1.8 Gods and Godesses

• History
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

1. The Time of Hunters and Farmers

8. Gods and Godesses

ANCIENT EGYPT

What you will learn in 

this lesson

• that Egypt had many different gods
• what the most important gods were called and what they looked like
• What the function of the gods was
• why and how gods were worshipped
• why priests were important

click here for Wrts word list of this lesson

Gods and Goddesses

The ancient Egyptians believed in hundreds of different gods and goddesses. Gods and goddesses are in many ancient Egyptian paintings. 

There are often shown with a human body and the 

head of a bird or animal. Many ancient Egyptian stories are about the gods. Just like the people of ancient Egypt, the gods all had a different job to do and a different level of importance. The most important gods and goddesses were all seen as part of the same family. They had feelings, just like humans, and they argued a lot.

picture: Ra (also spelled Re) was the sun god of the ancient Egyptians, and the most important and widely-worshipped of all of the gods.

1a. Egyptian gods looked exactly like humans

1. true
2. false

1b. Egyptian gods had human characteristics like feelings

1. true
2. false

1c .Egyptian gods had special powers

1. true
2. false

1d. Egyptian gods were immortal (onsterfelijk)

1. true
2. false

worshipping gods

The ancient Egyptians believed that their gods and 

goddesses controlled life in Egypt. So it was very 

important to worship them and keep them happy. 

Some gods and goddesses, such as the sun god, Ra, were worshipped all over Egypt. Other gods were worshipped in some places, but not others. Sobek, 

god of the crocodiles, was usually worshipped along the River Nile, where crocodiles were a danger.

A piece of temple wall showing Sobek (the crocodile-headed god) at his Nile temple complex, Kom Ombo, in Egypt.

Overview of the most important Egyptian gods

Copy this overview in your notebook and fill in the rest of the cells.

Use this website to find the answers.

2a. Which of the following do you think is NOT something the Egyptian gods did?

1. cause illness or disaster
2. see what was happening on earth
3. make the laws of the country
4. cause the inundation

2b. Why was it important for people to keep the gods happy?

priests

The Egyptians saw the pharaoh as the link between themselves and the gods. Sometimes the pharaoh was seen as a god, too. In the same way as he needed officials to help him run the country, the pharaoh needed priests to help him run Egypt's religion. 

He could not be everywhere at the same time. So priests and priestesses did much of the work for him. 

The Egyptians had shrines in their homes to worship the gods at any time. On special festivals, they went to temples for religious ceremonies. Temples were built as homes for the gods. Ordinary people did not go into them, only the priests who looked after the gods. 

Picture: the mummy of Hunefer, shown supported by the god Anubis. Hunefer's wife and daughter mourn, and two priests perform rituals.

3a. The Egyptian people saw the pharaoh as
somebody who knew what the gods wanted

1. true
2. false

3b. The only way for ordinary Egyptians to worship the gods was going to the temple.

1. true
2. false

3c. Temples were seen as homes for the gods.

1. true
2. false

temples

The great temples were vast buildings with massive entrance towers called pylons. Pharaohs often re-built and enlarged temples to show their respect for the god or goddess of the temple. Because f this rebuilding, the oldest surviving temples come from the New Kingdom period (1550 - 1069 BC). 

pictures: above: the temple of Luxor today.

below: a computer reconstruction of the same temple

Source A

I am a man who swore falsely by Ptah, Lord of the Truth. 

He has caused me to see darkness in day. 

I will tell of his power to those who know of him, and to those who do not.

To the small and the great. 

Beware of Ptah, Lord of Truth. Behold! 

He does not overlook a person's deed. 

From a stone put up at a shrine to Ptah in Deir el 

Medina, in the New Kingdom period. It was put there by the workman Nebferabu, who had suddenly 

gone blind. 

Source B

Ra has put the pharaohs 

To rule the land of the living for all time. 

They are to judge men, to make the gods content, 

To create Truth and to destroy evil. 

The pharaoh gives offerings to the gods and to the blessed spirits. 

The pharaohs live in heaven, like Ra, living in joy.

From a hymn carved in a temple in Thebes, which describes the pharaoh's job as a priest. 

Hymns like this were carved in many temples to Ra. 

4a. How, according to source A,
did Nebferabu think he was blinded?

4b. Why, according to source A,
did Nebferabu think he was blinded?

4c. Why do you think Nebferabu spent money to put up a stone at Ptah's shrine?

5. What, according to source b,
does NOT belong to the main jobs of the pharaoh?

1. rule the land
2. be the highest judge
3. make offerings to the gods
4. be the commander of the army

Glossary

Lesson 1.8:

• priests
• priestesses
• shrines
• festivals
• temples

all these words are in the glossary in your textbook. Look them up from page 138 onwards

Copy this in your notebook and fill in the gaps.

Summary Lesson 1.8

The Egyptians believed in many different _________. They looked like humans but often with _______ heads.

Each god had a different _____ to do and a different level of ________. They were seen as part of one _________ and they had _________.

The gods ________ life so it was important to _________ them.

The pharaoh was the _____ between people and the gods. Sometimes he was seen as a ________ too.

He needed help from ________ and _________ to run Egypt's ____________.

Normal Egyptians worshipped the gods in ______ in their homes.

________ were built as _______ for the gods. Only priests could go into a temple.

Pharaohs often _________ or ____________ temples to show ______ for the gods.

How well did you do this lesson?
(the more answers the better)

1. I read all the texts carefully
2. I answered all questions the best way I could
3. I wrote the summary in my notebook
4. I looked up difficult words or used WRTS

What you learned in 

this lesson

• that Egypt had many different gods
• what the most important gods were called and what they looked like
• What the function of the gods was
• why and how gods were worshipped
• why priests were important

Do you think that this lesson was enough for you to understand the learning goals?

1. yes, I got it.
2. no, I still do not understand everything

Was your answer in the previous question "A"?
Then you can fill in "OK".

Was your answer in the previous question "B"?
Then write down what part of the lesson you do not understand and (if you can) what can help you.

congratulations