Ancient Egyptian Religion

Ancient Egypt is renowned for its complex and intriguing religion. There were hundreds of weird and wonderful gods and goddesses some combining human and animal forms.

Egyptian religion evolved over time with different gods or groups of gods coming to the fore at different times. There could also be a local focus on a particular god.

Temples and Kings

We know a comparatively large amount about Egypt's official religion, as practised by the king and temples. The temples were a key part of the administration of the country. At the centre of the temples was the cult statue of the god which was tended to and worshipped by a staff of priests.

The temples were typically closed to most ordinary people although they could join in special feast days or processions. We do know something about private worship through the decoration of homes.

Amun-Re and Osiris

Tutankhamun reigned during the New Kingdom. Thebes (modern day Luxor) was the religious capital of the country and home to the famous Karnak and Luxor Temples. The supreme god here was Amun-Re, whilst Osiris ruled in the Underworld and was associated with death and the afterlife. Tutankhamun reigned after a period of religious upheaval known as the Armana Period and was responsible for reinstating Thebes and its temples to their former glory.

The Afterlife

The decoration and objects in Tutankhamun's tomb feature a wide variety of divine figures. The walls of the burial chamber were decorated with scenes showing the funeral procession and rituals, the gods Hathor, Anubis and Isis welcoming the king into the Underworld, and a scene from the Amduat (a sort of roadmap of the Underworld). 

The Egyptians believed that by mummifying the dead person they could ensure their continued existence in the afterlife. Read more about mummification