Religion of Ancient Egypt

Due to objective reasons valley Neither ¬ la, unlike, say, the watershed
Tigris and Euphrates, in much the pain ¬ necks degree was a single economic entity ¬ nym organism that required for its normal functioning ¬ st ¬ odd Coy socio-political structure and centralized administration.
That economic reasons leads ¬ Does the fact that at the turn of the IV and III thousand

AD Ancient Egyptian nomes merged into one state, led by Pharaoh, the deification of which reached an unprecedented scale in Egypt. Pharaoh was considered the son of the sun god and was revered as a symbol of wealth and protsve ¬ Tania country, the supreme divine power. As such, it is with ¬ executors of the most important rituals, for example, spent the first furrow, thus like fertilizing Nile Valley on behalf of the gods behind them.
The high degree of centralization of the ancient Egyptian State facilitates ¬ shaft strengthen the power of the priests who performed the functions of officials and served as the center with any of the local gods. These gods, the heirs of nome gods, brought heavy sacrifices in their honor was built Grande oznye temples. The service of worship and ritual to spend huge sums, with the city mayor ¬ what may be the construction of colossal pyramids to the cellar ¬ Niya deified rulers.
According to the animist beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, after the death chelove ¬ ka his mind to behave differently: "ba" (depicted as a bird with the human head ¬ Coy) soared into the sky, the sun, "ka" remained with the body, and the degree of preservation her body and well-being depended on the deceased in zagrob ¬ nom world and the possibility of reincarnation (rebirth in another body). That is why the body of Pharaoh carefully embalmed, and for the "ka" provide just a haven. Caring about security, mummy hid in the depths of a huge pyramid, which served as a symbol of glory, and a symbol of faith. Egyptian gods had a lot of zoomorphic traits and characteristics, which is characteristic of the religious systems of a similar level of socio-political organiza ¬ tion. God Gore was depicted with the head of a falcon, Sebek - with the head of a crocodile, bo ¬ ginya Bastet - with the head of a cat.
 

Sacred animals

Many animals are revered as sacred by the Egyptians. A vivid example of this magnificent cult of Apis - the sacred bull, pochitavshe ¬ Gosia in Memphis. To recognize the sacred bull, he was about ¬ incense certain data. After the death of Apis, the priests, after the long fast start looking for a new Apis, whose forehead was supposed to attend a white triangle on the neck - a spot that resembles an eagle, and other spots in the form of rising of the moon - on the side. In Memphis, Apis lived in a pen in front of the temple of Ptah, and there ¬ with Nimal offerings from those who worship him. Prior to the reigns XIX dynasty, each bull had its own special tomb. Then Ramses II ordered to bury them in the general cemetery - Serapeum. ¬ tion origin of the name as follows: name of the deceased Apis received Osor-Apis, from which there was the Greek name of Serapis. French archaeological ¬ log Auguste Marieta, following precise instructions from the text of Strabo, was opened in 1851 in Saqqara legendary Serapeum: wide long underground gallery with a burial chamber. There mummies of sacred bulls were placed in a monolithic sarcophagus of pink granite, limestone and basalt, is 4 m in height and weighed 70 tons.
In gratitude for the assistance provided by some poultry farmers, the ancient Egyptians also regarded them as sacred. Ibid, at Saqqara, a necropolis of sacred birds - ibises. Living ibis was dedicated to the god Thoth - the Greek Hermes, after the death of his Moomin ¬ fied and placed in an earthen vessel.
In Thebes there was a special cult of the crocodile, who lived there, tame, decorated with golden earrings and rings, bearing all the signs of respect and reverence. However, according to Herodotus, not in all cities of Egypt the crocodile was sacred belly ¬ nym. For example, in the city of Elephantine and its environs even crocodile meat consumed in writing.
In Egyptian religion prominence to the cat. Cat, devoted to ¬ schennaya goddess Bastet, the embodiment of blissful sunshine. Her cult flourished particularly in Lower Egypt. Godod Bubastis (this ¬ dnyashny Zigazig), which was erected a temple of the goddess Bastet, was named in her honor. The cat was considered so sacred animal, even an accidental killing of her led to the death penalty.