Ancient Egypt lasted for 3500 years due to factors in:GeographyPoliticsSocial structureEducationEconomyReligion = Stability was goal and change slow and cautious

Ozymandias

I met a traveler from an antique landWho said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stoneStand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed,And on the pedestal these words appear:"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"Nothing beside remains. Round the decayOf that colossal wreck, boundless and bareThe lone and level sands stretch far away.

Percy Bysshe Shelley1792-1822

The shape of the Nile River Valley resembles a lotus flower, the ancient Egyptian symbol for the regeneration of life.

For centuries, the Nile River flooded the valley, enriching the land with a thick layer of alluvial soil.

The flooding of the Nile rendered the narrow strip of land on either side of the river extremely fertile.

Irrigation canals were used to control the water, particularly during dry spells.

Its flood plain was an extensive oasis, a magnet for life human, plant and animal. Humans were drawn there because they could grow crops and settle into permanent villages.

In ancient times, the Egyptians called the desert the "red land", distinguishing it from the flood plain around the Nile River, called the "black land".

THE NILE was considered the SOUL as it was the source of life and path to immortalityEgyptians lived on Eastern side but buried on Western sideRiver was symbol of passage of one life to next (eternity)Creation story began in swirling waters of the Nile when god Horus gave power to Pharaohs Click here for Creation Story

ATUMNUTGEBSHUTEFNUTGods and GoddessesNUTATUMANUBISMAATHORUSISISWebsite: Gods and Goddesses

The Egyptians were deeply religious people religious roots were in the worship of nature deities their first gods were in animal forms Those responsible for creation were the most important gods (Atum is the creator God) They later developed national gods around the Middle Kingdom (Amon- local god of Thebes; gods of Dead: Osiris, Anubis, Horus and Thoth) Religion was instrumental to stability of Egypt (life, social structure, education, laws, rule of Pharaoh, economy, death, afterlife)

Atum

The Egyptians believed that in the beginning, the universe was filled with the dark waters of chaos The first god, Re-Atum, appeared from the water as the land of Egypt appears every year out of the flood waters of the Nile Re-Atum spat and out of the spittle came out the gods Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture)The world was created when Shu & Tefnut gave birth to 2 children: Nut (sky) & Geb (the Earth) Egyptian mythology

Osiris was the son of Re-Atum and king of Egypt. His brother Seth represented evil in the universeHe murdered Osiris and himself became the king. After killing Osiris, Seth tore his body into pieces, but Isis rescued most of the pieces for burial beneath the templeSeth made himself king but was challenged by Osiris's son-Horus. Seth lost and was sent to the desert. He became the god of terrible stormsOsiris was mummified by Anubis and became god of the dead. Horus became the King and from him descended the pharaohs

Egypt had a highly developed view of the afterlife with elaborate rituals for preparing the body and soul for a peaceful life after death Beliefs about the soul and afterlife focused heavily on preservation of the body, or ba (the soul was known as the ka). This meant that embalming and mummification were practiced, in order to preserve the individual's identity in the afterlife The intestines, lungs, liver and the stomach were preserved separately and stored in canopic jars protected by the four sons of Horus

*Dr. Montoneri* Eye of Horus

Seth

Isis

Menes: Unifier of Upper & Lower Egyptc. 3050 B. C. ?

How did Pharaoh's rule?absolute rulers of the landbelieved to be the earthly embodiment of the god Horus who was the son of Amon-ReTherefore they had the divine right to ruleThis allowed them to move between god and their peoplePeople followed their orders because they believed they were from godNo one would challenge the Kings authority and he could rule in relative peace

The throne passed on to eldest son of Principal Queen who was usual the eldest daughter of the previous king therefore the kings sisterPharaohs owned all the land they had a hierarchy of government officials to help him rule Second to the Pharaohs were the scribes who would record the doings of the Pharaoh

Law was governed by religious principle of MaatGODDESS MAAT represented truth, righteousness and justice= balance and orderLaws were applied equally to all classes specifically protected the family (children and wives)Punishments could be quite severe- act as a deterent or disgrace the guilty (Examples: minor crimes had 100 lashed; rapist were castrated; corrupt officials had their hands amputated; crimes that resulted in a death sentence could have choice= devoured by a crocodile, suicide, burning alive)

Life and death was measured in accordance to Maat: the goddess and symbol of equilibrium of the universe and the king had to rule according to her principles

Death viewed as a new beginningAfterlife common to all, regardless of social status (preparation varied as well as goods stored in tombs) 2 Common Principles: 1) body preservation in a lifelike form 2) the deceased must have items necessary for life in the afterworld Personal belongings were usually placed in the tomb to make the Ka more at home and to assist the dead in their journey into the afterlife. Text was read from the 'Book of the Dead' which was a collection of spells, charms, passwords, numbers and magical formulas for the use of the deceased in the afterlife. MAAT -symbol of the equilibriumof the universe

This scene depicts what occurs after a person has died, according to the ancient Egyptians. panel of 14 judgesKa (soul /spiritual duplicate), ba (personality) ankh (form mummy took in afterlife / the key of life)Weighing of the heart vs MaatJudgment of scalerecord of the outcome

Mummification focused on Egyptian belief of the importance of preserving the bodyAfterlife would be spent enjoying best of life experiencesBody covered with natron and dried for up to 70 daysBody wrapped in linen coated with resins and oilsMiddle Kingdom became customary to place a mask over the face

Removal of organs (lungs, stomach, intestines, liver) in Canopic Jars were closed with stoppers fashioned in the shape of four heads -- human, baboon, falcon, and jackal - representing the four protective spirits called the Four Sons of Horus. brain was sucked out of the cranial cavity and thrown away because the Egyptian's thought it was useless.

Preparations for the UnderworldPriests protected your KA, or soul-spiritANUBIS weighs the dead persons heart against a feather.

Materials Used in Mummification1. Linen 6. Natron 2. Sawdust 7. Onion 3. Lichen 8. Nile Mud 4. Beeswax 9. Linen Pads 5. Resin 10. Frankinsense

Preparation for the Afterlife

Egyptian MummiesSeti I 1291-1278 B. C. Queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep II 1210-1200 B. C.Ramses II 1279-1212 B. C.

Journey to the UnderworldA boat for the journey is provided for a dead pharaoh in his tomb.The dead travel on the Solar Bark.

Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Final Judgement Anubis Horus Osiris

Shabtis: The Pharaohs Servants in the Afterlife

Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara

Bent Pyramid of King Sneferu

Giza Pyramid Complex

construction

Plan of the Great Pyramid of Khufu

The Pharaohs of the Third Dynasty were the first to have actual pyramids constructed as shrines to their deaths.The first of these pyramids, the step pyramid was designed by Imhotep for Dzoser. Prior to, and during the construction of the step pyramids, rulers were buried in a structure called a Mastaba.3000 B.C. - 2150 B.C.

It was during the Fourth Dynasty when the Great Pyramids of Giza and many other structures were constructed. Sneferu, Khufu, Khafra, Djedefra, Menkaure

Inside the great pyramid

Towards the end of the Old Kingdom, the nobles began to gain influence and wealth by building fine tombs for themselves and boasting of privileges they had as friends of the king.Pepy I married sisters called AnkhenesmeriraPepy II eight years old, last pharaohTeti, Pepy I, Pepy II

The Middle Kingdom is considered to have started with Mentuhotep I uniting all of Egypt. Moved capital of Egypt from Memphis to ThebesPeriod of Theban Kings1975 B.C. - 1640 B.C.

During this time trade picked up dramatically and many resources which before had been unused were now being exploited.

The Fayum was exploited for the cultivation of crops, mines which produced gold and quarries were dug for building projects.

Many other structures were also built during this time. This included the building of fortresses. Amenemhet I built the series of fortresses that came to be known as the Wall of the Princes.

Theban kings also constructed a canal between Nile River and Red Sea.

Towards the end of the Middle Kingdom, local leaders began to challenge the king's power again, bringing the peace and prosperity to an end.

This period begins with the waning power of the kings during the 13th Dynasty. Asiatic immigrants, known as the Hyksos, who had been settling in Egypt for some time began to rise to power in the eastern Delta and began pacifying their neighboring regions. The regions either allied themselves to the Hyksos or were besieged by them.1630 B.C. - 1520 B.C.

The Hyksos revitalized the dying culture of the Egyptians, while keeping major institutions alive. Trade with the Near East brought new ideas and technologies to the Egyptian people. bronze working made for better weaponschariot improved the effectiveness of the armyscale armor, composite bow and new shapes of scimitar were introduced.

Improvements to society included a new potter's wheel, the vertical loom and new musical instruments. lyre, the long-necked lute, the oboe and the tambourine.new vegetable and fruit crops and humped- backed cattle called zebu.

Role of WomenWell treated and had considerable legal rights compared to other civilizationsSame legal rights as men (land, property, divorce)Left women to be economically independentPrimary role was in domestic lifeCommon title for a married women in ancient Egypt was nebet per meaning the lady of the houseBear and raise children

Role of MenHead of the familyMen could have numerous wives but economically men had only 1 wifeLabourers, craftsmenJobs were hereditary

JobsLabour required for construction projects and was mostly filled by poor, serfsStability of Egypt thrived as skilled trades were passed from father to sonChildren always learned the trade from parents; seldom could choose occupation

WealthAgriculture made up most of Egypts wealth grain, vegetables, fruit, cattle, goats, pigs and fowlAbundance and management of food supplies (not royal treasury) was the measure of Egypts wealth = full granaries, plenty of wildlife and fish, and thriving herds were the signs of prosperity. These were the images used in the tombs of the Pharaohs to illustrate the wealth of their reigns

EconomySimple economy based on food production and minerals from desertaccess to the Mediterranean their routes extended trade as far as Northern Europe, subtropical Africa and the Near EastTrading was done by bartering goods (grain, oil, wheat)Taxes, salaries and loans were all paid entirely on goodsextensive trading made Egypt a powerful influence on culture, art, ideas and technology (ie. Western calendar was taken from the Romans who had borrowed it from the Egyptians)Trade eventually grew and expanded, bringing new ideas and goods into Egyptian society

Contributed to stability and continuity of EgyptAll children, regardless of social class, received some educationFollowed a moral and ethical guide Instructions in WisdomGoal for education was to ensure youth exhibited self control and good mannersAt 14, young boys followed fathers in jobs, and girls learned from mothers in the householdChildren of priests were schooled more formallyLiteracy was stressed for government jobsEducation respected for creating a well rounded individual

Hieroglyphics

History of Writing: 1) pictograms (sun= sun) 2) ideograms (sun = sun, daylight, warmth, light) 3) phonograms: symbols that suggest a particular sound; related ideas and also sound (Sun = sun, son, Sunday) Each hieroglyph found in pyramids and tombs often symbolized more than one consonant. Not only that, but actual Egyptian hieroglyphs were a combination of sound-signs, pictograms, and ideograms. No wonder it was so hard to decode them!

New Kingdom= 700 hieroglyphs in common usage, while rest were phonograms100 were strictly visual, while rest were phonogramsEventually scribes adapted hieroglyphic symbolsBy 700 BC, script was refined to the demotic (or popular script) was used for secular matters such as letters, accounts and record keeping

What is the Rosetta Stone? The Rosetta Stone is a stone with writing on it in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), using three scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek). It was carved in 196 BCE. Why is it in three different scripts? The Rosetta Stone is written in three scripts (hieroglyphs for religious documents; demotic- common script of Egypt; Greek- language of the rulers of Egypt at that time)The Rosetta Stone was written in all three scripts so that the priests, government officials and rulers of Egypt could read what it said. When was the Rosetta Stone found? The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799 by French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in Egypt (in a small village in Delta called Rosetta (Rashid)

What does the Rosetta Stone say? The Rosetta Stone is a text written by a group of priests in Egypt to honour the Egyptian pharaoh. It lists all of the things that the pharaoh had done that were good for the priests and the people of Egypt.

*Ka (ones own spiritual duplicate; stored in heart and at death was separated from body. The ka would inhabit the tomb to be near the body)Ba (non physical element unique to each person such as ones personality)Akh (form that the mummy takes to exist in afterworld)Maat (truth, order and justice- essential to achieve harmony with gods and entry to the aftelife)Book of Dead was intended to guide the dead through the various trials that they would encounter before reaching the underworld. Knowledge of the appropriate spells was considered essential to achieving happiness after death

*This scene depicts what occurs after a person has died, according to the ancient Egyptians. Beginning with the upper left-hand corner, the deceased appears before a panel of 14 judges to make an accounting for his deeds during life. The ankh, the key of life, appears in the hands of some of the judges. Next, below, the jackal god Anubis who represents the underworld and mummification leads the deceased before the scale. In his hand, Anubis holds the ankh. Anubis then weighs the heart of the deceased (left tray) against the feather of Ma'at, goddess of truth and justice (right tray). In some drawings, the full goddess Ma'at, not just her feather, is shown seated on the tray. Note that Ma'at's head, crowned by the feather, also appears atop the fulcrum of the scale. If the heart of the deceased outweighs the feather, then the deceased has a heart which has been made heavy with evil deeds. In that event, Ammit the god with the crocodile head and hippopotamus legs will devour the heart, condemning the deceased to oblivion for eternity. But if the feather outweighs the heart, and then the deceased has led a righteous life and may be presented before Osiris to join the afterlife. Thoth, the ibis-headed god of wisdom stands at the ready to record the outcome. Horus, the god with the falcon head, then leads the deceased to Osiris. Note the ankh in Horus' hand. Horus represents the personification of the Pharaoh during life, and his father Osiris represents the personification of the Pharaoh after death. Osiris, lord of the underworld, sits on his throne, represented as a mummy. On his head is the white crown of Lower Egypt (the north). He holds the symbols of Egyptian kingship in his hands: the shepherd's crook to symbolize his role as shepherd of mankind, and the flail, to represent his ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. Behind him stand his wife Isis and her sister Nephthys. Isis is the one in red, and Nephthys is the one in green. Together, Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys welcome the deceased to the underworld. The tomb-owner would continue after death the occupations of this life and so everything required was packed in the tomb along with the body. Writing materials were often supplied along with clothing, wigs, and hairdressing supplies and assorted tools, depending on the occupation of the deceased. Often model tools rather than full size ones would be placed in the tomb; models were cheaper and took up less space and in the after-life would be magically transformed into the real thing. Things might include a headrest, glass vessels which may have contained perfume and a slate palette for grinding make-up. Food was provided for the deceased and should the expected regular offerings of the descendants cease, food depicted on the walls of the tomb would be magically transformed to supply the needs of the dead. Images on tombs might include a triangular shaped piece of bread (part of the food offerings from a tomb). Other images might represent food items that the tomb owner would have eaten in his lifetime and hoped to eat in the after-life. Life was dominated by Ma'at, or the concept of justice and order. Egyptians believed there were different levels of goodness and evil. Egyptians believed that part of the personality, called the Ka, remained in the tomb. Thus elaborate and complex burial practices developed. The removed internal organs were separately treated and, during much of Egyptian history, placed in jars of clay or stone. These so-called Canopic Jars were closed with stoppers fashioned in the shape of four heads -- human, baboon, falcon, and jackal - representing the four protective spirits called the Four Sons of Horus. *Hmmm. Some birds, a half moon, a feather, and a oval. Or maybe that half moon is a stone sticking out of the ground. And maybe the oval is really a hole in the ground. Maybe what it means is that two birds standing by a rock have a hole to jump in if trouble happens by. That might make sense, but it's not quite right. The pictures simply mean "water." Say what? How could that possibly mean water, you ask? Good question. Want to know more? Look at more hieroglyphs and see if you can crack the code.