Egypt and Sociology
Introduction
The Ancient Egyptians believed in immortality after death and the afterlife. They spent their lives in preparation for death, evidently through constructing tombs for themselves. To enter the afterlife, a well functioning body was necessary. Thus, to protect their bodies and reach the afterlife, a set of burial customs needed to be followed. These rituals included mummification, spells, and the burial with certain goods needed in the afterlife. These rituals became the responsibility of the family to carry out with the assistance of priests. The burial process developed and changed over time, however the main elements of preparation of the body, the magical rituals, and the grave goods, all remained as significant and essential factors in an Egyptian funeral. I will discuss how the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians underlie how they perceived death, burial customs, and the responsibilities of the living toward the dead. I will also explore the question of disrupting life after death.
Religious Beliefs
- The Afterlife
“The concept of the afterlife is one of a daily journey from death to life, and funerary texts were made to ensure the success of this journey” (Allen & Manuelin 2005). Ancient Egyptians did not consider death as the end of one’s life, they believed that there was a certain process that occurs when a person dies which allows them to enter a dimension of eternity and bliss, the ‘afterlife’. “Eternal life was the greatest good for an Egyptian” (Wilson 1951). They believed that in order to successfully enter the afterlife, there were certain challenges to overcome. This includes the deceased being placed before 14 judges who decided and judged ones life. The person is judged, and based on the judges’ verdict, determine whether they can enter the afterlife. They also believed in the purity and value of the soul, which they understood as being represented by the heart. An individual’s heart would be weighed against a feather. If the
The Ancient Egyptians believed in immortality after death and the afterlife. They spent their lives in preparation for death, evidently through constructing tombs for themselves. To enter the afterlife, a well functioning body was necessary. Thus, to protect their bodies and reach the afterlife, a set of burial customs needed to be followed. These rituals included mummification, spells, and the burial with certain goods needed in the afterlife. These rituals became the responsibility of the family to carry out with the assistance of priests. The burial process developed and changed over time, however the main elements of preparation of the body, the magical rituals, and the grave goods, all remained as significant and essential factors in an Egyptian funeral. I will discuss how the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians underlie how they perceived death, burial customs, and the responsibilities of the living toward the dead. I will also explore the question of disrupting life after death.
Religious Beliefs
- The Afterlife
“The concept of the afterlife is one of a daily journey from death to life, and funerary texts were made to ensure the success of this journey” (Allen & Manuelin 2005). Ancient Egyptians did not consider death as the end of one’s life, they believed that there was a certain process that occurs when a person dies which allows them to enter a dimension of eternity and bliss, the ‘afterlife’. “Eternal life was the greatest good for an Egyptian” (Wilson 1951). They believed that in order to successfully enter the afterlife, there were certain challenges to overcome. This includes the deceased being placed before 14 judges who decided and judged ones life. The person is judged, and based on the judges’ verdict, determine whether they can enter the afterlife. They also believed in the purity and value of the soul, which they understood as being represented by the heart. An individual’s heart would be weighed against a feather. If the