Egyptian Civilization
Ancient Egyptian Civilization
Ancient Egyptian Civilization is one of the oldest in the world. It grew up in the fertile lands along the River Nile over 5000 years ago. Egypt is known as “the gift of the Nile,” because the river’s annual flood deposits rich black soil on the flat land. The Egyptians called the fruitful river valley Kemet, “the black land”. The Nile is flanked by deserts and the Egyptians called these barren lands deshret, “the red land.”
Religion:
Priests- The pharaoh was the high priest. In theory, only he could enter each temple and carry out the service required by the god. In practice, the pharaoh delegated this jobs to priests who washed, clothed and gave offerings to the statues on a daily basis. Priests had a strict code of conduct. They had to be very clean.
Feast days- Each temple had many religious and feast days when the image of the god was carried in procession, usually in a ceremonial boat from one temple to another.
The Afterlife- the Egyptians believed in life after death. They also had to make special preparations when they died. These included the mummifying (preserving) the body and preparing the tomb (for example, by putting food and goods in the coffin).
Polytheism- the Egyptians believed in many different Gods and Goddesses.
The Burial Customs:
The Egyptians had very elaborate burial customs. They built pyramids as monumental tombs for their dead pharaohs. The most famous and the largest of all the pyramids is at
Giza. It belonged to the Pharaoh Cheops. The pyramids at Giza are guarded by a huge stone statue called the Sphinx.
The Pharaoh:
The Pharaoh was both the religious and civil ruler of Egypt. The most important duty of the pharaoh was
To keep Egypt both peaceful and prosperous.
To ensure that the principles of Maat (justice, order and truth) were upheld.
To ensure that the Gods and Goddesses were properly honoured.
To protect the country from enemies
Tutankhamen:
He is one of the most well-known Pharaohs
Ancient Egyptian Civilization is one of the oldest in the world. It grew up in the fertile lands along the River Nile over 5000 years ago. Egypt is known as “the gift of the Nile,” because the river’s annual flood deposits rich black soil on the flat land. The Egyptians called the fruitful river valley Kemet, “the black land”. The Nile is flanked by deserts and the Egyptians called these barren lands deshret, “the red land.”
Religion:
Priests- The pharaoh was the high priest. In theory, only he could enter each temple and carry out the service required by the god. In practice, the pharaoh delegated this jobs to priests who washed, clothed and gave offerings to the statues on a daily basis. Priests had a strict code of conduct. They had to be very clean.
Feast days- Each temple had many religious and feast days when the image of the god was carried in procession, usually in a ceremonial boat from one temple to another.
The Afterlife- the Egyptians believed in life after death. They also had to make special preparations when they died. These included the mummifying (preserving) the body and preparing the tomb (for example, by putting food and goods in the coffin).
Polytheism- the Egyptians believed in many different Gods and Goddesses.
The Burial Customs:
The Egyptians had very elaborate burial customs. They built pyramids as monumental tombs for their dead pharaohs. The most famous and the largest of all the pyramids is at
Giza. It belonged to the Pharaoh Cheops. The pyramids at Giza are guarded by a huge stone statue called the Sphinx.
The Pharaoh:
The Pharaoh was both the religious and civil ruler of Egypt. The most important duty of the pharaoh was
To keep Egypt both peaceful and prosperous.
To ensure that the principles of Maat (justice, order and truth) were upheld.
To ensure that the Gods and Goddesses were properly honoured.
To protect the country from enemies
Tutankhamen:
He is one of the most well-known Pharaohs