Dates and Timelines
What does BC and BCE mean?
Before Christ and Before Common Era
What was Akhenaten's role?
Pharaoh of ancient Egypt - he ruled over the kingdom
What was the role of a farmer in ancient Egypt?
They grew crops and provided the kingdom with food
What is mummification?
When someone dies, they mummify their body so they don't decompose and their body/spirit can go into the afterlife.
Where was a pyramid text placed?
Inscribed on the pyramid walls and floors
What does CE and AD mean?
Common Era and Anno Domini
What was the god that Akhenaten wanted everyone to worship?
What was the role of a craftsmen?
They created buildings, painted tomb walls, designed and built all aspects of ancient Egypt
What does the Ammit the "Devourer" do?
Eats the heart of the dead ancient Egyptians if their hearts are not pure/good.
What is the purpose of a pyramid or coffin text
It's funerary literature that contains spells that helps the deceased get into the afterlife
What does c. stand for and what does it mean?
circa - means "around the time of"
Who was one of Akhenaten's wives?
Nefertiti
What was the role of the soldiers?
to serve in the military and protect Egypt against any enemies.
How did the weighing of the heart ceremony work? What was the process?
The deceased would have their heart on a scale and on the other side of the scale was a feather. If the heart was heavier than the feather then they would go into the underworld/their heart would be devoured. If the heart was lighter/equal to the feather then they had led a good life and they were allowed into the afterlife.
Where were coffin texts placed?
On papyrus or inscribed into the coffins of the deceased
about 5000 years ago
What was Akhenaten most famous for doing?
Implementing religious reforms - changing ancient Egypt from a polytheistic civilisation to a monotheistic civilisation. Akhenaten thought that the sun god "Aten" should be the only god worshipped.
What was the role and significance of a Pharaoh?
Role: the king and ruler over Egypt. Supreme leaders of the land.
Significance: protect the people of Egypt and lead them in times of peace and warfare
What did the ancient Egyptians believe happened after you died? Step by step
If you were mummified properly to stop decomposing and go through the journey to the afterlife, pass the 42 gods, pass the weighing of the hear ceremony then you'll be granted in the afterlife where you lived as you did when you were alive.
What is the difference between a coffin text and a pyramid text?
Pyramid texts were only for the Pharaohs and their families and they were written on the Pharaohs' tombs inside the pyramid walls and floors, whereas the coffin texts were available for everyone and were on papyrus and placed inside coffins.
Which year is the closest to us now: 2500BC or 2500AD?
2500AD
What were the ancient Egyptian's point of view on Akhenaten?
Their point of view was negative because he changed their religion from polytheistic to monotheistic and they didn't agree with his drastic religious reforms.
What is the role and significance of a Vizier?
Administrative head of government - implemented the Pharaoh's government laws and policies.
Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the government.
What are the different gods/goddesses involved in the weighing of the heart ceremony and what are they the gods/goddesses of?
Maat - goddess of truth and justice. Weighed the heart
Anubis - god of embalming. Watched the scale
Thoth - god of writing. Recorded results
Why were coffin texts better for the people of ancient Egypt?
They were written on papyrus, which was more affordable for everyone and more accessible for everyone so then more people could get into the afterlife.