Ancient Egyptian Gods
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This is a picture of some of Ancient Egypt's gods.
Ancient Egyptians were polytheists. They worshipped many gods. Offerings and prayers could be made only to a divine force that had it's own name. Some Egyptian gods were Ra, or otherwise known as Re, the sun god, Bastet the cat goddess and protectress of children, Horus, god of the sky and kingship, and Isis, the mother goddess. As a result of having gods represent different aspects of nature, people prayed to them for things that have to do with that aspect. Also, the Egyptians revered the characteristics that were associated with animals. So, Ra/Re is shown as a falcon. Horus is always shown either in full falcon form or in human form with a falcon's head. Bastet is either in full cat form, or depicted in human form with the head of a cat. Isis is in human form with a throne headdress.
Isis was Egypt's mother goddess. She was extremely powerful, but also very gentle and nurturing. She was a role model for wives and mothers. Isis married her brother Osiris. It was very common for gods and goddesses to marry their siblings. Isis and Osiris also had a brother named Set, who was envious of their achievements. One day, Set locked Osiris in a box and killed him. He then scattered Osiris's body parts all across Egypt so that Isis wouldn't use magic to put him back together. Since Osiris was never coming back to earth, he became ruler of the underworld.
Ra/Re and Horus are represented by falcons because the falcon, a bird of prey, soars high in the sky for long periods of time, just like the sun. Ra/Re is the solar or sun god. His cult is the Obelisk, which means "to shine forth." Also, Ancient Egyptians knew that it was the lioness who hunts, so they believed it only right that Sekhmet, goddess of war, is shown with the head of a lioness. Cats were very important and respected in Ancient Egypt, as they got rid of birds, mice and rats, animals that eat the grain that the people depended on for food. Those animals also carried diseases that were hazardous to people, most importantly, children. It was for this reason that Bastet, the goddess and protectress of children was represented by a cat. Demons were also shown as animals. The Egyptians characterized demons as humans with the heads of different types of animals that were associated with chaos. Some demons had the heads of gazelles or antelopes, animals that lived in the desert, a place considered unsafe. Demons also had the heads of turtles, who could disapear underwater and resurface quickly. This was seen as unpredictable.
So how did these gods affect Ancient Egypt's way of life? Ancient Egyptians would pray to these gods frequently for things like good harvests, rainfall, or the Nile River rising accordingly. Then when these things occured, it lead to the Egyptians thanking the gods and giving them offerings. The gods were the divine power in the Ancient Egyptian Religion. They were believed to direct nature, they were objects of worship, and they symbolized life events.
Isis was Egypt's mother goddess. She was extremely powerful, but also very gentle and nurturing. She was a role model for wives and mothers. Isis married her brother Osiris. It was very common for gods and goddesses to marry their siblings. Isis and Osiris also had a brother named Set, who was envious of their achievements. One day, Set locked Osiris in a box and killed him. He then scattered Osiris's body parts all across Egypt so that Isis wouldn't use magic to put him back together. Since Osiris was never coming back to earth, he became ruler of the underworld.
Ra/Re and Horus are represented by falcons because the falcon, a bird of prey, soars high in the sky for long periods of time, just like the sun. Ra/Re is the solar or sun god. His cult is the Obelisk, which means "to shine forth." Also, Ancient Egyptians knew that it was the lioness who hunts, so they believed it only right that Sekhmet, goddess of war, is shown with the head of a lioness. Cats were very important and respected in Ancient Egypt, as they got rid of birds, mice and rats, animals that eat the grain that the people depended on for food. Those animals also carried diseases that were hazardous to people, most importantly, children. It was for this reason that Bastet, the goddess and protectress of children was represented by a cat. Demons were also shown as animals. The Egyptians characterized demons as humans with the heads of different types of animals that were associated with chaos. Some demons had the heads of gazelles or antelopes, animals that lived in the desert, a place considered unsafe. Demons also had the heads of turtles, who could disapear underwater and resurface quickly. This was seen as unpredictable.
So how did these gods affect Ancient Egypt's way of life? Ancient Egyptians would pray to these gods frequently for things like good harvests, rainfall, or the Nile River rising accordingly. Then when these things occured, it lead to the Egyptians thanking the gods and giving them offerings. The gods were the divine power in the Ancient Egyptian Religion. They were believed to direct nature, they were objects of worship, and they symbolized life events.
Citations-
Gahlin, Lucia. Gods, Rites, Rituals, and Religion of Ancient Egypt. London, Lorenz Books. 2008. Print.
Heiss E. Renee. "Ancient Egypt's Mother Goddess-Isis". Crinkles (vol.8, no.6). Jul/Aug. 2006: B9.t. SIRS
Discoverer.web.13 Mar 2013
Hussein, Angela Murock. "Animal Gods". DIG (vol.9, no.6) July/August 2007: 9-13. SIRS Discoverer.web.13 Mar 2013
Gahlin, Lucia. Gods, Rites, Rituals, and Religion of Ancient Egypt. London, Lorenz Books. 2008. Print.
Heiss E. Renee. "Ancient Egypt's Mother Goddess-Isis". Crinkles (vol.8, no.6). Jul/Aug. 2006: B9.t. SIRS
Discoverer.web.13 Mar 2013
Hussein, Angela Murock. "Animal Gods". DIG (vol.9, no.6) July/August 2007: 9-13. SIRS Discoverer.web.13 Mar 2013