2.4 Gods of Egypt

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

Antiquity

2.4 Gods of Egypt

What is this lesson about?

- Learning goals

- Discussing homework 

- Last week

- Explanation Egyptian gods 

- What have you learned?

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

TIMELINE of this CHAPTER

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.

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.

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.