Egyptian Religion: Summary, Characteristics, Features, Gods And Rituals

We explain what the Egyptian religion was like, its characteristics and its main gods. Also, what was heka, magic and more.

Egyptian religion

The Egyptian religion consisted of a complex combination of beliefs, practices and rituals that encompassed spiritual, mythological, medicinal and magical issues. It lasted the three thousand years that the ancient Egyptian civilization existed , from 3150 BC. C. until 31 a. C. moment in which the Roman Empire overthrew it.

Religion played a key role in all aspects of life for the Egyptians, who believed in a supreme power and in life after death. Earthly existence was considered only part of an eternal journey and, to continue that eternity, it was necessary to lead a dignified life on Earth.

It was a polytheistic religion, that is, it worshiped several gods who had an inherited power called heka that consisted of magic and the divine force of the universe.

People had to maintain balance and universal harmony, which also allowed the gods to better perform their tasks. They created the concept of maat that encompassed a broad notion of universal justice , balance, and cosmic harmony .

The king or pharaoh represented the gods on Earth, he was considered the divine heir and his mandate lasted a lifetime.

Characteristics of the Egyptian religion

Among the main characteristics of the Egyptian religion, the following stand out:

• He was a polytheist , that is, he believed in various gods.
• He applied magic and rituals in all aspects of Egyptian life.
• He believed in life after earthly death .
• He made offerings and sacrifices on behalf of the gods.
• He carried out the mummification of the pharaohs to preserve his body and to reunite him with his soul on “the other side”.
• He considered the pharaohs and priests as intermediaries between gods and humans .

Gods of Egyptian religion

The Egyptian religion believed in several gods, among the main ones are:

• Osiris, god of the underworld. He was one of the main gods and the first king of Egypt, considered the creator of human civilization. Mythology tells that Osiris was killed by his brother Seth and resurrected by his wife Isis.
• Horus, god of the sky . He was considered the protector of kings. Son of Osiris and Isis, he was the one who killed the god Seth after he murdered his father, Osiris.
• Seth, god of chaos. He was the murderer of his brother, the god Osiris, to steal his throne. It turned out the deity of brute force, the irrepressible and the god of drought .
• Isis, mother or goddess of all gods. She was the queen of the goddesses considered a powerful magician. She managed to resurrect her husband, Osiris, and protect her son Horus.
• Ra, god of the sun . He was represented with the body of a man and the head of a hawk and, every night, he traveled to fight evil and chaos.
• Amun, god of the occult. He was the king of the gods who personified the occult and creative power. He merged with the sun god Ra and they formed a powerful deity of Egypt: Amun-Ra.
• Hapi, god of the fertile land. He was considered responsible for the annual floods of the Nile River that allowed the development of crops.
• Hathor, goddess of the celestial sky. She was the daughter of the Sun god, Ra, considered the personification of the sky that accompanied souls on their journey after death.
• Anubis, protector god of the dead. He was one of the oldest gods and was related to burial practices and caring for the dead.
• Thoth, god of wisdom. He was the representative of the sacred, creator of language and writing . Considered possessor of knowledge of magic and secrets, he was adviser of the other gods.

Heka in Egyptian religion

The Egyptian religion recognized a particular deity called Heka, considered the personification of magic and the divine force of the universe. Heka was the life force that allowed universal balance to be maintained. The gods, the priests and the pharaohs had Heka or magical power that was inherited from them.

The priests were considered powerful magicians and healers who knew how to handle the Heka and were the intermediaries between men and the gods. In addition, they were members of the Court of Justice, advised the pharaohs and interpreted their dreams. Pharaohs were also considered powerful beings with a force that permeated everything around them, even the objects they touched.

Magic was part of the life of the Egyptians from various fields , such as medicine, healing, divination and protective spells. Many people in the town were dedicated to clairvoyance and healing.

The concept of religion was much broader than the current conception of the term. Egypt was considered the balance and universal order consecrated by the gods. All the peoples that were outside its borders were considered enemies and destructive of that order, so they were cursed with harmful magic, as a punishment.

Egyptian magic in "the afterlife"

Magic and religious rites were part of earthly life and the journey of the soul after death , especially for beings who represented deities, such as the pharaohs.

Some rituals allowed the deceased to obtain all the power he desired while in "the afterlife . " For this reason, various books and other sacred texts that made up a compilation of spells and incantations, along with various valuables, amulets and other offerings, were deposited in the tombs of the pharaohs for their benefit on the journey after death.

The pyramids were imposing tombs built to worship the pharaoh, so that his soul would rest and have everything necessary after earthly death. Part of the cult of the dead was the practice of mummification that was carried out by the priests and that had the function of preserving the body so that it was reunited with its soul in "the afterlife".

The above content published at Collaborative Research Group is for informational and educational purposes only and has been developed by referring reliable sources and recommendations from technology experts. We do not have any contact with official entities nor do we intend to replace the information that they emit.

Kalum Talbot

MA student of the TransAtlantic Masters program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Political Science with a focus on European Studies. Expressed ideas are open to revision. He not only covers Technical articles but also has skills in the fields of SEO, graphics, web development and coding. .