Ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife. It was an important belief that significantly shaped their cultural and social life. The afterlife was not taken as an option but the only answer to the life of the Egyptians. They had a strong belief in the continuation of life after death and this informed their social life. Evidence of this belief is demonstrated by The Book of the Dead which was discovered in ancient Egypt. The book consisted of different scrolls which contained different types of spells which were believed to have been used in the afterlife. These were religious texts which influenced the culture and social life of the ancient Egyptians. The Book of the Dead is culturally, socially and politically significant because like most cultures all writings have a powerful influence on the social life of society because they define cultural and social meanings.
1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Book-of-the-Dead-ancient-Egyptian-text
The website that provides the information regarding the Book of the Dead is reliable since it is a primary source that provides evidence of the book and the different scrolls that it contains. The information provided has also been edited and updated making it to become more specific and accurate. The website is a well-known periodical which provides updated and accurate information with respect to historical issues and events. It provides day to day events which are recorded for future references of important events and issues in history. This fact alone gives the website authenticity and authority with respect to the ancient Egyptian scrolls known as the Book of the Dead. This makes the website a reliable source for academic research since it contains accurate facts based on evidence.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
2. Mark, J. (2016). Egyptian Book of the Dead. Ancient History Encyclopedia
.
The article, “Egyptian Book of the Dead,” written by Mark (2016) and published in the Ancient History Encyclopedia, takes us through the ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife. It gives us a historical perspective of how the term was coined and how it was used. The Book of the Dead traces its origins from the inscriptions and tomb paintings dating back to the Third Dynasty in Egypt. The book, which contains spells, was written in papyrus and placed on the graves and tombs of the dead. The purpose of such inscriptions was to act as a guideline for the dead on how they could overcome impending dangers in the afterlife. They were intended to give passwords to the dead which they could use to gain admittance to the underworld. Furthermore, they also served the purpose of providing the soul of a dead man with the knowledge of what to expect in the afterlife.
Sick people usually visited scribes to write for them spells and passwords that would help them in the afterlife in case they died. His practice helps us to understand the social and cultural life of the Egyptians which was heavily influenced with the belief of the belief of the afterlife. It informs us that the Egyptian way of life including their political structure was designed to conform to this type of belief. The structure in which the Egyptian pyramids were constructed, was a true demonstration of how the Egyptians cherished the dead and how they could go to any length to ensure their protection. Spells and passwords were written specifically for individuals depending on the life they had lived and also on the type of journey they were to undergo in the afterlife.
During the New Kingdom era 1570-1069 BCE), spells had been divided into different chapters making the book to become very popular. Most people consulted scribes, who held important positions in the Egyptian political structure, to tailor make books for them which could be recited in the afterlife. However, before this era, the book was only available to the elite in society. The Osiris Myth was regarded as indispensable during the New Kingdom era because of its prominence in the souls’ judgment in the afterlife (Mark, 2016).
3. Carreli, F. (2011). The book of death: weighing your heart. London Journal of Primary Care. 4(1): 86–87.
The paper is credible and relevant to academic research because it has been reviewed by well-known historians in the field given sources that were consulted to support it. Some of these sources include well-known historians on ancient Egypt such as Taylor, J. and Wallis Budge.
The article is also well-updated and relevant to the issue at hand because it expounds on authentic information and evidences translated from the papyrus scrolls of the Book of the Dead. Its references are very comprehensive and credible given the high-quality of research contributed by such sources. This means that the references are primary sources which give accurate and relevant facts regarding the historical events. It features credible and relevant examples of primary research findings and incidents which are undisputable and accurate. The article is also not biased but presents the facts the way they are giving a clear perspective of the historical and cultural issues in relation to ancient Egyptian life. The article is also directed for scholars and researchers in the field making it have authority and authenticity. This makes it a professional article that can be used for further research by other expert in the field. Furthermore, the information provided in this article is contextual in nature which is useful in providing important information to further develop research in the field.
References
Carreli, F. (2011). The book of death: weighing your heart. London Journal of Primary Care. 4(1): 86–87.
Editor. Book of the Dead: Ancient Egyptian Text. Encyclopedia Britannica Available at https://www.britannica.com/topic/Book-of-the-Dead-ancient-Egyptian-text
Mark, J. (2016). Egyptian Book of the Dead. Ancient History Encyclopedia . Available at https://www.ancient.eu/Egyptian_Book_of_the_Dead/
