?How did the ancient Egyptians prepare for the afterlife
Do you want to know how the ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife? Come and discover with me the case of the Egyptian sarcophagus and mummy of Pankhenammum, who lived in the Third Intermediate Period, around 945-715 BC. Pankhenamum was a priest of the god Amun, and was buried in a stunning coffin made of cartonage, a material consisting of strips of linen or papyrus stuck together with a resin. The sarcophagus was covered with gold and pigment, and decorated with hieroglyphic texts and religious scenes. Pankhenammum's body was carefully preserved through the mummification process, encased with amulets and internal organs in canopic jars. The coffin and mummy were part of a complex tomb structure, intended to provide everything a priest would need on his journey to the underworld. Ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife revolved around a variety of complex rituals influenced by multiple aspects of Egyptian culture. Religion was a major contributor, because it was an important social practice that bound all Egyptians together. For example, many Egyptian gods played roles in guiding the souls of the dead to the afterlife. As writing developed, religious principles were written down and quickly spread throughout Egyptian society. It was the drafting of the afterlife texts that shaped and launched these principles, as these texts explained and explained what the dead needed to know to complete the journey safely.
Egyptian religious teachings included three ideologies about the afterlife: belief in the underworld, eternal life, and the rebirth of the soul. The underworld, also known as the Duat, had only one entrance which could be reached by moving through the grave of the deceased. The initial image that will appear to the soul upon entering this world is of a corridor lined with an array of dazzling statues, including a variation of the falcon-headed god Horus. The path followed to the underworld may have varied between kings and common people. After entry, the souls are offered to another prominent god, Osiris. Osiris will determine the purity of the deceased's soul and grant those he deems worthy a peaceful afterlife. The Egyptian concept of “eternal life” was often an indefinite rebirth. Therefore, souls who have spent their lives sublimely are guided to Osiris to be reborn.
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