ANCIENT EGYPT: MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION TO WRITING?

1 ANCIENT egypt : MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGION TO WRITING? ORIGINS OF EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICSORIGINS 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 Thothinvented by the god Thoth The ANCIENT Egyptians called their hieroglyphic script mdju netjr or word of the gods CHRONOLOGYCHRONOLOGY Timeline Early dynasties I and II : 3400-2980 BC Early dynasties I and II : 34002980 BC Old kingdom aka pyramid age, dynasties III to VI: 2980-2475 BC Middle Kingdom aka Feudal Age dynasties XI and XII: 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 Persian conquest 525 BC Greek Conquest 332 BC Roman Conquest 30 BCNATURE OF EGYPTIAN RELIGIONNATURE OF EGYPTIAN RELIGIONMYTHOLOGYNATUREMYTHOLOGYNATUREEG YPTIAN RELIGIONHELLIIOPOOLLISHELIOPOLITAN CREATIONMYTHThe Great Ennead-The Great Ennead-Beginning of time= NuATUUMM-First god to appear from NuCt f th Wld-Creator of the World-Mated with Shadow to create Shu and TefnutSHU AND TEFNUTSHU AND TEFNUTT efnutTefnut-Goddess of rain and moisture-Represented the principle of ppporder*Exemplified the Egyptian ShuEgyptian society s belief of nature s intrinsic link to the -Patron of dry air-Creator of

2 Windlink to the actions of the AND NUTGEB AND NUT Children of Shu and TefnutGb EhGeb: EarthNut: SkyyOSIRISOSIRIS God of F tilit G d Fertility, God of Agriculture, God of the God of the Underworld, King of the gDead Life//Death//////Rebirth Tricked and killed by his brother SethISISISIS Wife of Osiris Wife of Osiris Recovered his bodyRd hi i i ft S th Recovered his pieces again after Seth scattered them across egypt Preserved her husband s body partswith cloth wrappingpp gMYTHOLOGY MOVES TOWARDS RELIGIONMYTHOLOGY 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 Amen was a figure similar to Atum in a different creation myth.

3 When Uast became state capitol of Eg pt in the Middle Kingdom Amen became of egypt in the Middle Kingdom, Amen became the state god, later combining with Ra (aka Atum), to become Amen-Ra, king of the Son of Isis and Osiris Set out to avenge his Set out to avenge his father s death and kill his uncle Sethkill his uncle Seth Represented by a birdMA ATPRINCIPLE OF HARMONY AND BALANCEMA 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 governmentgovernment Offerings were made to her by pharaohs who wished to instill peace and harmony TAWARET Aka the Great One Goddess known to look over Goddess known to look over women during pregnancy and childbirthchildbirth Her amulet is said to have powers of protection over familiesof protection over families Head of a hippopotamus.

4 Arms and legs of a lion tail of a and legs of a lion, tail of a crocodile, breast and stomach of a pregnant womanpregnant womanGODS& ANIMALS?GODS& ANIMALS? A byproduct of a primitive branch of Egyptian faith and RELIGION Animals represent totems or emblems of society?society? Myths of creation were largely established by the end Myths of creation were largely established by the end of the Old Kingdom Religious customs during Predynastic and Early Religious customs during Pre-dynastic and Early Dynastic period Painted pottery holds remains of religious shrinesTEXTS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFSTEXTS TO PRESERVE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Hieroglyphic texts, ivory tablets, cylinder seals all succeeded in preserving examples of religious shrines Rituals also helped preserve religious custom Rituals also helped preserve religious custom Egyptian style of society progressed to a developed theocratic system during the Old developed theocratic system during the Old Kingdom RELIGION and politics became very closely tied New royal family new state god New royal family, new state godRELIGION THROUGH THE SOCIETAL LADDERRELIGION THROUGH THE SOCIETAL LADDERW isdom Literature -Wisdom Literature interacting properly with people of all different rungs of the social ladder living by the rule of rule of law living by the rule of rule of law pursuing a life of safety and in turn.

5 Success Three main texts Three main texts -Instructions of Ptahotep -Instructions to KagemniInstructions of Duauf -Instructions of DuaufINSTRUCTIONS OF PTAHOTEPINSTRUCTIONS OF PTAHOTEP Ptahotep -vizier to King Isesivizier to King Isesi-four parts to his teachings How to make achievements in the world INSTRUCTIONS TO KAGEMNIINSTRUCTIONS TO KAGEMNIKi Kagemni-son of King Huni, of the 3rdDynastyid-instructed*discretion of speech* modification of behavior*restraint of greedLet your name go forth, while your mouth is silent 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 punishesINSTRUCTIONS TO DUAUFINSTRUCTIONS TO DUAUF Duauf: son of Khety.

6 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 scribeCONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Much of ANCIENT Egyptian society was shaped by their 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 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 legendswas 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 yy Willis Roy G World MYTHOLOGY New York: H Holt 1993 Print Willis, Roy G.

7 World MYTHOLOGY . New York: H. Holt, 1993. Print. PA3&dq ANCIENT +egyptian+ RELIGION +history&ots yCbMUVMgud&pg=PA3&dq= ANCIENT +egyptian+re ligion+history&ots=yCbMUVMgu4&sig=g2 SqG_NwZ7O4swZwhb1 HDw1 PDLU#v=onepage&q= ANCIENT %20egyptian%20re ligion%20history&f=falsehtt //d //hi t/ g t/ ligi/th l g