Egyptian Gods and the Afterlife
Understand that ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods and goddesses and believed life continued after death. They hoped to reach a good afterlife and prepared bodies and burial goods to help the dead person on that journey.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Explain that ancient Egyptians worshipped many different gods and goddesses
- Describe the basic belief that Egyptians thought life continued after death
- Give a reason why tombs were filled with treasures and everyday objects
1 · Read
Long ago, people in Egypt believed in many gods and goddesses. A god could have more than one role. Ra was a sun god. Egyptians pictured him sailing the sun across the sky. Another god watched over the river Nile.
Egyptians believed life did not stop at death. They thought a new life began, and they called it the afterlife. They also believed the journey to it could be dangerous.
Think about a pharaoh who has just died. His helpers wrap his body with great care. They fill his tomb with food and gold rings so he can use them in the afterlife. They also add his favorite toys and games. Televisions were invented long after ancient Egypt ended, so no tomb ever held one.
To count the gifts, add the groups. Here that is 1 loaf, 1 gold ring, and 2 toy boats. 1 and 1 makes 2, and 2 more makes 4 gifts.
Add the groups to count all the gifts.
Egyptians hoped to reach a good afterlife. A pharaoh's family, and others who could afford it, wrapped the body and packed the tomb with great care. The treasures, the food, and the favourite things inside were meant to be used in the new life.
Egyptians worshipped many gods and filled tombs with treasures for the afterlife.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.