Egyptian View of Afterlife-Nursing Paper Examples-1

The pyramids’ evolution (Egyptian View of Afterlife)

The Egyptian pyramids are among the world’s wonders. Their construction and existence are not only extraordinary but also exemplary. The pyramids emerged when Egypt was both rich and powerful. These magnificent human-made structures displayed the peculiar roles of pharaohs. The pyramids’ evolution includes pyramids such as the dummy pyramids, the first true pyramids, the pyramid of Unas being the first with text, and the pyramids in the middle of the kingdom (Dunand, & Lichtenberg, 2006) (Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Since the Egyptians believed in the afterlife, the pyramids built were for religious purposes and pharaohs’ bodies after their death. The Egyptians built the pyramids with slanting sides believed to reflect the sun as the pharaohs’ souls ascended to heaven. The kings’ body remained intact in the pyramids since they believed that God chose them as mediators on earth(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Mummification

Mummification entailed preserving Egyptian dead bodies to keep the body intact, awaiting transportation to a spiritual afterlife. The process involved dying of the body or embalming the flesh. Chemical and traditional preservatives removes the moisture from the body. The mummification process followed an order of steps. The first step was the annunciation of death (Egyptian View of Afterlife).

A messenger ought to inform the family and friends of the deceased’s death, and in turn, the family makes the necessary body preparations. Secondly, the body’s embalming took place, in a tent called ‘ibu,’ containing the body. In addition, red wine was applied to the body and then rinsed with water from the river Nile for purification purposes(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Since they considered brain as a garbage, the embalmers removed it using a hook through the nose. Consequently, after its removal, they then put the brain in water to dissolve. Moreover, After removing the brain, they as well removed , the internal organs, including the liver, intestine, stomach, and lungs removed through the body’s left side. Consequently, the removed organs then kept in a canopic jar, usually a small coffin. The body then washed inside, and lotion applied and the inside packed with linen and straws(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Subsequently, drying the body took place using the natron salt to absorb all moisture from the body. The body would not rot, and it was sundried for forty days. The body was then wrapped, at the abdomen slit, the eye of Horus was placed, and the body was blessed (Abdel-Maksoud, & El-Amin, 2011). Large linen was used to wrap the body, with all fingers and toes wrapped separately(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Moreover, they applied papyrus and charms during the wrapping of the body to offer protection. A binding shroud held the wrapping intact where a priest wrote on the line and said prayers. Consequently, A special glue also used called Mumia to hold the wrapping in place. Cosmetics and artifacts were placed on the mummy’s face, then covering her face with a mask. Finally, the body was placed in a coffin, and the procession was held(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

The Egyptians believed the afterlife existed; after death, the soul departed the body and continued to live in a new world. Essentially, Egyptians associated the afterlife with the dead living in a different world for the Egyptians. In this context, they believed in immortality. One would pay homage to the gods to enter the afterlife(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

Notably, the mummification process was essential to return the soul for the body’s preparation for a new life in a different world (Taylor, 2001). The afterlife’s entry remained unguaranteed; therefore, the dead had to face judgment and the dangerous underworld. The Akhenaton opposed the Egyptian religion and worshiped Aten. The difference in the views emerged on measuring Atenism either as henotheism, monolatry, or syncretism or whether monotheism(Egyptian View of Afterlife).

References

Abdel-Maksoud, G., & El-Amin, A. R. (2011). A Review On The Materials Used During The Mummification Processes In Ancient Egypt. Mediterranean Archaeology & Archaeometry, 11(2).

Dunand, F., & Lichtenberg, R. (2006). Mummies and death in Egypt. Cornell University Press.

Taylor, J. H. (2001). Death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. University of Chicago Press.