Egypt, Part 2Egypt, Part 2

Kingdom Along the Nile, Kingdom Along the Nile, OnlineOnline

The Principal Gods of Egypt The Principal Gods of Egypt I: I:

• Amon:Amon: (aka, Re, Ra and Aten) the (aka, Re, Ra and Aten) the god of the sun (depicted as the sun’s god of the sun (depicted as the sun’s rays; upper left)rays; upper left)

• He is also depicted as a scarab beetle He is also depicted as a scarab beetle who emerges in the morning (lower who emerges in the morning (lower left)left)

• Anubis: Anubis: the god of embalmers and the god of embalmers and cemeteries (depicted as a jackal)cemeteries (depicted as a jackal)

• Aten: Aten: the god of the solar disk the god of the solar disk (depicted by the disk of the sun)(depicted by the disk of the sun)

• Hapi: Hapi: the god of the Nilethe god of the Nile• Hathor: Hathor: Mother, wife, daughter of RaMother, wife, daughter of Ra

The Principal Gods of Egypt The Principal Gods of Egypt IIII

• Osiris: Osiris: God of the underworld God of the underworld (upper left; depicted with Isis)(upper left; depicted with Isis)

• Set or Seth: Set or Seth: God of storms and God of storms and violence; brother of Osiris who violence; brother of Osiris who murders himmurders him

• Isis: Isis: Wife of Osiris, goddess of Wife of Osiris, goddess of fertilityfertility

• Horus: Horus: Son of Osiris and Isis: God Son of Osiris and Isis: God of the sky.of the sky.

• Horus (with head of falcon) and Horus (with head of falcon) and Seth (head of dog) crown Ramses Seth (head of dog) crown Ramses III (lower left)III (lower left)

Other Gods of EgyptOther Gods of Egypt

• Thoth: Thoth: God of the scribes, Lord of God of the scribes, Lord of Language and inventor of writing.Language and inventor of writing.

• Ptat: Ptat: Creator of humankind; patron of Creator of humankind; patron of the craftspeoplethe craftspeople

• Ma’at: Ma’at: Goddess of truth and the Goddess of truth and the universal order; wife of Thoth]universal order; wife of Thoth]

• She wore an ostrich featherShe wore an ostrich feather• Judges awarded the feather to the Judges awarded the feather to the

winner of a casewinner of a case• Her feather was used on the scales of Her feather was used on the scales of

judgment of the deadjudgment of the dead• Bes: Bes: Helper of women in childbirth; Helper of women in childbirth;

protector against snakes.protector against snakes.

TheocracyTheocracy

• Egypt, as in many civilizations, Egypt, as in many civilizations, was awas a theocracy, theocracy, government by government by the prieststhe priests

• Monarchs Monarchs represented the will of represented the will of the Sun Godthe Sun God

• In many conceptions, the In many conceptions, the Pharaoh Pharaoh was was a god; gods’ will a god; gods’ will flowed through himflowed through him

• TheThe Sphinx, Sphinx, who guarded the who guarded the entrance to Gizeh’s pyramids, had entrance to Gizeh’s pyramids, had the head of Khafre and the body the head of Khafre and the body of a lionof a lion

• They represented the head of a They represented the head of a powerful man and the body of the powerful man and the body of the king of beastsking of beasts

Cult of the DeadCult of the Dead

• At death, the pharaoh was prepared for a At death, the pharaoh was prepared for a life of eternity life of eternity

• A ten-week embalming procedure was A ten-week embalming procedure was followed: see pp. 25-26 for details.followed: see pp. 25-26 for details.

• Pyramids themselves were constructed Pyramids themselves were constructed only for entombment of the pharaoh; they only for entombment of the pharaoh; they were not used for ritual or any other were not used for ritual or any other purpose. purpose.

• See pp. 28-29 for details of a typical See pp. 28-29 for details of a typical pyramid and its structure.pyramid and its structure.

Book of the DeadBook of the Dead

• TheThe Tibetan Book of the DeadTibetan Book of the Dead describes the journey of the describes the journey of the soul between one life and the next; judgment based on karmasoul between one life and the next; judgment based on karma

• The The Egyptian Book of the Dead Egyptian Book of the Dead prepares the soul for prepares the soul for judgment. judgment.

• Here, Horus balances the heart against the feather of Ma’atHere, Horus balances the heart against the feather of Ma’at• If the heart outweighs the feather, the animal to the right will If the heart outweighs the feather, the animal to the right will

devour the judgeddevour the judged

Egypt: Upper and LowerEgypt: Upper and Lower

• Before 3100 BC, the regions Before 3100 BC, the regions were divided into two parts of were divided into two parts of the Nilethe Nile

• Lower EgyptLower Egypt: the part from : the part from the Nile Delta to Memphis; it the Nile Delta to Memphis; it was lower in the sense that it was lower in the sense that it was the terminus of the Nilewas the terminus of the Nile

• Upper EgyptUpper Egypt: All points along : All points along the river south of Memphis to the river south of Memphis to Nubia, a separate kingdomNubia, a separate kingdom

Unification of EgyptUnification of Egypt

• After the conquest attributed to Menes, After the conquest attributed to Menes, or Narmer (left)or Narmer (left)

• The region was united into one empireThe region was united into one empire

• Narmer was the first pharaoh of a family Narmer was the first pharaoh of a family dynasty of 33 generationsdynasty of 33 generations

• Symbolism: a boxy Red Crown (Lower Symbolism: a boxy Red Crown (Lower Egypt) with a curlicue; Egypt) with a curlicue;

• And a White Crown (Upper Egypt) And a White Crown (Upper Egypt)

• After Narmer’s conquest, he wore a After Narmer’s conquest, he wore a Double Crown to symbolize the Double Crown to symbolize the unification of the two Egypts (lower left)unification of the two Egypts (lower left)

The Symbolism of the UnionThe Symbolism of the Union—And Defeat of Upper —And Defeat of Upper EgyptEgypt• To the right, Narmer (wearing To the right, Narmer (wearing

white crown) subdues a white crown) subdues a captivecaptive

• Hieroglyph at top writes out Hieroglyph at top writes out Narmer’s nameNarmer’s name

• God Horus holds the captive God Horus holds the captive by a featherby a feather

• Papyrus blossoms symbolize Papyrus blossoms symbolize Lower EgyptLower Egypt

• To the left, two long-necked To the left, two long-necked lions are entwined, lions are entwined, suggesting union), with lion suggesting union), with lion tamers on either side.tamers on either side.

• There are the decapitated There are the decapitated warriors in defeatwarriors in defeat

• At the bottom is a bull At the bottom is a bull symbolizing royal powersymbolizing royal power

• For other symbols on this For other symbols on this palette, see p. 25palette, see p. 25

History of Dynastic Egypt: History of Dynastic Egypt: Early PhasesEarly Phases

• Divided into 33 dynasties of each Divided into 33 dynasties of each pharaoh including Narmer/Menespharaoh including Narmer/Menes

• Archaic Period (3100 BC): Archaic Period (3100 BC): Consolidation of stateConsolidation of state

• Old Kingdom (2920-2134): Old Kingdom (2920-2134): • Despotic pharaohs build pyramids and Despotic pharaohs build pyramids and

foster conspicuous funerary foster conspicuous funerary monumentsmonuments

• The Sphinx with pyramid in The Sphinx with pyramid in background (upper left)background (upper left)

• Institutions, economic arrangements, Institutions, economic arrangements, and artistic traditions establishedand artistic traditions established

• Subject brings offering to gods (lower Subject brings offering to gods (lower left)left)

History of Egypt: First History of Egypt: First Intermediate Period to Middle Intermediate Period to Middle KingdomKingdom

• First Intermediate First Intermediate Period (2134-2040): Period (2134-2040): political disunitypolitical disunity

• Middle Kingdom (2040-Middle Kingdom (2040-1650 BC)1650 BC)

• Thebes achieves Thebes achieves dominancedominance

• Priesthood of Amun Priesthood of Amun (seen here with Mut, (seen here with Mut, his consort, and son his consort, and son KhonsKhons

History of Egypt: Later History of Egypt: Later PhasesPhases• Second Intermediate Period Second Intermediate Period

(1640-1530 BC(1640-1530 BC): Hyskos invasion ): Hyskos invasion and occupation of Nile Deltaand occupation of Nile Delta

• New Kingdom (1530-1070 BC):New Kingdom (1530-1070 BC):• Great Imperial PeriodGreat Imperial Period• Pharaohs buried in Valley of KingsPharaohs buried in Valley of Kings• Ramses II, Tutankhamun, Seti IRamses II, Tutankhamun, Seti I• Akhenaten, heretic rulerAkhenaten, heretic ruler

History of Egypt: Terminal History of Egypt: Terminal PeriodsPeriods

• Late Period (1072-332 BC):Late Period (1072-332 BC):

• Gradual decline in pharaonic authorityGradual decline in pharaonic authority

• Persians rule (525-404 BC and 343-332 BC)Persians rule (525-404 BC and 343-332 BC)

• Ptolemaic Period (332-30 BC):Ptolemaic Period (332-30 BC):

• Alexander the Great Conquers EgyptAlexander the Great Conquers Egypt

• Ptolemy dynasties bring Greek culture to Ptolemy dynasties bring Greek culture to EgyptEgypt

• Roman Occupation (30 BC): Roman Occupation (30 BC): Egypt Egypt becomes imperial province of Romebecomes imperial province of Rome