Egyptian CultureChapter 2Section 2

Obelisk Mummification Hieroglyphics Papyrus Rosetta Stone

Key Terms

Worshiped many Few central

◦ Osiris- king and judge of the dead

◦ Isis-nature and protector of women

◦ Horus-god of the sky, pharaohs thought to be human form

◦ Anubis-judge of and protector of cemeteries

Gods and Godesses

Re- god of the sun, father of pharaohs

Anubis weighed the souls of the dead◦ Light soul, good life◦ Heavy soul fed to

terrible monster

Built temples to honor the gods

Obelisks- tall thin pillars with pyramid shaped tops (single stone)

Priests performed rituals

Caring for gods left to the priests

Temples and Religious Pratices

Belief in afterlife Elaborate rituals

for death Ka-individuals

personality Thought Ka would

shrivel if body decomposed

Mummification and Burial

Prevent breakdown of dead body

Only kings and royal family

Remove internal organs

Brain through nose Heart left in body Organs placed in

jars

Mummification and Burial

Buried with all their possessions

Food and drink Pharaohs had

treasures and riches

Statues for servants

Burial

Images on tomb walls

Items buried Clothing cosmetics Furniture tools

Daily Life

Highly stratified Pharaoh and royal

family Government

officials Priests Scribe Military leaders Were the

wealthiest

Social Structure

90% peasants farmers Recruited to build

large projects Slaves

◦ Not large part of population

Less rigid Gain status as a

scribe Ability to read and

write

Social Structure

Varied by class Pharaohs married

their sisters Royalty had more

than one wife Lived as family

units Poor tiny hut Wealthy brick

home, few rooms

Home and Family Life

Women take care of children

Women had rights Could be priestess Inherit property Divorce husbands Girls learned how

to raise children Boys learned

trades

Women and Children

Shaved heads and wore wigs

Wore perfume and makeup

Clothing linen and wool

Men wore long skirts Gold jewelry Sports, boating,

hunting

Appearance and Customs

Very distinctive◦ Detailed and colorful◦ Illustration of stories◦ Found on walls of

tombs Torsos are straight

on Head, arms legs

from side Gods and pharaohs

drawn much larger

Egyptian Art

Recorded all kinds of events

Hieroglyphics-uses pictures from symbols to represent sounds, objects

Hieratic- for fast writing religious

Papyrus- made from reeds still around

Egyptian Writing

Rosetta Stone Same text written

in three scripts◦ Hieroglyphics◦ Demotic◦ Ancient Greek◦ Using Greek text

figured out meaning◦ Unlocked the

mystery of Egypt

Egyptian Writing

Used it to improve their lives

Add, subtract, multiply, divide

Geometry Medicine

◦ Human anatomy◦ Surgical procedures◦ Used medicine from

plants

Egyptian Math and Science