How the Egyptians viewed the Afterlife

1. How the Egyptians viewed the Afterlife By: Oneisha Leonard , Tyler Sutton , & Kenyetta McCalop

2. Preparing Dead For Afterlife • Egyptians believed that afterlife would be just like life on earth • Buried dead with everything they would need for eternity • Egyptians perfected skills in mummification (preserving dead bodies by wrapping them in cloth) • They believed there was a heavenly place with a heavenly Nile river and they called it ‘ the land of Two Fields’

3. Preparing Dead For Afterlife • In the beginning pharaohs could board Ra’s magical boat and travel to the land but Osiris changed it. • The god Osiris is an important part because he opened up the door to afterlife for everyone. • Dying would not get you a place on Ra’s boat, to be on Ra’s boat your heart had to be light , otherwise known as spending a lifetime doing good deeds. • Crime became very low because of this because everyone wanted a spot on Ra’s boat and a place in the land of two fields.

4. Preparing Dead For Afterlife • 1st you had to pass the test of heart in the hall of Maat. That gave you a spot on Ra’s boat. • 2nd But you also had to have your name written down in a cartouche • ( cartouche – an oval circle with a name written in it , like a name plate) • In the early days , one was attached to each coffin because the ancient Egyptians believed that if you did not have your name written down anywhere , you would disappear when you die. • And 3rd you had to have a preserved body .

5. Tyler , Oneisha , KenyettaExamples:

6. Preparing Dead For Afterlife • The reason they had to have a preserved body is because they believed that everyone had a two souls. They called the souls Ba and Ka. • Bareturned to watch over the rest of the living family and Ka went to live in the land of the Two fields. At night , they both went to their tombs and waited for the next heavenly day. • If something happened to your preserved body or your name was not written down , Ba and Ka would be lost forever and you would disappear and not be able to find your afterlife. • Grave robbing played a big role because it didn't’t mean they stole someone’s wealth , they stole their chance to live happily ever after in the land of Two Fields.

7. Osiris and “the book of the dead” • Osiris was the god who changed how every got into the afterlife • The book of the dead basically clarifies the Egyptians beliefs and religion. • Life and death were considered stages of progress to better the nest world or where ever you would be after death. • In order to keep the soul alive they went through mummification.

8. The book of death considered certain animals to be very holy • Animals such as bulls, cats and crocodiles • They had about 2000 gods and goddesses • To win eternal life there was said to be a test you had to pass • In this test you were 1st carried across a lake of fire then to the hall of Osiris • 2nd: your heart would be weighed against the feather of truth. • The book of death contained spells, charms and formulas used in the afterlife

9. They relied on the book of the dead to survive to journey of the afterlife. • The book of the dead was written by a royal scribe named Ani. • The book was originally 78 feet long and divided into various chapters. • The book is a scared document that was studied by only the well-educated Egyptians.

10. The Pyramids • Because they believed in the afterlife, Egyptians would preserve bodies and provide them with what they would need in the next life. • Pyramids would take so long to build so pharaohs would start construction as soon as they took office.

11. Resources; • http://egypt.mrdonn.org/afterlife.html • http://egypt.mrdonn.org/cartouche.html • http://www.king-tut.org.uk/egyptian-mummies/egyptian-book-of-the-dead.htm