Egyptian Afterlife
9:13 ص
In Egyptian mythology there where many deities, each has an specific function, dominion and cult center.
- Gods like Ra and Amun seem to have little role in the underworld.
- The undisputed Lord of the underworld was Osiris
Mummification
The Egyptian people believed that the human soul used the first night after death to travel into the afterlife.
- However, the body, which the Egyptians believed was an essential element to the afterlife had to be mummified to preserve it for eternity.
- The Mummification process took 72 days to perform properly. This was the time to put finishing touches on the tomb and to pack all the deceased's worldly possessions, which surely would be needed in the afterlife.
Tombs & Funerals
Eternal life was only granted to those who had a proper tomb and funeral, thus rich men had greater chance of achieving eternity - this idea of justice by modern standards seems unjust by itself!!
- The dead were provided with food and drink, weapons, and toiletry articles.
- Tombs were often visited by the family, who brought new offerings. The practice of feeding the dead continues in Egypt even in our own day!!
- Proper precautions and care for the dead were mandatory to insure immortality.
Judgment
Hall of Maat
The Hall of Maat is located in the underworld, here the judgment of the dead was performed in the afterlife.
- This was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat (truth and justice).
- The concept of hell did not exist in Egyptian mythology until the 19th Dynasty, Ammut was a daemon who devoured the heart of sinners, but no eternal punishment for sinners was recorded
Starting from the 20th Dynasty a new funerary text called "The Book of Caverns" appeared, focusing on the rewards and punishments in afterlife, this text is the first view of the Egyptian concept of Hell
Paradise
Fields of Reeds
In the Egyptian paradise or Fields of Reeds, there was a continuation of the earthly necessities and challenges such as eating, drinking and fighting
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