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A very brief introduction to the history of Egypt
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An understanding of the ages through history and the gods of the Pharonic period in Egypt might help some of you appreciate the various sites we are visiting during our time in Egypt, so I thought I'd include a very brief summary for those of you who may be interested. If it all seems too academic for you, then feel free to skip it!!
5 periods in the history of Egypt
(1) The Pharonic Age (5000 BC - 332BC)
(2) The Ptolamaic Age (331BC - 30BC)
(3) The Graeco-Roman Age
(4) The Christian Age
(5) The Islamic Age (630 AD - present)
The Graeco-Roman age can be added to the Byzantine period, incorporating the Christian age, and thus extending from 30BC to 630 AD.
Major Egyptian gods during the Pharonic age
RA (or RE): the sun god, primal creator deity and controlled of the universe. Considered from the 5th Dynasty on to have a divine right to rule. Later combined with Amun or Amon and depicted in human form with a ram's head.
THE TRINITY of Osiris, Isis and Horus (yes, they even had a 'holy' trinity)
Isis was very beautiful. She married her brother Osiris. Unfortunately Seth, Osiris's evil brother was jealous and killed Osiris (anyone thinking Cain and Abel here?). Isis was devastated and appealed to the gods to let her see Osiris again. He was brought alive (different stories about how this happened) for 24hrs and during this time, Isis conceived Horus. Horus later avenged his father's killing by attacking Seth, his evil uncle.
OSIRIS: thus became god of the underworld and of resurrection, depicted as a mummified pharaoh (arms crossed, feet together) with a false beard (curved tip) and carrying the royal crook and flail.
ISIS: goddess of fertility & motherhood, represented in human form wearing a crown of cow horns.
HORUS: falcon-headed sun god and king of the Earth, who took human form in the ruling pharaoh.
Some of the other gods.
HATHOR: goddess of love and beauty; patron of women and marriage. Depicted as a cow or a woman with cow's horns. Consort of Horus.
ANUBIS: god of the dead, depicted as a jackal's head. Known as the 'divine embalmer' as he oversaw the mummification process.
NUT: sky goddess who swallowed the sun every evening and gave birth to it every morning.
KHNUM: ram-headed god of creation; protector of the Nile source.
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| 24. | A very brief introduction to the history of Egypt - Alexandria, Egypt Sep 01, 2008 (  3 ) |
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