A Look Into Egyptian Religion

By far, the ancient Egyptian culture represents onehad a wolf's head. Some gods were identified with
of the least understood and most interesting facetsmultiple animals, as well, such as Thoth, who was
of beliefs throughout human history. In this article,associated with the ibis, the baboon, and the moon.
we'll give you a basic idea of what modern day manThe creationist beliefs of the Egyptians varied from
knows about what the ancient Egyptians put theirtribe to tribe. Some felt that the god Khnum had built
faith in.Our understanding of Egyptian religion is farthe world on a potter's wheel, while others felt that
from complete. Many of the things that we knowthe existence of the universe was due to the spiritual
about their religion seem incomplete; we seem tothought of the god Ptah.Organized religion found its
have found alternate gods they've worshipped thatway into Egypt at around 3200 BC, when Egypt
served the same purposes, as well as conflictingbecame organized as a state. Many of the gods that
stories about what they believed about how thethe ruling class were in favor of received the most
world was formed. While our knowledge is somewhatacclaim throughout the land, with the god Amon
lacking, we'll focus on what we do know.Manyreceiving much more acclaim than he had previously.
researchers feel that one of the most basic forms ofThe Egyptian religious experience was unique in that
religious identity that the Egyptians performed wasover time, the ruling class had the power to directly
the worship of animals. The tribes of Egypt thatinfluence which gods received the most praise. As
existed pre-dynasty often worshipped differenttime changed, different gods came into the limelight.
animals as gods that represented their feelings ofAny way you put it, we still don't have a concrete
which animal was in most relation to their way of life.knowledge of the beliefs held by these ancient
Many of these gods were shown in pictures andpeoples. Hopefully, time and exploration can help us
writings to have an animal head on a human body,to clear up many of the difficult questions posed by
with an example being Ophois, the god of war, whoEgyptian religion.