2.4 Gods of Egypt

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

AGE 2. The Time of Greeks and Romans

2.4 Gods of Egypt

What is this lesson about?

The Egyptians worshipped many gods. Every god had its own task and power. The priests brought sacrifices to the gods in temples. The Egyptians feared that if they would not do this, they would get punished. The afterlife was also very important for them. Their dead had to be mummified and they were given a special book when they were buried.

What you can explain /  do after this lesson

• that the Egyptians believed in many gods and the reasons for this belief
• why the afterlife was very important to the Egyptians
• explain the difference between monotheism and polytheism
• name examples of Egyptian gods and their characteristics
• explain why and how mummies were made

Word Duty

Polytheistic: when people believe in multiple gods

Offerings: goods that are given as sacrifice in hope of obtaining help from the gods

Book of the Dead: bundle of texts that were given to the pharaoh when he died; it was used to help him reach the afterlife

Mummified: preserved after death; the Egyptians did this on purpose

Sarcophagus: coffin in the shape of the deceased

Monotheistic: religion based on one god

Link to WRTS wordlist for all the other difficult words: WRTS HISTORY

KEY WORDS

1. Study source 2.20 and explain, by describing two characteristics,
how you can recognise Ra on this picture.

2a. Is the Egyptian story of creation fiction or true fact?

1. fiction
2. fact

2b. Explain your answer of question 2a.

2c. Why would the Egyptians think up a story like this?
Use words like: understand, science, know, nature, world.

3. Read "Multiple gods".

a.
Explain why many Egyptian gods had the head of animals.

Multiple Gods

• Egyptians tried to explain nature around them with stories about gods
• Polytheistic: When people believe in multiple gods

3. Read "Multiple gods".
b.
Describe the following gods by explaining what they looked like and what they were the god/goddess of: Anubis, Sekhmet, Ra, Tawaret.

4. Think up your own god(dess).
Give him/her a name and explain what he/she is the god(dess) of.

5. Read sources 1 and 2.
Explain why Khepri, a sun god connected to Ra,
is sometimes pictured with a head in the shape
of a scarab (a beetle).
Use the sources in your answer.

6. Read "Powerful priests".

a.
Explain the key-word offerings in your own words.

6b. Explain why the Egyptians brought many offerings to the gods.
Use the words religion, punish, and offerings in your answer.

6c. Look at source 2.22. The temple of Karnak is
the second largest religious site in the world.
How could the Egyptian priests afford to build such a big temple complex?

6d. Give an example in which you show that this still happens today.

7.  Read "Obsessed by death". There were many challenges to be met before a pharaoh could reach the afterlife. 

Drag the challenges at the bottom to the correct letter.

The god Toth writes down what the pharaoh did in life

1

Horus shows the pharaoh the door to the afterlife

2

Osiris sits on his throne and awaits the pharaoh

3

Anubis takes the pharaoh by the hand

4

The monster Ammit waits to eat the heart

5

The heart of the pharaoh is weighed on scales

6

8. Read 

"How to make a mummy ". 

Put the steps of mummifi-

cation in the correct order.

The body is cut open and the organs are taken out.

The sarcophagus is placed in a grave, which is filled with gifts.

The priests remove the brain 

with a hook.

The mummy is put in a sarcophagus.

The body is wrapped in cloth.

The body is washed and 

laid in salt.

The organs are placed in jars that are in the shape of gods.

9. An archaeologist studies unwritten sources and a historian studies written sources. Archaeologists and historians both have proof that the Egyptians believed in an afterlife.
a. Think up an example of how an archaeologist can prove that the Egyptians believed in an afterlife.

9. An archaeologist studies unwritten sources and a historian studies written sources. Archaeologists and historians both have proof that the Egyptians believed in an afterlife.
b. Think up an example of how a historian can prove that the Egyptians believed in an afterlife.

10a. Give an example of a polytheistic religion that still
has many followers today.

10b. Give two examples of monotheistic religions
that still have many followers today.

Write down one question about something from this lesson that you find difficult.

congratulations

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42:18

Explain why the Egyptians worshipped their Pharao as a god according to this scource

43:00

What did the Egyptians believe would happen if the gods were not properly worshipped? Give two examples