The role of religion in the major celebrations in their lives such as births, weddings, reaching adulthood, death.
Birth - Childbirth was considered a blessing in Ancient Egypt. To assist the actual child birth they believed that the gods would cast spells on the woman. For example Horus (god of war and sky god) would say a spell that would be placed onto the woman. "I am Horus who conjures in order that she who is giving birth becomes better than she was, as if she was already delivered. Look, Hathor will lay her hand on her with an amulet of health! I am Horus who saves her!" This would be repeated 4 times over a dwarf of clay. When a King child was born they believed that the newborn would run into the present Kings arms for example Isis and Isis would gain strength and the baby's umbilical chord would be cut free. This comes from the medical papyri written by the Ancient Egyptians it holds all the medicinal knowledge that they had, it largely consisted off spells and herbs in which to attempt to cure disease. This shows that having a child was highly respected and admired and the children were treated with the upmost respect.
Death - Egyptians believed that death was a entrance to a better life after their current one. They thought that everyone had three souls "ka" "ba" "akh". Egyptians believe that you have reborn after death and this influences the funeral. After the death Priests would say some final prayers as a final at to revive the person. The body was then washed in a special shelter called an ibu. The body was then transported to a wabet which was an embalmers workshop. In the workshop all the organs of the body were removed and stored in canopic jars. The body was filled with natron and left for a period of 40 days. After, the insides were filled with sawdust or other materials. The body was then wrapped in bandages with jewellery and amulets between layers. The Chief Embalmer who wore a jacker mask to represent Anubis and then the body was placed in a coffin. The coffin was decorated with furniture, carved statues, games and food, to prep them for the life to come. The priest gave the final prayer on the mummy called "The Opening of The Mouth" This is when the priest gave the power to the mummy to have full use of his body and the ability to speak and eat.
Image above shows a woman giving birth assisted by two goddesses.
source: http://www.arabworldbooks.com/articles8b.htm
Image below shows Anubis - Egyptian god of the dead, preparing for mummification
source: http://uweb.cas.usf.edu/~dslone/Pathfinders/giordano.html
Death - Egyptians believed that death was a entrance to a better life after their current one. They thought that everyone had three souls "ka" "ba" "akh". Egyptians believe that you have reborn after death and this influences the funeral. After the death Priests would say some final prayers as a final at to revive the person. The body was then washed in a special shelter called an ibu. The body was then transported to a wabet which was an embalmers workshop. In the workshop all the organs of the body were removed and stored in canopic jars. The body was filled with natron and left for a period of 40 days. After, the insides were filled with sawdust or other materials. The body was then wrapped in bandages with jewellery and amulets between layers. The Chief Embalmer who wore a jacker mask to represent Anubis and then the body was placed in a coffin. The coffin was decorated with furniture, carved statues, games and food, to prep them for the life to come. The priest gave the final prayer on the mummy called "The Opening of The Mouth" This is when the priest gave the power to the mummy to have full use of his body and the ability to speak and eat.
Image above shows a woman giving birth assisted by two goddesses.
source: http://www.arabworldbooks.com/articles8b.htm
Image below shows Anubis - Egyptian god of the dead, preparing for mummification
source: http://uweb.cas.usf.edu/~dslone/Pathfinders/giordano.html