Historical background of ancient Egypt
The Nile Valley is called Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta is called Lower Egypt. The Nile floods farmland buildings and ditches every year, so it is necessary to rebuild water conservancy and measure land every year. So Egypt developed political organizations very early.
Egypt is located in the north of Africa and the east of the Sahara Desert. Like many ancient civilizations, Egyptian civilization was bred by a big river-the Nile. The Nile valley is called Upper Egypt. The Nile Delta is called Lower Egypt. In the valley, you can see cliffs, and the desert is further away. The delta is flat and boundless. Due to different natural environments, upper Egypt and lower Egypt formed different cultures and beliefs. Therefore, since ancient times, Egyptians and neighboring nationalities have called Egypt "two places". The Nile is the main link between the two places and the lifeblood of maintaining the integrity of Egyptian civilization.
The concept of afterlife in ancient Egyptian culture
The ancient Egyptians' belief in the afterlife and related burial customs appeared at the Bada site in upper Egypt at least 6000 years ago. Its mythological structure and etiquette gradually developed in the ancient kingdom, and it didn't change much until _ _ was introduced into Egypt.
For the ancient Egyptians, death was only the interruption of life, not the end. People will not disappear after death, but will enter another eternal life better than this life, at least for the elite.
The ancient Egyptians believed that man had two souls. Cards are formed at the same time as people are born. After death, "Ka" went to another world, and "La" and his body stayed in this world. When a person dies, he "pulls" out of his body, so that he can't speak or act. After being buried in the body, Ba left the grave during the day and returned to the body at night to get up and enjoy the food buried with him. Therefore, it is very important to preserve the funerary objects and flesh. If Ba starved to death or his body rotted, Ka could not survive in another world. After people get eternal life, "Ka" and "Ba" combine with the flesh to become an immortal life form, which is called "Aka".
In ancient Egyptian belief, if a person wants to live forever after death, his behavior before his death must conform to the norms of "market" (meaning justice and order). The soul of the deceased will be brought to the goddess Matt by Anubis, the wolf mummy god. The heart of the deceased is placed on one side of the scale, and the feather symbolizing Matt is placed on the other side. If the deceased does too much evil, his heart will sink too heavily, and he will be eaten by the monster Amter (head is crocodile, upper body is lion, lower body is hippo), and the deceased will never be able to survive. Small sins must be repented one by one in order to be forgiven. The result of the trial was recorded by the god of wisdom, Toth, who became an egret or a baboon. After passing this test, the dead souls worship Osiris, the god of resurrection, under the guidance of Horus or Anubis, and Osiris gives them eternal life and becomes "Akka".
Anubis belief may have developed from the worship of wolves in the previous dynasty. Worship of wolves may be related to the fact that people often see corpses dragged out by wolves in cemeteries, hoping to turn them into protectors of corpses through worship of wolves. Anubis is not only the protector of the dead, but also the guide for the dead to worship Osiris. Anubis sometimes appears as a wolf's head, and sometimes directly as a wolf.
Osiris developed into a national god in charge of resurrection in the sixth dynasty of the ancient kingdom. According to legend, he is a descendant of the sun god La, and also inherited the dominant position of La. This caused his brother Seth's dissatisfaction, so he framed Osiris, suffocated him in a box and threw it into the river. Osiris's wife (and his sister) ISIS revived Osiris with her magic. Seth hurt Osiris again, chopped him into pieces, threw him into the river and rushed to all parts of Egypt. With the help of her sister Nefertis (also Seth's wife), Ai Xisi restored all the bodies one by one and pieced them together into a complete body, which was bandaged by the wolf god Anubis and became the first mummy in Egypt. After the death of Osiris, he became the god who dominated Hades and held the power of resurrection.
Through Osiris's body, ISIS mysteriously became pregnant and gave birth to Horus, the eagle god. In order to avoid Seth, ISIS and Nefertis hid in the swamp of the delta and raised Horus. Under the protection of Isis' magic, Horus has been able to resist snakes, scorpions and wild animals since childhood. In ancient Egyptian mythology, the dead will face all kinds of monsters when they worship Osiris, and they must rely on the protection of Isis, Nefertis and Horus.
In fact, the myth of Horus appeared earlier than that of Osiris. In ancient times, it represented the god of justice and confronted Seth, who represented the turmoil. Horus is also the patron saint of Pharaoh. Horus became the son of Osiris in myth only after Osiris's belief was popularized.
Closely related to the above myths is the extremely important funeral culture in ancient Egyptian culture. In order to achieve the goal of eternal life, the ancient Egyptians had a set of very special procedures and funeral etiquette for preserving corpses.
believe
The basis of religious belief in ancient Egypt was the worship of nature. Unexplained natural phenomena are thought to be caused by God. God's power is manifested in various forms. Man is only a part of creation, and both wild and domesticated animals may be the embodiment of divinity. Even if these animal gods are humanized and appear in human form, their heads are often the original animal shape.
Buster is a goddess, appearing in the form of a cat or a lion (when showing a fierce side). Cats are widely loved and are pets of every household. After the cat died, it was also mummified and buried according to the ceremony. The bronze statue of the cat is the most common sacrifice to Baxter.
A bronze statue of Buster, the cat god
This cat-shaped statue, sitting upright, represents the goddess Buster. On the chest, there is a wide necklace with a winged beetle and a sun plate symbolizing the sun. Except for some unearthed cultural relics and prehistoric funerary objects, cats appeared in the pictures until the middle of Wang Guocai. In the middle of the third period, the cat became the incarnation of the goddess Baxter, and the female body with cat head replaced the lion-headed goddess who had previously represented the goddess Baxter. From a large number of unearthed bronze statues and numerous cat cemeteries, it can be seen that the Egyptians worshiped Baxter's cat god at that time.
Eagle has a special position in ancient Egyptian culture. The eagle flies high in the sky and is closer to the sun than anyone else, so it becomes the embodiment of the sun god thunder. In ancient Egypt, the sun with eagle wings became the most common symbol. Needless to say, eagles are often mummified and buried with dignity.
Bronze statue of Horus
Anubis, the god of mummies, believes in wolves. Later, the dog was also accepted as the incarnation of Anubis. The dog mummy became the sacrifice of Anubis.
Bull worship is also very popular, the most famous of which is the Apis sacred cow in Memphis. Abyss sacred cow has a special pattern, which is the symbol of Puta. When the original Abbiss sacred cow dies, a calf with the same design as that born at that time will be selected as the Abbiss sacred cow. The inauguration and funeral of the new sacred cow is a national activity.
Life in ancient Egypt
In the late Neolithic period, settlements of considerable scale were established in the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta respectively. They grow wheat and barley, raise cattle, fish, catch wild geese for a living, weave linen, build houses with mud bricks, and make exquisite pottery and stone tools.
They grow wheat and barley, herd cattle, fish, catch wild geese for a living, weave linen and build houses with mud bricks. Like other Neolithic cultures, pottery is quite common. At that time, craftsmen were already a profession, able to make exquisite stone tools and ivory crafts, and had begun to use brass.
Most people living on the banks of the Nile are farmers. They live on barley, wheat and other grains, and also eat poultry and beef. At the same time, people will go out and hunt all kinds of fish in the Nile. Women can make beer, sugar and bread and knit them together. Egyptians have long known the technology of textile and dyeing.
Ancient Egyptians fished and hunted animals. On the left, they are hunting cattle and sheep, while on the right, they are smart and know how to fish with nets.
Ancient Egyptian craftsmen crowded into a small bronze workshop to make jewelry.
Funeral procession
Women hold the lotus in their hands and put it in front of their noses to appreciate its fragrance.
Lotus is a symbol of the sun god. In ancient Egyptian art, it is common to see ladies holding lotus flowers.
This is a princess combing her hair (carved from the sarcophagus of bird Kuyt)
The princess held a mirror in her left hand to see the hairstyle combed by the waitress, and her right hand was drinking a drink.
This relief shows archers, with good quality and exquisite shape. The part of the ear is presented in the form of deep relief, while the feathers on the bowstring and arrow are presented in fine techniques. (about 26 13~2496 BC)
Clothing of ancient Egyptians
Flax is the main material of clothes. Men wear skirts, topless, or short-sleeved T-shirts or robes. The most typical dress is sleeveless dress.
The murals and funerary objects in the tomb only reflect the life of the elite in ancient Egypt and their yearning for the afterlife. We must remember this. Officials patrol the manor in elegant white linen shirts and wands, which may be a portrayal of real life, but carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths and masons all wear white shirts and wigs, apparently to show the wealth of the deceased.
The most typical dress is sleeveless dress. During the New Kingdom period, the traditional simple style was gradually replaced by more gorgeous dress suits, and decorated with discounted lace, which reflected the wealth and luxury at that time. Although dyeing technology is almost as old as weaving and can be traced back to the pre-dynasty period, dyed clothes are only worn by foreigners, kings, royalty and gods.
Whether most people wear shoes or not, there is no answer yet. It seems that only rich people can afford sandals.
Portrait and relief
Relief and painting in ancient Egypt present a unique perspective. The head and body are sideways, but the shoulders are in front. The ratio of men to women shows unequal status.
Relief and painting in ancient Egypt present a unique perspective. The head and body are sideways, but the shoulders are in front. The shapes of the characters are quite consistent. Most men have broad shoulders to show their masculinity. The upright statue of a man usually has one foot in front and one foot behind, which symbolizes vitality.
Coffin room
In the belief of ancient Egyptians, the tomb was the gate from this life to the afterlife. Graves are places of sacrifice, and the living provide wine and food for the dead. The fake door in the tomb is to let the deceased "get out" and enjoy the offerings. When family members worship, they will shout, "When you hear my voice, please come out and enjoy bread and beer. 」。
The owner of the tomb sits in front of an altar full of bread, which is the most common tomb carving image. This theme can be traced back to at least the second dynasty (about 4700 years ago). Sacrifices on the table also include cows' heads, geese, ox legs, and various vegetables and lotus flowers. In this way, the owner of the tomb will not be thirsty and hungry in the afterlife, nor will he lack supplies.
In the ancient kingdom, the tomb was usually divided into two layers. The altar on the upper floor is a place for offering sacrifices and sacrifices, and the lower floor is a place for placing coffins, usually carved into rocks. The memorial hall is decorated with pictures and words describing the life of the deceased. The list of sacrifices lists the important items needed in the afterlife. Rows of servants carry bread, fruit, pillows, linen and wooden boxes.
The sacrificial plate in front of the fake door is used to hold offerings. Sacrificial plates are decorated with reliefs, usually with prayers, or the name and position of the owner of the grave. The decoration of the sacrificial hall, fake doors and sacrificial plates is to let the deceased have all the supplies for the afterlife, because the sacrifice of family members will be interrupted sooner or later. The scriptures used for funerals, although slightly different in each tomb, also serve the same purpose: "The royal sacrifice is dedicated to Anubis, the head of the funeral department. May he (the deceased) be buried in the western desert in front of the Great God (Osiris) as a glorious prince after enjoying a long life. 」
Inner and outer coffins
The coffin is not only to protect the mummy, it is the epitome of the grave, and it can also be the body of the deceased, body double.
Coffins were also a very important part of funerals in ancient Egypt. The coffin not only protects the integrity of the mummy, but also protects the soul of the deceased. Have a safe trip to Reese, Auselli.
During the pre-dynasty (about 5000 years ago), Egyptians dug shallow pits in the desert and buried their relatives. At that time, there was no coffin, so it was buried directly on its side. At the end of the pre-dynasty, tombs with mud bricks as walls and wooden pillars as tops appeared, with straw mats and wicker baskets to protect the bodies, and occasionally simple wooden coffins and pottery coffins. In the early dynasty, coffins gradually became common. At that time, coffins were short and were all buried in an arc.
In the period of entering the ancient kingdom, the way of straight coffin burial became more and more common. Rectangular wooden coffins were very common in the upper class from the first day of the ancient kingdom to the end of the middle kingdom. One side of the coffin is painted with eyes, so that the dead can see that the life-giving sun rises in the east every day. The coffin is engraved with the name and position of the deceased, and there are scriptures praying to Anubis and Osiris.
mother
During the pre-dynasty (about 5000 years ago), Egyptians dug shallow pits in the desert and buried their relatives. The hot and dry sand will quickly absorb the water of the corpse and form a natural mummy. This may be the origin of the belief that there is life after death in ancient Egypt. Later, the Egyptians began to build tombs, but they lost their natural drying effect. But according to their belief, the body must be preserved, so they began to look for ways to preserve the body.
Why keep the body? The ancient Egyptians believed that every life consists of three parts: body, pull and card. The body is material, and the meaning of "pull" is very close to "personality" and is immaterial. Body and "pull" are unique to everyone. "Card" can be interpreted as "vitality", which is owned by everyone. As soon as a person is born, the card enters the body. When you die, "Ka" and "La" leave the human body. "Card" enters another world, and "Pull" stays around the body. When "Ka" and "Ba" reunite with the physical body in the afterlife, the deceased will be resurrected and get "eternal life". In the history of ancient Egypt for thousands of years, all funeral ceremonies and supplies were for this purpose.
After continuous improvement, mummification technology has matured in the new kingdom. The most advanced approach is roughly like this. Take the brain out of the nasal cavity with a metal hook, and then pour rosin oil into the brain cavity. Then cut the abdomen with an obsidian or flint blade, take out the internal organs such as lung, liver, stomach and intestine (the heart usually stays in the body, but sometimes it is taken out for treatment), wash the body cavity with palm wine, and fill it with linen, ground spices and sodium carbonate powder. Finally, the whole body is covered with sodium carbonate powder. The internal organs were also dried with sodium carbonate powder. This process takes about forty days.
After the body is dried, the filling material in the body is taken out (finally buried together), the body cavity is smeared with turpentine, and filled with clean linen and sawdust. If the heart is removed, put it back in the chest at this time. The body surface is coated with turpentine and wrapped in linen. Amulets are usually placed in certain parts of the body. Since the Middle Kingdom, mummies have been put on masks (linen or papyrus as embryos, plastered and colored) to prevent people from mistaking others when they are "pulled" back. This stage takes about thirty days.
Internal organs rot before the body, so they need special treatment. From the early days of the Middle Kingdom, the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines were dried and put in four jars. At the same time, these four jars were marked as protected by four sons of Horus. In the first 19 dynasty of the new kingdom, the shapes of the four pot covers became the heads representing Horus's four sons: baboon head, eagle head and wolf head. From the third interval, the liver, lung, stomach and intestine are often put back into the abdominal cavity or between the legs after drying. Four pots are still in the coffin, but they are only of ceremonial significance.
About before 1000 BC, mummies were covered with a shell.
About before 1000 BC, mummies were protected by a shell before being put into coffins. The mummy's shell is made of linen or papyrus and coated with clay. The back is open, put the mummy in before sewing, and there are wooden floors under the feet. The shells of these mummies are painted with gorgeous religious stories, and some of them are covered with gold foil.
Body symbol
For the ancient Egyptians, amulets made of glazed rusty pottery or semi-precious stones can produce magic to eliminate all dangers, whether in life or in the past; People tell themselves that as long as they wear amulets, they can have health, get worse diseases, get God's blessing and stay away from pain and environmental dangers. Even after death, the amulet will accompany the deceased to the underworld. The only thing that can explain the shape and use of amulets is ancient Egyptian scriptures.
The sacred scarab (dung scarab) is a common form of accessory, seal or amulet, because it is the incarnation of the sun god. Scarabs at funerals often combine eagle wings. There is also a "heart scarab", which is the key to eternal life. In the final judgment, put the heart on one side of the balance and test it with "Matt". Many people worry that they can't pass this level, so they replace their hearts with stone scarabs and put them in mummies.
Since resurrection is closely related to the myths of Osiris, Aeschylus and Horus, their families are the most common theme of amulets. For example, the origin of jade beads can be traced back to the pre-dynasty (more than 5,000 years ago), but after the popularity of Osiris belief, its symbolic meaning evolved into Osiris spine.
The most commonly used material for amulets, usually called glazed pottery, is a tire made of fine sand and alkaline glass glaze. The usual color is blue or green, which is the color of the sky and plants, symbolizing life.
Valuable amulets are made of precious stones or semi-precious stones. The most precious amulet is made of gold. Gold is the symbol of the creator sun God. The durability of gold makes it regarded as the flesh of God. The golden amulet can protect the immortality of the body. Ancient people in China believed that jade could protect the body from harm. The golden finger covers, bamboo slips and eye protectors on display here are reminiscent of the ancient gold and jade clothes in China.