ANCIENT EGYPT: MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION TO WRITING?

ANCIENT EGYPT: MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION TO WRITING?

ORIGINS OF EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS The earliest known examples of writing in Egypt have been dated to 3400 BC The ancient Egyptians believed that writing was invented by the god Thoth The ancient Egyptians called their hieroglyphic script mdju netjr or word of the gods

CHRONOLOGY Timeline Early dynasties I and II : 3400-2980 BC Old kingdom aka pyramid age, dynasties III to VI: 2980-2475 BC Middle Kingdom aka Feudal Age, dynasties XI and XII: 2160 to 1788 BC The empire dynasties XVIII to XX: 1580 to 1150 BC Decadence Dynasties XX to XXVL 1150 to 660 BC Restoration Dynasty XXVI 663-525 BC Persian conquest 525 BC Greek Conquest 332 BC Roman Conquest 30 BC

NATURE OF EGYPTIAN RELIGION MYTHOLOGY NATURE EGYPTIAN RELIGION

H E L I O P O L I S

HELIOPOLITAN CREATION MYTH The Great Ennead -The Great Ennead -Beginning of time= Nu

A T U M -First god to appear from Nu -Creator of the World -Mated with Shadow to create Shu and Tefnut

SHU AND TEFNUT Tefnut -Goddess of rain and moisture -Represented the principle p of order Shu -Patron of dry air -Creator of wind *Exemplified the Egyptian society s belief of nature s intrinsic link to the actions of the Gods.

GEB AND NUT Children of Shu and Tefnut Geb: Earth Nut: Sky

OSIRIS God of Fertility, God of Agriculture, God of the Underworld, King of the Dead Life//Death// Rebirth Tricked and killed by his brother Seth

ISIS Wife of Osiris Recovered his body Recovered his pieces again after Seth scattered them across Egypt Preserved her husband s body parts with cloth wrapping

MYTHOLOGY MOVES TOWARDS RELIGION Atum was first in line as the highest god, with Osiris as second in line Amen was a figure similar to Atum in a different creation myth. When Uast became state capitol of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom, Amen became the state god, later combining with Ra (aka Atum), to become Amen-Ra, king of the Gods.

HORUS Son of Isis and Osiris Set out to avenge his father s death and kill his uncle Seth Represented by a bird

MA AT- PRINCIPLE OF HARMONY AND BALANCE Concept based on alleged goddess, Ma at, who stood for justice and harmony In charge of viziers and officials in the government Offerings were made to her by pharaohs who wished to instill peace and harmony

TAWARET Aka the Great One Goddess known to look over women during pregnancy and childbirth Her amulet is said to have powers of protection over families Head of a hippopotamus, arms and legs of a lion, tail of a crocodile, breast and stomach of a pregnant woman

GODS& ANIMALS? A byproduct of a primitive branch of Egyptian faith and religion Animals represent totems or emblems of society?

Myths of creation were largely established by the end of the Old Kingdom Religious customs during Pre-dynastic and Early Dynastic period Painted pottery holds remains of religious shrines

TEXTS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Hieroglyphic texts, ivory tablets, cylinder seals all succeeded in preserving examples of religious shrines Rituals also helped preserve religious custom

Egyptian style of society progressed to a developed theocratic system during the Old Kingdom Religion and politics became very closely tied New royal family, new state god

RELIGION THROUGH THE SOCIETAL LADDER - Wisdom Literature interacting properly with people of all different rungs of the social ladder living by the rule of rule of law pursuing a life of safety and in turn, success Three main texts -Instructions of Ptahotep -Instructions to Kagemni -Instructions of Duauf

INSTRUCTIONS OF PTAHOTEP Ptahotep -vizier to King Isesi -four parts to his teachings How to make achievements in the world

INSTRUCTIONS TO KAGEMNI Kagemni -son of King Huni, of the 3 rd Dynasty -instructed *discretion of speech * modification of behavior *restraint of greed Let your name go forth, while your mouth is silent, when you are summoned don t boast of strength, Among those your age lest you be opposed, one knows not what may happen, what God does when he punishes

INSTRUCTIONS TO DUAUF Duauf: son of Khety; man of low birth Teachings for the son of Duauf, to guide him in Teachings for the son of Duauf, to guide him in finding success as a scribe

CONCLUSION Much of ancient Egyptian society was shaped by their specific religion and culture, beliefs which originated from their creation myths Everything that people could not explain directly from their own actions was attributed to the whims of the gods It is unsure whether or not religion and mythology were the specific driving forces for the creation of writing, however there is much evidence to show that once created, writing was quickly utilized to preserve religious shrines and legends If not the main cause for creation, need to record religious custom was definitely a catalyst for its progression into new forms.

SOURCES http://www.love-egypt.com/animal-gods.html http://unitedorder.org/maat.php http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/osiris.htm http://www.egyptianmyths.net/shu.htm Willis, Roy G. World Mythology. New York: H. Holt, 1993. Print. http://www.philae.nu/akhet/history8.html http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=vyhfazyeanuc&oi=fn d&pg=pa3&dq=ancient+egyptian+religion+history&ots=ycbmuvmgu ycbmuvmgu 4&sig=g2SqG_NwZ7O4swZwhb1HDw1PDLU#v=onepage&q=ancient %20egyptian%20religion%20history&f=false http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/religion/mytholog / / hi t / t/ / th l g y.htm