Egyptians & Death: Viral TikToks & Beliefs
Did you know that for the ancient Egyptians, death wasn't just the end, but a grand undertaking, a pinnacle of achievement? The Egyptians believed that the most significant act one could perform in their lifetime was, in fact, to die. This conviction shaped their entire civilization, influencing their art, architecture, religious practices, and ultimately, their legacy.
This peculiar yet profound belief, often the subject of memes, viral sounds on platforms like TikTok, and comedic explorations, paints a fascinating picture of a society obsessed with the afterlife. Documentaries, such as those exploring the history of ancient Egypt, often touch upon this central tenet of Egyptian thought, with figures like Philomena Cunk humorously shedding light on this intriguing aspect of their culture. Cunk's observations, delivered with a characteristic dry wit, highlight the lengths to which the Egyptians went to prepare for the journey beyond, especially for the elite. Elaborate tombs, intricate rituals, and the preservation of the body were all integral components of ensuring a successful transition into the next world. The more important one was, the more elaborate the death had to be, creating a spectrum of funerary practices that mirrored the hierarchies of their society.
Here's a summary of key figures and concepts in Ancient Egyptian beliefs related to death:
| Aspect | Description | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| The Belief in the Afterlife | Central to Egyptian culture; death was a transition, not an end. Life continued in the afterlife (Aaru). | Motivated elaborate preparations for burial and preservation of the body. |
| Ka | The life force, or spirit, that resided in the body. Needed sustenance in the afterlife. | Influenced burial practices; tombs were designed to be a home for the ka. |
| Ba | The personality or soul of an individual; could travel between the world of the living and the afterlife. | Depicted as a bird with a human head, symbolized the individual's freedom to move between realms. |
| Akh | The transformed spirit after death, able to exist in the afterlife. | Achieved through proper burial rites and preservation of the body. |
| The Book of the Dead | A collection of spells and instructions to help the deceased navigate the afterlife. | Provided guidance for the deceased in the underworld. |
| Weighing of the Heart Ceremony | Performed by Anubis; the heart (representing the soul) was weighed against the feather of Ma'at (truth). | Determined the deceased's worthiness to enter the afterlife; a positive outcome meant eternal life. |
| Osiris | God of the afterlife, death, resurrection, and vegetation. | Key figure in the afterlife; judged the dead in the Hall of Judgment. |
| Anubis | The jackal-headed god of embalming and the afterlife; guided souls to the afterlife. | Played a vital role in mummification and the weighing of the heart ceremony. |
| Mummification | The process of preserving the body to allow the ka to recognize it in the afterlife. | Ensured the body remained intact for the afterlife; a costly and elaborate process. |
| Scarabs and Ankhs | Symbols of rebirth and eternal life | Commonly used in funerary practices and artwork. |
Reference: Encyclopedia Britannica - Ancient Egyptian Religion
The obsession with death permeated every facet of Egyptian life. From the grand pyramids and elaborate tombs that served as eternal homes for the deceased to the intricate mummification process, the Egyptians devoted immense resources and energy to ensuring a successful transition to the afterlife. They believed that the body, or rather, the ka (life force), needed a place to dwell and that the soul, or ba, could travel between the world of the living and the afterlife. This belief explains the meticulous preservation of the body, the elaborate funerary goods, and the placement of food and other necessities within the tomb. The concept of the akh, the transformed spirit, was the ultimate goal, achieved through rituals and offerings.
The most important god to the ancient egyptians was the sun god, ra. Ra was the son of the creator god, atum. According to egyptian mythology, ra created the world by spitting out the elements that formed the universe. Ra was also responsible for lighting the world with the sun and waging war against the forces of chaos.
The Egyptian religion, at its core, revolved around a vast pantheon of gods and goddesses, each governing different aspects of the cosmos and human experience. Ra, the sun god, held a position of supreme importance, often depicted as a falcon-headed figure. Other deities like Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and Anubis, the jackal-headed god of embalming, played crucial roles in the journey of the soul. The Egyptians also believed in a complex cosmology, where the earth was a flat disc surrounded by the ocean, with the sky as a dome supported by pillars. The sun, personified as Ra, traveled across the sky during the day and through the underworld at night, battling the forces of chaos.
The Nile River played a vital role in their lives, the ancient egyptians were primarily farmers who lived along the nile river. The river's annual floods brought fertile soil, enabling agriculture and supporting the population. The unity of upper and lower egypt into one kingdom was at around 3150 bce, when the first pharaoh, narmer, united upper and lower egypt into one kingdom. They developed sophisticated systems of irrigation and engineering, allowing them to thrive in a harsh environment. This symbiotic relationship with the river, combined with their complex religious beliefs, formed the bedrock of their civilization.
The symbols of rebirth were prevalent. The scarab beetle, for instance, represented the sun god Ra and the cycle of rebirth, pushing the sun across the sky each day, the ankh, with its looped cross, symbolized eternal life, the "key of life" The use of symbols, such as the scarab beetle and the ankh, were not merely decorative; they held deep religious and spiritual significance, reinforcing the beliefs in the afterlife and the cyclical nature of existence.
In essence, to grasp the ancient Egyptian worldview, one must appreciate the profound significance they assigned to death. It wasn't a period of mourning, but rather the ultimate accomplishment, a complex and carefully orchestrated passage to a better existence. From the monumental architecture of their tombs to the intricate rituals surrounding mummification, everything was directed towards ensuring a successful afterlife. The stories, the memes, and the documentaries we encounter today are echoes of this remarkable civilization's eternal quest for immortality.
