Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt

by Emily Teeter

• ISBN13: 9780521613002
• ISBN10: 0521613000
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book is a vivid reconstruction of the practical aspects of ancient Egyptian religion. Through an examination of artifacts and inscriptions, the text explores a variety of issues. For example, who was allowed to enter the temples, and what rituals were preformed therein? Who served as priests? How were they organized and trained, and what did they do? What was the Egyptians' attitude toward death, and what happened at funerals? How did the living and dead communicate? In what ways could people communicate with the gods? What impact did religion have on the economy and longevity of the society? This book demystifies Egyptian religion, exploring what it meant to the people and society. The text is richly illustrated with images of rituals and religious objects.

Author Biography

Emily Teeter, PhD, is a Research Associate and Coordinator of Special Exhibits at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. She has curated temporary and permanent exhibits of Egyptian art at the Oriental Institute Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The author and co-author of a wide range of popular and scholarly publications, her most recent books include Ancient Egypt: Treasures from the Collection of the Oriental Institute, Egypt and the Egyptians, and The Life of Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt.

Table of Contents

List of Maps, Plans, and Figures	p. viii
List of Color Plates	p. xii
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Chronology of Ancient Egypt	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
The Egyptian Mind	p. 3
Priests	p. 16
Types of Priests and Their Duties	p. 19
Priestesses	p. 27
Becoming a Priest	p. 28
Purity and the Priesthood	p. 32
Organization of Priests	p. 35
Remuneration of Priests	p. 36
Inside the Temple: The World of the Gods	p. 39
The Care and Feeding of the God	p. 41
The Daily Offering Ritual	p. 46
The King's Offering Cult	p. 51
Knowledge of Temple Ritual	p. 51
What Happened to the Cult Statues?	p. 53
Festivals	p. 56
Festivals of Osiris	p. 58
Feast of the Valley	p. 66
The Festival of Amunhotep I	p. 73
Contacting the Gods	p. 76
Places of Prayer	p. 77
Outside the Temple	p. 84
Votive Offerings	p. 87
Statue Cults	p. 92
Intercessory Statues	p. 96
Trances and Dreams as a Means of Contacting the Gods	p. 101
Self-Dedication to the God(s)	p. 102
In the Presence of the Gods: How the Gods Communicated with Men	p. 104
Controlled Contact with the Gods	p. 105
Uncontrolled Contact with the Gods	p. 112
Seeking Protection from the Gods	p. 115
Death and Funeral Rites	p. 119
The Egyptian Attitude Toward Death	p. 119
Building the Tomb	p. 121
Provisioning the Dead	p. 128
Preparing the Mummy	p. 132
The Funeral	p. 137
Communicating with the Dead	p. 148
Akb Spirits	p. 148
Letters to the Dead	p. 153
Dreams and Nightmares	p. 158
Magic to Charm and to Kill	p. 161
Toward a Definition of Magic in Ancient Egypt	p. 161
Who Were the Magicians?	p. 163
Evidence for Magical Practices	p. 165
Spells of Protection	p. 167
Magic to Cure	p. 171
Spells to Maim and Kill	p. 177
The Amarna Period: Practical Aspects of "Monotheism"	p. 182
The Nature of the Aten and the Rise of the God	p. 184
Impact of the New Theology	p. 188
The Conception of the Afterlife in the Amarna Period	p. 190
Impact of the New Religion on Society	p. 193
What Did the Amarna Theology Offer the People?	p. 194
Conclusion	p. 196
Afterword: An Appraisal of Egyptian Religion	p. 197
Notes	p. 201
Bibliography	p. 209
Index	p. 219
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