Religion played a central part in Egyptian life. It helped people to understand the world around them and to cope with the difficulties of everyday living. They also had a strong belief in an even better after-life. The gods controlled everything. There were household gods to look after the family, local gods of the village and the great universal state gods worshipped on official occasions.
Most people had a small chapel in their garden or an altar inside their house. On festival days people went to the state temples, although they were not allowed in the first courtyard. The inner part of the temple was sacred and only priests were allowed there.
Here are a few common gods that the Egyptians worshiped.
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Amun: creator god |
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Anubis: god of the necropolis |
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Hathor: goddess of love |
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Horus: royal protector |
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Isis: goddess of women |
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Khons: god of the moon |
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Montu: god of war |
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Osiris: god of death and rebirth |
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Sekhmet: goddess of war |
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Sobek: crocodile god |
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Thoth: god of writing and knowledge |