Ancient Egypt is often identified by its enormous pyramids, in particular the Great

Pyramid at Giza, which was built during the middle of the third millennium, BC. Pyramids

are massive monuments built over or around a crypt or tomb. The Egyptian pyramids served

as royal tombs. Not only do these colossal constructions depict the Egyptians' advanced

architectural abilities, but they also give us an insight into their belief system. Ancient

Egypt's beliefs were based on their view of life as a process which began on earth, but

continued in the afterlife, or continued existence after death. Egyptians believed that proper

burial ensured the deceased entrance into the afterlife. Their belief was that in order for the

soul to pass into the next life, the body must remain intact; therefore, to preserve it, they

developed the procedures of mummification or embalming, the art of preserving bodies after

death, generally by the use of chemical substances. The preservation was essential to

resurrecting or moving on to the afterlife. The preserved body would then be placed in the

pyramid which was considered a vessel that transported the deceased into the afterlife.

religion and literature. Egyptian religion was the foundation or basis for their belief in an afterlife,

Osiris, god of the underworld. These texts indicated that happiness in the afterlife was dependent

Egyptians believed that the knowledge of these texts enabled the soul to ward off demons

The belief in an afterlife was an important aspect of the Egyptian religion. One of their

important of which was the Ka. The Ka, a duplicate of the body, accompanied the body

form. Egyptians' religious beliefs about the afterlife are depicted in their hymns to their gods

Dead. "The Story of Sinuhe," is a story of a palace official who flees to Syria at the death of

recorded their beliefs and rituals in literal form. Through this we are able to get an insight into

guidelines by which one enters the "revered state" or afterlife. Through this story one can see

or god. Ancient Egyptians viewed the Nile as a source of renewal and rebirth. It was from the

kingdom of the dead. The Ka, however, could not exist without the body; therefore, every

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1099
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)