Discover Ancient Egypt Afterlife Beliefs

In this article we give you all information you need about ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs.

For the ancient Egyptians Afterlife beliefs, religion was a very important part of life and society. Their religion consisted of their polytheistic beliefs and rituals (belief in more than one god). Death and the afterlife were also very important events in ancient Egyptian civilization.

Great efforts have been made to ensure that the dead have a comfortable afterlife. Over the years, different beliefs and rituals have been followed and hence today there is a wide and diverse knowledge about them.

 

The Egyptians believed that death was merely a temporary interruption of life

 

For the ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs, life continued even after death in the “afterlife” For them, death was merely a temporary interruption or cessation of life. To ensure that the dead had a comfortable afterlife, different funerary practices, procedures and rituals were carried out, such as mummification and veneration of deities. Only the wealthy could afford elaborate funerals and lavish cemeteries.

The Egyptians preserved the body so that the dead could use it in the afterlife

The Egyptians preserved the bodies of the dead for use in the afterlife. They believed that this was the only way to get to the afterlife. Therefore, mummification was a vital process in ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs as funerals.

During early times, bodies were simply buried in the desert and its barren conditions naturally mummified the bodies. When artificial mummification came into use, only the rich could afford the best process, and the poor were forced to bury their dead in desert cemeteries. The best method of mummification took about seventy days.

During Mummification , Protective Amulets Were Used in Ancient Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs.

 

The Egyptians buried various artifacts such as furniture, food, clothing, and other daily utensils next to the body of the deceased. These were intended for the dead to be used in the afterlife. Besides these items, the ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs also used protective amulets, funerary texts, and magic spells on the tombs of the dead, as they were believed to provide the soul with protection and assistance in the afterlife.

When a body is wrapped in linen during the mummification process, protective amulets are placed between the layers. The priests wrote special symbols on these amulets, depending on where they were placed on the body.

The mask of the dead gave strength to the mummy’s spirit.

The mask was a special item in ancient Egyptian funerals. And put it on the face of the dead person. The mask was thought to play several significant roles. One was to provide strength to the mummy’s soul and protect it from evil spirits during its journey to the afterlife.

In addition, the mask provides the deceased with a face so that the spirit can recognize his body in the afterlife. Complete your reading to know about ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs.

The hearts of the dead were weighed in the Hall of Two Truths.

In the ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs of the deceased, it was believed that the soul’s heart was weighed in the Hall of Two Truths. A feather from the headdress of the goddess Maat (known as Shu, the feather of truth and justice) was weighed over the heart of the soul.

If the heart were lighter than a feather, the soul would pass in peace. However, if the heart is heavier than the feather, it means that the heart of the soul is burdened with evil, and therefore the demon Ammu will devour the soul. The deceased had to travel a long journey before moving on to the afterlife.

Humans had ka (life force).

The ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs that a person’s Ka (life force) leaves his body upon death. They believed that even after death, the Ka needed nourishment from food and drink just as a person needed it while alive.

Therefore, the relatives of the dead would offer sacrifices for the dead to eat. Tombs of the dead also contain works of art made of food, which would magically transform into food for the deceased.

Humans Also Had Ba (Spirit).

According to ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs, ba was a person’s soul, or an individual’s unique spiritual trait. Preserving the body was important because it was believed that the ba would return to it every night to receive a new life.

Dead pharaohs were believed to dwell among the stars.

Ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and rituals come and go over time. Originally, the belief was that only the pharaoh had a bachelor’s degree and that commoners passed into the dark world (which was the opposite of life) when they died. In ancient times, Egyptians believed that when pharaohs died, they ascended to heaven and lived among the stars.

Images of tombs had a very deep meaning.

At first, bodies were simply buried in desert sand, but later, tombs were built to protect the dead. These tombs contained many valuable items such as wealth, texts, and pictures. These people today have helped discover a world that was long gone.

The texts consisted of incantations, the images consisted of the gods and the daily life of the Egyptians, and much more invaluable information. The tombs found today contain many images. These tomb images may seem like simple paintings, but they have a much deeper meaning.

Why prepare for death?

The ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs that when they died, their spiritual body would continue to exist in an afterlife much like their living world. However, entry into this afterlife was not ensured. The dead had to undergo a dangerous journey into the underworld and face final judgment before they were allowed to arrive.

If they succeeded, they were required to provide eternal sustenance for their souls. These things can be achieved if proper preparations are made during a person’s life.

Preparations

 

A variety of different preparations were required in ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs. These included:

Purchasing small funeral items

Funerary items for placement in the grave were purchased from specialist shops or temples although wealthier people would commission items such as furniture, coffins and expensive jewellery.

The elements can be divided into two categories:

Those for protection and guidance on the journey into the underworld and into the ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs, such as amulets, obelisks, and the Book of the Dead (or other funerary texts);

Those intended to provide basic sustenance, entertainment, and comfort for their eternal soul, such as food, clothing, and ashbti (small funerary figurines).

Shabtis: Workers of the afterlife

The dead were given a plot of land in the ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and were expected to maintain it, either by doing the work themselves or having the Shabtis work for them. Shabtis are small funerary figurines inscribed with a spell that miraculously brings them back to life, enabling the deceased person to relax while the shabtis carry out their bodily duties.

Shabtis have a long history as funerary topic for tombs. They first appeared in the Middle Kingdom around 2100 BC, replacing statues of servants that were common in Old Kingdom tombs. They were individually carved, designed to represent the owner and only one or two were placed in the tomb.

By about 1000 BC, the shabtis had become simplified in form, with the wealthy now having one shabtis for each day of the year and overseers to administer them.

This was mostly due to an ideological shift – they now represented servants rather than the dead person. The last shabtis was used in the late Ptolemaic period, as the outlook on death and the afterlife changed.

Amulets: the magic of charms

Many cultures and individuals, including some today, place great faith in symbolic jewelry such as amulets or talismans. However, the ancient Egyptians raised the Influence of jewelry to a higher level. They believed that amulets gave the wearer magical powers of protection and healing and also brought good luck.

From an early age, they wore a variety of these talismans around the neck, wrists, fingers, and ankles. Most were symbols associated with a god or goddess, so they placed the wearer under their own protection.

Protection and healing, especially in the context of resurrection, were particularly important in the afterlife, so amulets were placed on different parts of the body during the wrapping process. Although there are hundreds of amulets available for use, the final choice will depend on the person’s wealth and individual choice.

Many amulets were required to be placed in specific positions on the mummy, usually relating to a specific body part or position inside or outside the wrappings. Others had more flexibility in their situation. Priests performed rituals and recited prayers while wearing these amulets.

Anubis Figure – Replica E025847 Toggle Caption 

A small statue of Anubis, the jackal-headed god of the dead, in the form of a mummy. It is a historical replica and is made of wood and painted plaster. It is made in the ancient Egyptian style and is probably associated with the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC).

Complete your reading to know more about ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs 

Heart Scarabs

The heart scarab was one of ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs and the most widely used amulet. It was placed over the heart of the dead person to protect it from separation from the body in the underworld.

The heart, which contains a record of all of a person’s actions in life, was necessary for the “Heart Weighing Ceremony” where it was weighed against the feather of the goddess Maat. When the scale is level, the person will pass and enter the afterlife.

For those who were interested in this test, they could read the incantation engraved on their hearts’ scarabs to prevent their hearts from “betraying” them.

Commissioning or purchasing a coffin

Coffins were perhaps the most important piece of funerary equipment. For the ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs , they were “life chests” with all their aspects designed to protect the physical body in this world as well as the spiritual body in the ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs.

To achieve this, almost every surface was covered with prayers and incantations from funerary texts, important religious symbols, and scenes of different gods and goddesses associated with death, protection, and the underworld.

Although the texts, images, and even the form (early sarcophagi were rectangular; mummy-shaped sarcophagi appeared in the Middle Kingdom, around 1900 BC), changed over time as religious beliefs evolved, the overall purpose remained the same.

Coffin making was an important and often expensive industry. Artisans would make wooden or stone coffins for members of the royal family, and scribes and painters would then decorate them. The religious nature of the images and texts meant that these artists were usually connected with temple library workshops.

In earlier periods, only the wealthy could afford to purchase a coffin from a workshop. However, in later periods, their prices became more affordable as “mass production” became popular.

 Cheaper coffins can be purchased off the market and are designed with spaces for personal touches such as a name or surname.

Building the tombs

 

It was possible to spend many years building and equipping the tombs, which the ancient Egyptians knew as the “houses of immortality.” They were usually built on the west bank of the Nile, in the land of the dead, and were made of indestructible materials such as stone.

This is in contrast to the mud-brick and straw houses they inhabited during their lives. However, they were not just homes for the soul and body. The tomb itself, if properly built and designed, had the power to bring life and grant immortality to its deceased owner.

Properly preparing tombs was a common topic in Egyptian texts. Master builders and supervisors were instructed to perform rituals during construction and were given instructions on where to build, how to design, and also what materials to use. 

Conclusion

In ancient Egyptian culture, the afterlife was central to their beliefs, especially during the 1st millennium BCE. Egyptians believed in eternal life, where the soul would continue its existence after physical death.

The ancient Egyptian religion placed great emphasis on preserving the human body through mummification, as it was essential for the soul’s journey to the afterlife.

The deceased would face a series of trials, overseen by deities like Osiris and the sun god Ra, to determine their worthiness for eternal life.

High-ranking individuals, especially pharaohs and nobles, went to great lengths to ensure a favorable afterlife, with tombs and rituals filled with offerings.

The concept of death in ancient Egypt was not an end but a transition to a new existence, and tombs often included a “table of contents” of items needed for the journey, including food, amulets, and texts like the Book of the Dead, to guide the soul through the underworld.

FAQ about Ancient Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs 

Did ancient Egyptians believe in Christianity?

Ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs in religion and mythology left behind many writings and monuments, along with significant influences on ancient and modern cultures. The religion declined after the Roman conquest of Egypt in 30 BC and the Egyptians began converting to Christianity.

What religious belief did the Egyptians believe in after they died?

The ancient Egyptians afterlife beliefs that when they died, their spiritual body would continue to exist in an afterlife much like their living world.

Who is the Egyptian god of the afterlife?

Osiris was the god and chief judge of the underworld. He was also the god of vegetation and the annual Nile flood, and was closely associated with death, resurrection, and fertility.

Finally we wish to give you all the information you need about ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs.