Egyptian Mythology
Egyptian Mythology
Since the beginning of time Egypt has been known as the country of two lands: the desert like Upper Egypt, or the Red Land, and Lower Egypt, or the Black Land. The Black Land is where the soil is fertile and it is where 99 percent of the Egyptian population today resides. The significance of this duality is more than a geographical and demographic fact; it is a basic element of the ancient Egyptians’ culture since the beginning of time and also important in the expression of their religion and myths (Mackenzie, 1913). Egyptian mythology is the collection of myths from ancient Egypt, which describe the actions of the Egyptian gods as a means of understanding the world (Allen & Saunders, 2013). Mythology profoundly influenced Egyptian culture. It inspired or influenced many religious rituals and provided the ideological basis for kingship. Myths appear frequently in Egyptian writings and art, particularly in short stories and in religious material such as hymns, ritual texts, funerary texts, and temple decoration. In literature, myths or elements of them were used in stories that range from humor to allegory, demonstrating that the Egyptians adapted mythology to serve a wide variety of purposes. Michael Crichton once said, “If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.” This is why I believe learning about the early history of ancient Egypt will aid me in my understanding of their myths and culture. Therefore after exploring the Egyptian history and culture, the sun god along with its myth will be discussed and analyzed.
Ancient Egyptian culture, myth, and religion can be characterized as a duality with “rhythmic structures contained within a static unity” (Long, 2000). Unlike Mesopotamia, an ancient region in the eastern Mediterranean, ancient Egypt as a civilization did not develop several powerful city-states along two rivers. Egypt had one river that was the most significant,
Since the beginning of time Egypt has been known as the country of two lands: the desert like Upper Egypt, or the Red Land, and Lower Egypt, or the Black Land. The Black Land is where the soil is fertile and it is where 99 percent of the Egyptian population today resides. The significance of this duality is more than a geographical and demographic fact; it is a basic element of the ancient Egyptians’ culture since the beginning of time and also important in the expression of their religion and myths (Mackenzie, 1913). Egyptian mythology is the collection of myths from ancient Egypt, which describe the actions of the Egyptian gods as a means of understanding the world (Allen & Saunders, 2013). Mythology profoundly influenced Egyptian culture. It inspired or influenced many religious rituals and provided the ideological basis for kingship. Myths appear frequently in Egyptian writings and art, particularly in short stories and in religious material such as hymns, ritual texts, funerary texts, and temple decoration. In literature, myths or elements of them were used in stories that range from humor to allegory, demonstrating that the Egyptians adapted mythology to serve a wide variety of purposes. Michael Crichton once said, “If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.” This is why I believe learning about the early history of ancient Egypt will aid me in my understanding of their myths and culture. Therefore after exploring the Egyptian history and culture, the sun god along with its myth will be discussed and analyzed.
Ancient Egyptian culture, myth, and religion can be characterized as a duality with “rhythmic structures contained within a static unity” (Long, 2000). Unlike Mesopotamia, an ancient region in the eastern Mediterranean, ancient Egypt as a civilization did not develop several powerful city-states along two rivers. Egypt had one river that was the most significant,