The Afterlife In Ancient Egypt

They believed that the gods punished them with floods and or famine. Their pessimistic outlook on life made them have bad premonitions towards their afterlife. They believed that at death that they were going to descend forever into a dark underworld, a huge cave filled with nothing but dust and silence. They tried to enjoy life as much as they could but did not look forward to the afterlife. Death was not the paradise that the Egyptians believed in. It was considered eternal hell. (Hause, 2001, pg. 10)

Ancient Egyptian civilization was based on religion. Their belief in the rebirth after death became their driving force behind their funeral practices. Death was simply a temporary interruption, rather than an end to life, and that eternal life could be ensured by means of worship to the gods, preservation of the physical form thru mummification, substantial ceremonies and detailed burial policies and procedures. Even though many today have varying views of an afterlife, many of the funerary practices that originated in Egypt can be seen in present day funeral services.

Regardless of social strata, death and the afterlife were almost always valued by the living in ancient Egypt. The afterlife was birthed and designed for great societal rulers but eventually trickled down and was adopted by other levels of society (Murnane in Obayashi, 1992, p. 42). Death was interpreted as “new life in another state” by ancient Egypt, and the ultimate goal of immortality could be attained if specific burial arrangements were made for the dead. This was to avoid a final death of the soul known as the “second death,” and measures such as burial with food, drink, and personal possessions, were taken to aid the soul on its journey into immortality (Murnane in Obayashi, 1992, p. 36).

The Egyptians believed very much in life after death. As Taylor states in Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, “It is often observed that they appear to have devoted greater efforts and resources to preparing for the afterlife than to creating a convenient environment for living” (Taylor, 2001:12). The Egyptians viewed life on earth as one stage and death as the beginning of another. They believed that, “human existence did not end with death and that survival of the body played a part in the new life” (Taylor, 2001:12). One of the key elements in the Egyptian culture and religion was the preservation of the body. The body was the most important aspect because it was like a portal through which an individual could continue to live

Furthermore, the Egyptians were polytheistic meaning that they believed in many gods. They also believed in the afterlife. The Egyptians believed that if they mummified their dead and buried the dead’s riches with them, then they would be well off in the afterlife.

Egyptians lived millions of years ago in Egypt which is in Africa. They were people that believed in many gods which is called polytheism. They believed in many gods because it was very important to go to the afterlife. The afterlife was important because they did sacrifices and gave valuable possessions to prove that they were godly. Egyptians based their life on gods and where they would be in their afterlife.

The Egyptians had a very favorable view of afterlife than the Mesopotamians because they believe that the gods favored them and only let them into heaven, while the Mesopotamians felt that the gods found them unfavorable and therefore led them to an unfriendly afterlife. The Egyptians had very favorable environmental conditions. The gods gifted the them with great aspects of geography such as the predictable Nile River. Because of the favorable conditions, such as the predictable flooding of the Nile River, and the favorable life that the gods gave to the Egyptians, they viewed afterlife as favorable. In A Pyramid Text (2333 B.C.E.), the writer explains how Egyptian afterlife was a heaven that only the Egyptians were allowed into.

In this paper I will plan to discuss in detail the funerary procedures that were used in ancient Egypt. I will pay particular attention as to how the Idea of the afterlife influenced many of the traditions in ancient Egypt that we know think of today. In surveying their beliefs on the afterlife we will begin to get a better picture as to how these ideas affected almost all aspects of their ancient culture, and indeed had impacts on neighboring cultures. I will take a look at what aspects of their religious mythology lead them to these traditions and why its observation was so key to their society.

Ancient Egyptians believed that, you HAVE to take a test to get into the afterlife.

As far back as we know religious acts had been closely associated with nature and environment. Studies show that the Egyptians cherished the "gift of the Nile" and worshiped with each other as a thanks to the gods. Remaining faithful they thought would ensure to reflect a positive afterlife. They believed they would receive everlasting life in prosperity. Later we come to find this will change late in the New Kingdom. Religion in Egypt has lasted more than 3,000 years. The details of their religious belief changed over time as the importance of certain gods fluctuated their spot in history. At times certain gods became more prominent over others such as the sun god Ra, the creator god Amun, and the mother goddess Isis. There came a point in time where a pharaoh Akhenaten, a single god, the Aten had replaced the traditional pantheon. This allowed the system of Egyptians to unite more until the coming of Christianity. To gain more in depth of Egyptian religion I suggest to take a look at the Egyptian Book of the Dead. This is considered to be not only a spell book but also a practice manual. This book gives much insight to mummification and the afterlife they believed in so dearly. To have this book back in the day represented that you were doing well in the wealth subject of life (Acrobatiq,

According to the book of dead the ancient Egyptians individual after the death went on a journey in their afterlife, a spiritual journey as they are judged and passed through different gates according to the Gods. It’s not the same for everyone it is based on their righteousness and their sins against the Gods and the Goddesses, the righteous are taken ahead in the paradise and the ones who sin are punished by Gods and monsters on their way.

Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations to exist, originating back to about 8000 BCE, and it is currently the second most populated country in Africa. Almost all of those who live in Egypt live near the Nile River, due to the harsh environment within the Sahara Desert which was possibly once a thriving land of vegetation◊1. However, even though the Ancient Egyptians lived in such a limited amount of space, they had quite a lot of artistic creations.

1. The Egyptians were extremely religious, and their belief in life after death was an important part of their culture. They believed that, in order for the spirit to live on, the dead person's body had to be preserved, or mummified, and buried along with supplies of food and drink, tools and utensils,valued possessions--all the things the person had needed or enjoyed on earth. The higher the person's station in life, the more extensive the preparations for the afterlife. Kings and other weathly persons had elaborate tombs built. Sculptures and wall paintings in the tombs were also created for use in the next life.

The Egyptians belief about the afterlife is they embraced it. Ancient Egyptians were not afraid to die. Death was not considered an end to life. It was merely an interruption. They invested in their death, but their investment was not about death, it was about setting themselves up in the afterlife.

Some people mistakenly believe The Bible to be the world’s first ever sacred holy text that survived to this day. While so many religious texts from pagan religions have unfortunately been lost forever, we managed to preserve and restore some texts that pre-date The Bible and you can find some examples below.