Ritual and Worship in Ancient Egypt

Abstract

Abstract There was no set doctrine in Egyptian religion and no overall canonical tradition. The goals of worship in ancient Egypt were the preservation of the cosmic order and the perpetuation of life through rituals that combated the forces of non-existence. The gods were represented on earth by statues that “dwelled” in the deity’s temple. The deities were thought to have the same material requirements as humans, and an elaborate offering ritual provided for the feeding and comfort of the god. Offerings consisted primarily of food, beverages, perfumes, clothing, and jewelry. The king and his posthumous cult and deceased individuals were also the focus of offerings that were intended to perpetuate their memory among the living. Offering rituals were enacted in state-maintained temples, private tombs, and also in more informal settings, such as shrines and houses. Festivals of the gods dotted the calendar. During many of these, the statue of the deity left the confines of the temple and processed through the community, affording the opportunity for people to present oracular questions to the god. Although the king was the chief officiant to the gods, in certain periods, private individuals also had direct contact with them. In the mortuary cult, the king too played a major role, initially as the source of funerary offerings to the deceased, and later as a partner with the gods in providing for the afterlife. The priesthood was very hierarchical, with men and women being classified (by titles) into specific types of priests and priestesses.