-prints but they all have their own variation and uniqueness.
Temple rituals were usually done by the pharaoh of that time, but as time went on priesthood become more popular and priests starting doing the rituals. During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, there was no separate class of priests; instead, many government officials served in this capacity for several months out of the year before returning to their secular duties. Only in the New Kingdom did professional priesthood become widespread, although most lower-ranking priests were still part-time.
Mummification was another big part of Egyptian religion. First they perform many ceremonies while draining the body and taking out the organs. They place each of the major organs into little jars, this was called the embalming process. When they had finished stuffing and wrapping the body they would put it into a sort of casket. Before they buried the person even more ceremonies needed to be performed. Finally the body was placed in the tomb along with anything that was thought the person would need during their afterlife. Often animals such as cats were killed and mummified in the tomb with the person because cats were seen as part god or partially divine.
Temples are a huge part of Egyptain religion. They had temples for certain gods, temples for pharaohs, and places of practice of many things. There were also different types of temples state-run temples, which were homes for gods, Instead, the state-run temples served as houses for the gods, in which physical images which served as their intermediaries were cared for and provided with offerings. Temples were a major part of their religion and they put a lot of time, effort, and money to them to build and up keep them. Different types in Egyptian culture had different temples. The New Kingdom temples were sort of a mash up of Old and Middle Kingdom temples with new things in them as well. Almost all of the temples were built from the same bule-prints but they all have their own variation and uniqueness.
Temple rituals were usually done by the pharaoh of that time, but as time went on priesthood become more popular and priests starting doing the rituals. During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, there was no separate class of priests; instead, many government officials served in this capacity for several months out of the year before returning to their secular duties. Only in the New Kingdom did professional priesthood become widespread, although most lower-ranking priests were still part-time.