User:Ellisrikelle/sandbox

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 Rebirth: 

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General Overview  

''Ancient Egyptian Afterlife beliefs were centered around a variety of complex rituals, that were influenced by many aspects of Egyptian culture. Religion was a major contributor, since it was an important social practice that bound all Egyptians together.'' As a result, many of Egyptian afterlife texts found their origins in religion and  the Egyptian Gods themselves played the roles required of them to safely lead souls through the afterlife process. By placing value on such common traditions, many Egyptian afterlife practices were universally understood and transmitted throughout the kingdom.

The most basic ideologies Egyptians associated with the afterlife include the belief in an underworld, eternal life, and rebirth of the soul. The underworld, also known as the "Duat" had only one entrance that could be reached by traveling through the tomb of the deceased. The first thing a soul would see upon entering this realm was a corridor lined with an array of fascinating statues, including a variation of the famous hawk headed god, Horus. It must also be noted that the path taken to the underworld may have varied between kings and common people. After entry, spirits were presented to another prominent god, Osiris. Osiris would determine the virtue of the deceased’s soul and grant those deemed deserving a peaceful afterlife. The Egyptian concept of 'eternal life' was often seen as being reborn indefinitely. Therefore, the souls who had lived their life elegantly and were guided to Osiris to be born again. [1]

In order to achieve the ideal afterlife, many practices must be performed during and after one’s life has ended. Maintaining high religious morals and up-keeping a variety of traditions before passing guaranteed a smoother transition into the underworld. Likewise, after one was dead,it was the responsibility of the living to carry out final rituals required so the dead could promptly meet their final fate.

Journey to the Afterlife

Ancient Egyptians theorized the passage to the afterlife in a series of stages. The first phase was believed to encompass the vehicle of transportation, which would eventually direct their departed souls to immortality. However, individuals were subject to a multitude of passages; yet the choice of route was not theirs, but was dependent on their status. The aspect that was most universally influential in determining what passage was taken included one’s position among their leaders. Despite the differences between voyagers, beliefs concerning the afterlife are astronomically dependent on religious ideologies. For example, early people often used religion understand and comprehend, as well as relate to natural occurrences since science had not yet defined everyday incidents. To demonstrate, there was no justification to the sun’s orbit, so religious myths redefined and answered questions prehistoric people had. Yet, since natural incidences were explained by religious beliefs, other realms of creed mimicked the natural patterns of life. For instance,the general ideology associated with the path to the was believed that as night overshadowed the land, the deceased would begin their journey to the underworld. And with the rise of the sun, a new day was not only thought to have begun, but a new life as well. [2]

Boat passages to the underworld were strictly reserved for Pharaohs who had passed. The Egyptian sun god, Ra,was believed to travel to the underworld  by boat as the sun set. As a way to minic Ra's daily expedition, the ancient people of Egypt would construct model boats, ranging in many sizes in which they would bury alongside their Pharaohs. For example, under the Khufa Pyramid, researchers uncovered a boat the size of traditional ships, which displays not only the extreme devotion Egyptians had  for their leader, but their dedication to obtaining eternity for all. In other words, the requirements for the deceased to properly reach the underworld rested on the living. To prove, in order for Pharaohs to arrive at their final destination, his people had to construct a variety of boats to ensure his departure. As a result, communities had to come together to support each other, otherwise both their ‘lives’, and beliefs would end indefinitely. Therefore, commitment to helping others achieve eternity was a vital component to Egyptian culture, as demonstrated by the gallant boats buried with their rulers. [3]

Additionally, an alternate vehicle for entrance to the underworld was the coffin. While kings often used coffins in addition to, or in substitution of the boat belief, everyday citizens had less choice. Therefore, this method was more universal while alluding to a different, more ‘frequent’ path of entry. To compare, while passages by boat directed the deceased to the sun god, Ra, coffins were thought to guide individuals to the sky goddess, Nut. Additionally, each coffin was uniquely attributed to the person who rested in it. In other words, every coffin was subject to a variety of interpretations, all of which were intended to promote the deceased in obtaining eternity.

However, not all who died were presented with the opportunity to travel to the underworld. Since the living were obligated to ensure that the deceased could travel to the afterlife, it was also in their control to eliminate one’s chance in achieving eternity. Therefore, the living had an array of options that prevented an unworthy individual who had passed away a second life. The most famous included decapitation, which when executed, “killed a person twice.” As a result, the second death associated with decapitation was also assumed to have annihilated the chance at another life. As noted in Egyptian texts, this instance was incredibly feared, but happened most often to those who rebelled or disobeyed the king.

Rebirth

Furthermore, there were numerous ways for Egyptians to secure their fate. Many of the actions Egyptian people took after death was to influence the god's decision in allowing for another life. For example, scholars have concluded that ancient Egyptian women were forced to redefine their gender by encompassing more masculine features. Osiris, who was the ultimate ruler of the underworld, was applauded for his incredible superiority as a result of his virility. Additionally, the overall theme associated with gods connected their male attributes to resurrection, and goddesses were much more vigilant. This ideology was conspired from original doctrines, which denoted the overall creator a male. Statues and other forms of display made significant notice of their creator’s masculine qualities, more specifically pointing out his erect penis. Therefore, to appease their god's preferences women's tombs and coffins displayed male qualities. Examples of male modifications included name combinations, in which women engraved “Osiris” before their own name on their coffins. This demonstrated the collaboration of women and a god who was capable of rebirth, because alone her sex restricted her. This theory was just one of many that connected Egyptian ideologies of entering the afterlife as another entrance to a second life. [6]

After judgement, entities were thought to return to the Mother Goddess' womb. During this stage, the soul meets it’s former body that is not restored. To demonstrate, In the Book of Dead there is a series of lines that read as follows, "I unite your limbs, I hold your discharges together, I surround your flesh, I drive away the fluids of your decay, I sweep away your b3w, I wipe away your tears, I heal all your limbs, each being united with the other; I surround you with the work of the weaving goddess, I complete you and form you as Re." [7]  Mummification is another vindication made to provide an example of preservation. The belief continues as the nude being approaches the Goddess and enters her womb as her son. To compare, this dogma is deeply related to the birth of the sun god Ra, whom enters the goddess's womb every night, and is reborn as the sun rises.[8] Ra’s relation to the afterlife is very connected through the religious components that justify the rise and set of the sun.

Ultimately, the immortality desired by ancient Egyptians was reflected in endless lives. By doing worthy deeds in their current life, they would be granted a second life for all of eternity.

Sekhet-Aaru of Elysian Fields

Sekhet-Aaru, or commonly recognized as the "Field of Reeds,” was the final destination for all souls who had been granted rebirth. This ideology evolved in the fifth dynasty.[9]  Sekhet-Aaru was essentially thought to be paradise and encompassed this visualization which Egyptians  called the “Elysian Fields.” Therefore, the final resting place was Sekhet-Aaru, which was located on the Elysian Fields. Sources have not confirmed the exact location of the Elysian Fields, but speculate that it was thought to lie very close to the Delta. [10]  To further elaborate, the Field of Reeds were visualized as a very lush region, filled with waterfalls among other natural delicacies. [9]  Egyptian images, such as Papyrus of Nebseni, depicted the land to be divided into numerous sections. Each division was imagined to resemble island structures, in which travel by boat is necessary. [11]

Those who were granted access to the Elysian Fields included both gods and righteous souls. The fertility of the land was greatly emphasized as this possessed two of the major rewards in obtaining immortality: access to the nile, and the ability to farm foods. As a result, the deceased  ate and drank the same delicacies devoured by their gods. In turn, this promoted the belief that by obtaining immortality, individuals also accumulated aspects that resembled gods. Additionally, a third notable honor of residing in Sekhet-Aaru was the means of communication. The deceased were able to convey thoughts to one another, the gods, and those they had previously lost.

Coffins: Very rough just jotted ideas

Coffins in Egyptian culture date back to the Old Kingdom. During this era, coffins are relatively simple; they are rectangular with minor details. These included three openings, one that the Ka was intended to pass through and two that represented eyes. However, as time passed coffins and their structures evolved. By the New Kingdom, coffins had not only become more popular around the area, but distributed for sale. The deceased's body was now represented by coffin as it held a shape and was decorated with features that resembled the individual inside it. Additionally, the orientation of the deceased was very important to ancient Egyptians. In early periods, the body would have laid promptly on their side with their head directed to the south. This later shifted and with the body flat on it's back, the north became a more favorable position for the dead's head to lie.