Ancient Egyptian Religion and Magic

Catalog description

In Ancient Egyptian Religion and Magic, we will use a combination of reading, writing, lecture, and discussion to address some of the most common questions people have about ancient Egypt and about its religion, including (but not limited to): Why and how were the Great Pyramids of Giza built? What motivated the ancient Egyptians to invest so much effort and wealth into their tombs and temples? What practices in ancient Egypt should we consider part of religion? Which should we call magic? Should we even differentiate between the two? Can religion be separated from other aspects of life in ancient Egypt? Were the ancient Egyptians “religious to excess” as the historian Herodotus said? The sources that we will use to answer these and other questions include: literature, prayers, employment records, and letters; mythological stories about ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses and about creation; archaeological materials, and art and architecture.