Course details
Tutors
Aims
This course aims to:
- show how this ancient religion, that at first appears to be impossibly alien and complex, can be understandable and very appealing
- present the ancient Egyptians as real people, living in a society that functioned so well that it lasted thousands of years — much of that success due to the religious structure
- counter the vast amount of misinformation in the media, which presents ancient Egypt as having 'mysteries' that have to be solved (if you spend your money on some book or join a special tour!)
Course content
Ancient Egypt had a benign climate and environment: the regular flooding of the Nile River fertilising the fields, the constant sunshine, the natural barriers to invasion. Most people's lives were, usually, comfortable and safe. But they were conscious of how bad things could be if anything changed, so much of their religion was based on keeping everything the same. At the centre of society, Pharaoh was both ruler and the highest of all the priests, connecting the people to the gods to ensure that stability.
We will consider first how we can study ancient Egyptian religion and find a system in what at first looks so complicated. Then we will begin at the beginning — with the Egyptians' ideas about how the world was created. You will learn about several creation stories and creator gods, because each area of the country had its own myths. Then, we will look at sun gods — yes, there were many sun gods — and how pharaoh was their representative on earth, actually a god himself! And, in contrast, down in the underworld, you will discover what was essential for an ancient Egyptian person to get safely to the afterlife and what deities s/he would meet there.
Next we will talk about the magnificent temples — the 'Mansions of the Gods' as they were called — who ran them, and all that went on there from day to day and year to year. Temples were not just religious buildings though: they fulfilled functions that we would associate with national and local administration, social, medical and arts centres, even craft workshops and banks. They were probably the greatest employers in the country, served by priests and priestesses of all ranks; most of us would have had some part-time job connected with a temple, in addition to our 'everyday' jobs! If our religious needs were not met by state religion, however, we could turn to ancestors and personal gods, and enjoy the many festivals that punctuated the year, and sometimes foreign religions or religious experiments presented new ideas or challenges.
What to expect on this course
Lectures, based on my experience and interests, will be heavily illustrated, with many of my favourite examples of ancient Egyptian art. The content is quite concentrated, but each session will allow for plenty of time for questions and discussion, and presentations are provided in advance. I also provide a detailed chronology.
Course sessions
Creation, the sun and kingship: Introduction to looking at ancient Egyptian religion; the creation myths; sun gods and the role of pharaoh as 'lesser amongst equals' with the gods.
The afterlife and the underworld: What afterlives did people believe in, and what had to be done to get to which afterlife; who would we meet in these afterlives?
Temples: Temple layouts, from the great state temples to small shrines; what we would find inside and what rituals were performed.
The priesthood: From pharaoh to the high priests, to the ordinary people working in the temples; the social and economic value of temple employment and connection.
- Variations and experiments: Foreign deities; the Amarna Period, an experiment in a new way of worship.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- understand the ways in which it is possible to approach and systematise the vast pantheon of ancient Egypt
- know the types and functions of ancient Egyptian temples and their wide roles
- appreciate the ways in which the sacred calendar and state religion, and personal forms of spiritual expression, linked with other aspects of society (including economics and politics) to support the state
Required reading
Wilkinson, R, The complete gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt (Thames & Hudson 2003) Chapters 1- 4
- Not just gods, but explanations of how Ancient Egyptian religion worked and its main themes.
Wilkinson, R, The complete temples of ancient Egypt (Thames & Hudson 2000) Chapters 2- 4
- Again, not just a gazetteer but an analysis of how the temple functioned (though less on non-religious aspects).
The content of the required chapters will be fully covered in class, so you need only read through once or twice to familiarise yourself with the general concepts and then, if you wish, browse aspects you are especially interested in.