Ancient Egyptian Religion
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The ancient Egyptian religion was a combination of practices and beliefs which would be described I the present as mythology science, magic, science, psychiatry, herbology, medicine, spiritualism and the modern understanding of religion as a belief in a higher power and life after death. Religion was involved in every part of their life because life on earth was not viewed as the end of life.one was therefore necessitated to live a life worth of continuance so that he or she would be able to enjoy life in eternity. When one was still on earth, one was expected to live by the [principle of harmony knowing that how one spent his life on earth created a direct impact on one life and that of others, and how the earth operated (Frankfort, 2012). Life in ancient Egypt was constituted of interdependency between different members of the society to create balance as it was the will of gods to create a better living environment for all humans through an existence that was full of harmony. This enabled the gods to perform their activities in a better and organized manner. By living per the principle of ma’at and following the precepts that guided the principle, one was in line with the gods and protected from evil spirits.
The basic principle of the Egyptian religion was referred to as heka; god Heka was the one that had divine powers over the magical issue. According to the order of creation, it was evident that Heka existed even during the creation period. He was the god of medicine and magic and possessed the powers that enabled other gods to perform their duties. He was also the one that gave human being the authority to commune with other gods. He was referred as all-encompassing and all-pervasive since he provided Egyptians with a purpose to live, magic and sustaining the principle of ma’at that was dependent on.
Heka was the standard through which humans valued the strength and powers of other gods. He was the standard through which powers possessed by other gods were evaluated through, one through which the existence of other gods and humans depended on (Frankfort, 2012). They evoked a god or goddess when faced with a specific issue, worshiped for what they had given; however, it was Heka who made the relationship between human being and their deities possible.
Ancient Egyptian gods were viewed as custodian of order and lords of creation and family friends who were interested in working with and helping people of the land. The gods had ensured that order was always maintained and ensured that people had the best fertile and safe place on earth (Frankfort, 2012). The Egyptians loved their land that they even refused prolonged military campaign beyond their border fearing that I they died on foreign land, they would not be given proper rites that prepared them for the next life. Egyptians believed they the gods had blessed their land with favors that were special and people were expected to honor and respect them.
The creation theory of Egyptian developed from the story of god Atum. At one time, Atum developed concern due to the long period that his children had taken away from him, he, therefore, decided to remove his eye and send it for their search. While his eye was searching, Atum was left lonely in the midst of chaos and anticipated eternity. After a long period, Tefnut and Shu returned with the eye and their father, pleased with their return, shed tears of joy. The tears dropped onto the fertile, dark earth of Ben-Ben and led o the birth of men and women. The human had no place to live, Shu and Tefnut procreated and Ged the earth, and Nut which is the sky was created. Though Ged and Nuts were brother and sister loved each other and were inseparable. Their relationship was not pleasing to Atum (Frankfort, 2012). He later decided to separate them in that they would no longer be able to see each other. By the time they were separated, Nut was pregnant; she later gave birth to the 5 Egyptian gods Osiris, Set, Isis, Horus, and Nephthys. The gods later gave birth to gods in the order that is not well specified.
Each god had his or her area of specialty. Among them all, three of them had the greatest impact. The three of them Amun, Knons, and Mut made up the Theban Triad. They were also associated with Ogdoad of Hermopolis, and primordial deities made up of eight gods, who controlled the qualities of primeval issues such as, moistness, darkness, and lack of visible power. The deity made up of eight members that are doubled by the inclusion of the female counterparts. The Ogdoad acted as the state of cosmos before the land was separated from the water of chaos and light broke through the primordial darkness that is referred to as the infinities. They compromised of Amun and Amaunet, Kek and Kauket, Hen and Hauhet each representing a certain aspect of unknowable and formless time before creation. Abyss was represented by Nut, Hiddenness by Amun, and Infinity by Hen (Frankfort, 2012). The Ogdoad provides the best representation of the symmetry and balance in all things that are found in both their male and female aspect which I believed to have resulted to the principle or harmony in the cosmos before the world came to existence.
In the description of the soul and the hall of truth, Egyptians feared the unconsciousness and darkness that they were to face for eternity in the afterlife. This was because both conditions contradicted the transmission of light in an orderly manner and movement that is evident in the universe (Frankfort, 2012). They believed that through death, one was able to achieve eternity; this made them value the act of dying and highly valued the rituals and structures involved in the rite of death.
On the issue of the clergy, temple and the scripture, Egyptian religious history contradicts with the Greek historians who claim that only men were allowed at the temple. According to Egyptian records, women practiced the priestly role when they were worshiping their goddess from the Old Kingdom; they were also given the same treatment with their male counterparts. During this period, members of the clergy had or be of the same sex as the deity they were serving, Some of the priest, like the scribes, had to go through training before they began their training. Temple in ancient Egypt was believed to be the homes of their gods, and they were highly honored (Frankfort, 2012). Only certain members of the clergy were allowed to perform specific duties. Although the was no any official scripture to be used by the clergy, the concept that was used in the temple must have been similar to those found in the ancient Egyptian artwork.
Religious festival and religious life in Egypt enhanced the sacred aspect of gods with the daily lives of the people. Religious festivals during this period strengthened their beliefs; they were not ordinary social celebrations (Frankfort, 2012). There were gland festivals such as Wadi and the Beautiful festival that was used to honor god Amun and other lesser festivals that were used to honor other gods or to celebrate the continuity of life.
From a personal perspective, ancient religion was a complex system of polytheistic ritual and belief that created as an integral part of ancient Egyptian society. It was centered on the interaction with different deities who were believed to be in control of the elements and forces of nature and present at all time. The explanations of the myths about the Egyptian gods were used to explain the behavior and origin of the force they represented. The observation of different regions practice and rituals in efforts to provide for the gods and seek favors from them. The details of religious beliefs changed as time elapsed as different gods rose while the powers of other declined. The overall, system survived many years of different dynasties until the coming of Christianity. It left many religious monuments and writings that had significant influences in the past decades and the modern society. Different concepts found in Christianity might have been influenced by ancient Egyptian religion. The imagery of the Duat and that of Mary may have been influenced by that of Goddess Isis.
The spiritual world that was created by the ancient Egypt was fascinating and one that remains unique in the history of human religion.the force they represented. The observation of different regions practice and rituals in efforts to provide for the gods and seek favors from them. The details of religious beliefs changed as time elapsed as different gods rose while the powers of other declined. The overall, system survived many years of different dynasties until the coming of Christianity. It left many religious monuments and writings that had significant influences in the past decades and in the modern society. Different concepts found in Christianity might have been influenced by ancient Egyptian religion. The imagery of the Duat, and that of Mary may have been influenced by that of Goddess Isis. The spiritual world that was created by the ancient Egypt was fascinating and one that remains unique in the history of human religion.
References
Frankfort, H. (2012). Ancient Egyptian religion: an interpretation. Courier Corporation.
