The ancient Egyptians were very religious. They were frightened by many strange phenomena, and they believed in the supernatural. Perhaps this is what prompted people to create a pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods. Today we will talk about interesting facts related to the ancient Egyptian gods and the religious system of Ancient Egypt.
1. Predynastic Egypt
Animistic religious tradition
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Like many young religious traditions, religion in pre-dynastic Egypt was predominantly animistic. It was believed that various animals, plants or things are the receptacle of spirits.
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2. God at the edge of the desert
Anubis
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Many of today's famous Egyptian gods date back to these animistic traditions. For example, Anubis, the god of death and burial, was portrayed with the head of a jackal, since these animals were often seen on the edge of the desert where the Egyptians buried their dead.
3. Crocodile God
Sebek
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The ancient Egyptians had a crocodile god (at least he had the head of a crocodile). Sebek was one of the most influential and long-term gods. As the keeper of the waterways, Sebek enjoyed eating meat like most crocodiles. In order to show reverence for this god, many ancient Egyptian temples kept live crocodiles in pools.
4.2000 gods
Localization in Egyptian
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Although the ancient Egyptians had over 2000 gods, most of them were known locally - in certain regions of the country.
5. Schools of religious thought
Branches of religion
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Just as there are several branches of Christianity today (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism, etc.), the ancient Egyptians also had several schools of religious thought. Moreover, representatives of each of them claimed that their school is more important than the rest.
6. Cyclicity and opposition
Ra and Nut
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The sun god Ra has one of the most interesting stories among all the ancient Egyptian gods. Every night this god was eaten by the sky goddess Nut, and with the next sunrise he was reborn.
7 3000 years of worship
The oldest religion
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The worship of Egyptian gods was one of the most enduring religions in the world, lasting over 3,000 years. For example, Buddhism has existed for only 2,500 years, Christianity has been around for 2,000 years, and Mormons have been around for 200 years.
8. National divine "fusion"
Amon-Ra
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Whenever a new pharaoh came to power, he often announced that another deity would become the main god. For example, when power passed to Thebes during the Middle Kingdom (2000 - 1700 BC), Amon became a "national" god after "merging" with Ra, becoming Amun-Ra.
9. Lion or cat …
Peace … or anger!
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In addition to descending from the animistic beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, the depiction of gods and animal heads had another important use in gods: it showed the mood of a deity. For example, if a god was angry, then his head could be depicted in the form of a formidable lion, and if calm, then in the form of a cat's head.
10. Human body and animal head
Sphinx
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The gods are most often depicted with a human body and an animal head. Also, similar images were often used to represent kings.
11. Cross with a loop
Ankh
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Egyptian gods were often depicted with the mysterious Ankh symbol. Symbolizing eternal life, this noose cross was known as the key to life, as well as the embodiment of the immutability and eternity of rules.
12. Red and yellow skin
The sex question of the gods …
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At first glance, it may seem difficult to discern the gender of God in many ancient paintings. In fact, the male gods were depicted with dark reddish brown skin, and the goddesses with yellow skin to show their reclusive lifestyle.
13. Scorpios and nightmares
God demon
God Bes was one of the liveliest and most cheerful gods in Ancient Egypt. He was considered the god of babies and mothers, family hearth, nightmares and even scorpion bites.
14. Polytheistic Egypt
Cult of Athena
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Ancient Egypt was polytheistic during most of its existence, with the exception of a short period during the 18th Dynasty, when Pharaoh Akhenaten forced the country to become monotheistic. At that time there was a cult of Athena.
15. Demons are immortal
Demons there, demons here …
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Besides the gods, demons also played an important role in the belief systems of the ancient Egyptians. Although they were more powerful than humans, they were less powerful than the gods. Typically, demons were immortal and could be present in several places at the same time.
16. Symbol of rebirth and protection
Scarab
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One of the most famous symbols of Ancient Egypt, the scarab symbolized rebirth and protection. Locals often wore amulets in the form of scarabs for safety (after all, the god of rebirth was Khepri - the god with the head of a scarab).
17. Greeks and Egyptians
Alexander the Great - son of Amun
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The ancient Greeks drew many parallels between their gods and the gods of the ancient Egyptians. While Alexander the Great was walking with his army through Egypt, he visited the oracle of Amun to ask his advice (Amon was something like the Greek Zeus). Alexander was so well known throughout Ancient Egypt that the Oracle of the Siwa Oasis even called him the son of Amun.
18. Shu and Tefnut
Light and Rain
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There was one curious discrepancy in the heavens of Egypt. The god of dry air and sunlight Shu was married to Tefnut, the goddess of moisture and rain.
19. Pharaoh
Pharaoh's divine essence
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Pharaoh was the "mediator" between the gods and the ancient Egyptians. He had to carefully keep a delicate balance while maintaining a good relationship with the gods. Locals believed that after death, the pharaoh became a god if his heart weighed less than a feather.
20. The body of a woman and the head of a cat
Goddess Bast
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Goddess Bast had the body of a woman and the head of a cat. The followers of her cult revered cats so much that they even mummified these animals after their death. Near the main temple of this goddess in the city of Bubastis, archaeologists have discovered a huge cemetery of mummified cats.
21. Religion for the elite
The same temple
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Religious life in Ancient Egypt was largely elitist. Only priests, priestesses, the pharaoh and some members of his family were allowed to enter the temples. Ordinary Egyptians had to stay at the temple gates.
22. God is, there is no cult …
God Geb
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Despite all its importance, the god Heb never had a cult like other gods such as Osiris and Amon. It was believed that the laughter of the Earth god caused earthquakes.
23. Incense and makeup
Aroma worship
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The ancient Egyptians erected countless statues of their gods, bathing them in lotus-scented water and anoint them with oils. They even dressed the statues in jewelry, clothing, and makeup.
24. God of Chaos
Set
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One of the most hated gods of the ancient Egyptians was Set, the god of chaos, confusion and war. It had a human body and an animal head, which the Egyptologists were so unable to identify. Seth was mostly hated for killing his brother Osiris in order to seize the throne of the gods.
25. Protection from magic
Eye of Horus
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One of the most distinctive features of the ancient Egyptians, the "Eye of Horus" was often worn as a protective amulet. It was believed that the amulet has the ability to heal and resurrect, as well as protect its owner from magic.
