Thesis: The belief in Gods influenced the Ancient Egyptian’s thoughts on the afterlife, animals, and worship rituals.
The ancient Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife was greatly influenced by the Gods. The Gods were said to have created many ideas involving life after death and how to act in order to be happy in the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, the soul of any living creature was known as the “ka” (“Egyptian Mythology”). The Egyptians believed that the organs in the body each held a portion of the ka (“Egyptian Mythology”). This is why organs were removed and put in canopic jars during mummification (Gardiner). The ka was especially important to the person after they died. The journey to the afterlife was said to be dangerous; this is why every tomb was …show more content…
If the decision is favorable, your ka will be sent to the heavenly fields of Yaru, where grain grows twelve feet high” (“Egyptian Mythology”). One of the tests that Osiris would give involved weighing a person's heart on a golden scale (Gardiner). On one side of the scale was the deceased’s heart and on the other was the feather of Ma’at, the feather of truth (Mark). If the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul was able to move on to the next test (Mark). Egyptian Pharaohs, or kings, were supposedly somewhere between human and god. Pharaohs were believed to have been chosen by the Gods to serve as messengers, giving the people the messages of the Gods (Mark). This meant the ka of the Pharaoh was special, therefore; they were mummified and buried in a pyramid ( “Egyptian Pyramids”). Egyptians also believed Pharaohs became assistants to the Gods after they died ( “Egyptian Pyramids”). Since Pharaohs reaching the afterlife was so important, the pyramid must act as a map in the direction of the heavens (“Egyptian Pyramids”). The triangular shape of the pyramid represents the rays of the sun.
The ancient Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife was greatly influenced by the Gods. The Gods were said to have created many ideas involving life after death and how to act in order to be happy in the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, the soul of any living creature was known as the “ka” (“Egyptian Mythology”). The Egyptians believed that the organs in the body each held a portion of the ka (“Egyptian Mythology”). This is why organs were removed and put in canopic jars during mummification (Gardiner). The ka was especially important to the person after they died. The journey to the afterlife was said to be dangerous; this is why every tomb was …show more content…
If the decision is favorable, your ka will be sent to the heavenly fields of Yaru, where grain grows twelve feet high” (“Egyptian Mythology”). One of the tests that Osiris would give involved weighing a person's heart on a golden scale (Gardiner). On one side of the scale was the deceased’s heart and on the other was the feather of Ma’at, the feather of truth (Mark). If the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul was able to move on to the next test (Mark). Egyptian Pharaohs, or kings, were supposedly somewhere between human and god. Pharaohs were believed to have been chosen by the Gods to serve as messengers, giving the people the messages of the Gods (Mark). This meant the ka of the Pharaoh was special, therefore; they were mummified and buried in a pyramid ( “Egyptian Pyramids”). Egyptians also believed Pharaohs became assistants to the Gods after they died ( “Egyptian Pyramids”). Since Pharaohs reaching the afterlife was so important, the pyramid must act as a map in the direction of the heavens (“Egyptian Pyramids”). The triangular shape of the pyramid represents the rays of the sun.