...over 200 years ago, and have proven to be invaluable sources of information of ancient Roman society, yet it is religion and worship, in their grandeur and importance, that catch the eye most. Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as most other Roman provinces, were polytheist in faith, and appeared to have an abundance of cults dedicated to foreign deities, as well as temples and shrines dedicated to past emperors. Furthermore, they believed in smaller gods which guarded the household, and had deities covering every aspect of life, but it was the patron gods of the towns that had impressive temples dedicated to them. Moreover, reminders of death in the form of paintings and skulls found everywhere urged the people to live life to the full, and there was a belief that if conclamatio – a rite and ritual of burial, was not done correctly, the dead would live on as malevolent entities. As both cities were polytheist in faith, Pompeii and Herculaneum had an abundance of cults and shrines dedicated to a few foreign deities. Commonly referred to as ‘mystery cults’, the uncovered evidence of the worship of Egyptian goddess Isis, and Greek god Dionysus, suggests that they were not as secretive as their name claims, and that they held a significance to their followers, who at first consisted of mostly women, slaves, and freedmen, but later achieved an important role in the society as nobles joined, and the cults prospered. Moreover, Mauiri, in 1939, made a find that widened the circle of...
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...discussed. Religion will be examined from the least problematic to the most problematic in regard to wealth of sources, reliability, limitations and usefulness; household religion, foreign religion, local religion and state religion. There is a wealth of sources regarding household religion in P and H and there are no issues regarding their reliability and limitations. One could relate this due to the fact that there has been evidence of most households practicing religion in their homes. The focus of household religion was the worship at a shrine called a lararium. These larariums were often depicted in an architectural style, such as the one found in the house of the Vettii (P) and the house of the Black Salon (H) which both resemble a temple in their style. The larariums could have also been painted and hung on the wall of a home such as the one found in the House of the Centenanry (P). There were three different household gods that were depicted on the larariums, these three were the Genius (spirit of the family), Lares (the guardian spirits of entry) Penates (protective of the food supply). The Penates and Lares were similar in depiction as they were both portrayed as...
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...the Virgin Mary and the Egyptian mother goddess Isis. A mother goddess is a deity or persona that represents motherhood, fertility, creation or one that embodies the bounties of the Earth. The Virgin Mary and Isis each represent perspectives of what is called the Sacred Feminine or Divine Feminine. Upon first glance, it appears that the similarities between the Virgin Mary and Isis are nothing more than a coincidence. I however, think The Virgin Mary and Isis are the same entity merely altered to fit different cultural needs. Author and psychic medium, Jessica Jewett, best describes this on her web page, “The supreme mother of the universe; she is loving, wise, courageous and sacrifices herself and her family of the benefit of mankind. In modern Christian culture, this description fits the Holy Mother, the Virgin Mary, but three thousand years ago and longer, this description also fit the most powerful Egyptian goddess, Isis.” (Jewett) I will be using their origins, symbols, titles, functions in religion, and seasonal festivals to compare and contrast The Virgin Mary and Isis in attempts to show how they are one in the same. Origins/Births Both Isis and The Virgin Mary are similar in the fact that they are considered divine mothers and venerated as a “life-giver”. They both had male offspring, Jesus and Horus, both of whom are considered royalty in their own right. They are different from each other due to the fact that Isis is a goddess and always has been while The Virgin...
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...Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, which means the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akenaton. During the reign of Akenaton, more than 3,000 years of development, Egyptian religion underwent significant changes of emphasis and practice, but in all periods religion had a clear consistency in character and style. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Some, such as Amun, Isis, Osiris, and Horus, were worshipped throughout the whole country, while others had only a local following. There were two essential foci of public religion: the king and the gods. Both are among the most characteristic features of Egyptian civilization. The king had a unique status between humanity and the gods, partook in the world of the gods, and constructed great, religiously motivated funerary monuments for his afterlife. The Egyptian "Book of the Dead" contains the major ideas and beliefs in the ancient Egyptian religion. Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world. Tombs were placed if possible in the desert. Vast resources were expended on creating prestigious burial places for absolute rulers or wealthy officials. Tombs contained elaborate grave goods (mostly plundered soon after deposition), representations of “daily life,” or less commonly of religious subjects, and some texts that were intended to help the deceased attain...
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...addition to the selection of the two pieces of art that would be selected for being saved first in case of a fire outbreak. A visit to Metropolitan Museum of Art that houses more than two million artworks representing five thousand years of history carried out on 5th of December 2014 was used to aid in writing this report. The visit began with a brief look into the floor layout of the complex museum layout. As a result, this enabled the location of the most interesting artworks in the Museum. Additionally, a staff curator offered to give me a trip around the expansive museum explaining various facts around the museum. Among the key artworks that caught my eye includes the Temple of Dendur. The temple of the Dendur is a huge atrium that was built under the watch of the Roman Emperor Augustus to honor Isis the goddess and Nubian chieftains. It resembles a boat holding a pool of water. An interesting piece of art is constructed with materials drawn from sandstone. It is decorated with papyrus...
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...Egyptians worshiped many gods, and their religious beliefs were constantly evolving. They believed that god was in control of all natural events. Consequently, the people relied on the Nile’s natural cycle of flooding for food and survival. They respected the power of the gods. The god of the sun was a key figure in the religion. Anubis protected the dead. The Egyptians believed that he measured the spirit of the dead and decided their fate (Allen, 78). The Osiris, Isis, and Horus were as well key gods. The Osiris is believed to have introduced civilization in the country. The Isis was worshiped as a goddess of nature as well as the protector of women. The Horus was worshiped as the god of the sky. It was believed that the king was the son of Ra, the –sun-god, the most significant state deity in the Old Kingdom. Starting with Radjedef, who ruled after...
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...2613 BCE) he was originally an important and friendly god of Upper Egypt whose name was invoked for love spells and inscribed on amulets which served as love charms. Seth was also seen as a benefactor that helped people in life and provided for them in death. By the time of the New Kingdom (1570-1069 BCE), Seth became best known as the first murderer. Seth killed his older brother, Osiris, in order to reign over the world. Seth’s conflicts with Horus can be divided between those with Haroeris and those with Horus the Younger. Seth and Haroeris fought for the throne of the gods, which ended with Seth claiming the right. Isis used her wisdom to help sway the Tribunal towards Haroeris. Isis tricked Seth into admitting he was a usurper and the Tribunal began to favor Horus. Seth’s fate differs depending on the myth. In some myths, the Tribunal game handed Seth over to Isis as a prisoner. Other myths say Seth was put on the sun boat’s prow to battle Apophis and his...
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...a Tasnima Bhuiyan Ancient History HSC notes Core study; Cities of Vesuvius- Pompeii & Herculaneum 1. Geographical context Physical environment: geographical setting, natural features and resources of Pompeii and Herculaneum Geographical setting Pompeii and Herculaneum were located in Campania, southwest Italy near Bay of Naples. Herculaneum was a waterfront town situated on the coast of Bay of Naples 7km west of Mt Vesuvius, while Pompeii was slightly inland on the Sarno river, 9km southeast of Mt Vesuvius. Both towns were linked to Rome through sea and land routes. Natural features Campania was a fertile plain with two main rivers. Nearby there was a 15km wide series of craters, where pools were filled with boiling mud and vents, from which sulphur and steam could escape. The towns were popular because of their rich volcanic soil, coastal area for fishing and trading area. Resources of Campania The production of olive oil was used for cooking, and as the basic ingredient for perfume. Wine, wool and textile productions took place, along with the fishing industries including the production of fish sauce. There were fruits such as peaches, apricots, lemons & vegetables like cabbages and onions, and volcanic material was used for building and paving roads. Plans and streetscapes of Pompeii and Herculaneum ▪ streets of Pompeii vary greatly in width from 2.4m to roughly 7m ▪ streets & roads divide towns into neat rectangular...
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...Chris Sinvil IHHIST 399-06 12-5-14 Dying gods In all ancient cultures myths were used to explain the phenomenon’s in the world before we truly knew why things happened the way they did. In this paper I will be comparing two fairly similar myths from different cultures. The first myth is the ancient Egyptian myth about Isis and Osiris. And the second myth is the Mesopotamian story of Inannas descent to the under world. First I will summarize both myths and then talk about what their purpose was. Then I will compare and contrast two too show just how similar they are. Firstly comes the myth of Isis and Osiris. As with much of the ancient Egyptian mythology, there are various versions of the story of Isis and Osiris, but basically it goes like this. Osiris was an earthly ruler, who was popular with the people who he ruled over. He was married to his sister, the beautiful Isis. His brother, Set, was very jealous of this popularity and title, so he plotted against Osiris. Osiris never realized Set’s true devious intentions but Isis had always had a sense that set was up to no good. Set's plans to be rid of his brother started when he secretly obtained his brothers measurements and had a magnificent casket made to fit. This casket was in the form of a human shaped box. Set then organized a large feast to which Osiris and a number of others were invited. At the peak of the festivities Set produced the casket and announced that it would be given to whomever it fitted. All...
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...Christianity and Religion of Ancient Egypt Is it possible that Christianity came from Ancient Egypt? Probably yes. There are several facts, which prove it. Although Egyptian temples were destroyed, manuscripts were burned and the statues of Gods were broken, Egyptian religion is still alive and the Gods rise repeatedly but in different forms. Regeneration There were a lot of solemn rites in Egypt due to death and resurrection of Osiris, for example: funerary ceremony where the main symbol of deceased was grain, planted in wet ground in clay jar .The appearance of plant meant revival with Osiris`s protection. The underground world in Egyptian culture was pledge of plants` regeneration through fat land containing moisture, it meant that those people whose bodies were buried into the ground, had an opportunity to regenerate, although in another form. The idea of dying and revival God was an essential discovery. Many nations took over the concept. Most historians are sure that The Bible stories about Christ`s life, death and resurrection are renewed version of Egyptian myth. Osiris, among all Gods, was more familiar and understandable for the nation: as a man and God, virtuous and suffered without any guilt and then awarded with eternity, in one time. U.Budge said:” The main reason why the Osiris cult existed was promise of timeless life for his followers.” Even after acceptance of Christianity Egyptians continued to mummify deceased people and combine attributes of their...
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...The Egyptian Culture Reflected in Worship Deborah Howard Much of our knowledge about ancient Egyptian culture is based on elaborate worship rituals related to death and the afterlife. Egyptians were devoted to their gods and to their pharaohs who were gods on earth, as demonstrated by their willingness to build the pyramids for the safe passage of their leaders into the afterlife. Understanding the development of Egyptian society and their theological system requires a basic knowledge of the geography of the area. The Nile River Valley and Nile Delta, circa 4000-5000 BCE, was comprised of about 12,000 square miles of arable land. The villages and towns of ancient Egypt were found up and down the length of the Nile with most of the population living below the First Cataract (located approximately at present day Aswan). The Egyptians were accomplished farmers. They knew the Nile would flood each year and bring new life and abundant grain. The Nile's flooding was predictable and left rich new deposits of silt for new crops, making irrigation easy to plan. A basin irrigation system allowed the flood waters to flow gently into each field, cleansing and renewing the earth each year. The virtual isolation of the Nile Valley allowed Egyptian civilization to develop unthreatened by its neighbors. The Mediterranean Sea lay to the north, vast deserts were found to the east and west, and dense jungle lay to the south. An invader would have to be quite determined to brave the elements...
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...The very thing that is now called the Christian religion was already in existence in Ancient Egypt, long before the adoption of the New Testament. The British Egyptologist, Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, wrote in his book, The Gods of the Egyptians [1969], The new religion (Christianity) which was preached there by St. Mark and his immediate followers, in all essentials so closely resembled that which was the outcome of the worship of Osiris, Isis, and Horus. The similarities, noted by Budge and everyone who has compared the Egyptian Ausar/Auset/Heru (Osiris/Isis/Horus) allegory to the Gospel story, are striking. Both accounts are practically the same, e.g. the supernatural conception, the divine birth, the struggles against the enemy in the wilderness, and the resurrection from the dead to eternal life. The main difference between the “two versions”, is that the Gospel tale is considered historical and the Ausar/Auset/Heru (Osiris/Isis/Horus) cycle is an allegory. Allegories are intentionally chosen as a means for communicating knowledge. Allegories dramatize cosmic laws, principles, processes, relationships and functions, and express them in a way easy to understand. Once the inner meanings of the allegories have been revealed, they become marvels of simultaneous scientific and philosophical completeness and conciseness. The more they are studied, the richer they become. The ‘inner dimension’ of the teachings embedded into each story make them capable of revealing several layers...
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...ancient Egyptians wanted to find the meaning for their existence, but there were also other influences on their religion, such as the need to justify kingship, along with many others. Egyptians have numerous Gods in there culture and they feel that the Gods walk among them, invisibly on Earth. Ra is the most central God of the Egyptian gods. Known as the sun god, Ra was the most important element of life in ancient Egypt and represented light, warmth, and growth. Ra embodies the Egyptian beliefs of order and truth, and he signifies the cycle of birth, life and death. Of all the ancient Egyptian Gods Anubis is frequently the one referred to as the gatekeeper of the underworld and god of death. The Egyptian goddess Isis was worshiped throughout Egypt. Isis was considered to the patron saint of women, mothers and children. Horus was always associated with the same symbol; that of the falcon. In almost all types, Horus was known as the patron saint of the existing pharaoh. The pharaoh was often referred to as the 'Living Horus'. Seth, god of...
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...One of these such excavations between the years of 1764 and 1766 resulted in the discovery of the Temple of Isis (Walter 36). It was incredibly well preserved, considered the best in the ancient city, due to the volcanic ash that protected its exterior. The temple was a very small part of the religious artifacts found in the city. Robert Strayer referenced a picture of a domestic shrine found in the home of two brothers who were once slaves that later became wealthy business men (257). This shrine referenced a time of pre-Christianity in the Roman empire. There were several aspects of the shrine that would have seemed odd to later Romans as the serpent was considered a sign of good instead of evil, as it is later accepted (Strayer 257). This was an example of changing religious views and...
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...Horus was the one who brought Osiris back to life and located him to the other world which there it was decided if it was permitted to enter in the eternal death. Geb was the father of Osiris and the day that he was born the was a voice from the heavens that said the good lord was born. Osiris was the oldest of four children and he married his sister Isis. Osiris taught his people a lot of things as the upper and lower king and he invented the Golden Age in Egypt. Since, this source mentions all the myths from Egypt like Osiris and why it relates related to the book of the dead. The source will be used to mention the life of Osiris from his birth to how he was murdered and the relationship between his wife as well as with his...
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