Kemetism

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A Kemetic shrine, with statues of Bastet, Sekhmet, Anubis, Nephthys, Thoth, and Serket Mezaenaset's Senut Kemetic Shrine.jpg
A Kemetic shrine, with statues of Bastet, Sekhmet, Anubis, Nephthys, Thoth, and Serket

Kemetism (also Kemeticism; sometimes referred to as Neterism) "deity"), or Kemetic paganism, is a neopagan religion and revival of the ancient Egyptian religion and related expressions of religion in classical and late antiquity, emerging during the 1970s. A Kemetic or Kemetic pagan is one who follows Kemetism. [1]

Contents

There are several main groups, each of which takes a different approach to its beliefs, ranging from eclectic to reconstructionist; however, all of these can be identified as belonging to three strains, including: reconstructed Kemetism (adopting a philological and scholarly approach), a syncretic approach, and a more novel synthesis tending toward monotheism, Kemetic Orthodoxy. [2]

Kemetism and Kemetics

Hieroglyphic writing "Kemet" Ta Kemet.jpg
Hieroglyphic writing "Kemet"

The movement's name is based on an endonym of Egypt, [3] [4] Kemet (the conventional vocalization of hieroglyphic notation km.t). The word is also sometimes written as Takemet, from the fuller tꜣ km.t. [5] In translation from Egyptian it means "black" (or in longer form "black land"), which is derived from the black colour of the fertile mud brought by the Nile during the annual floods (currently no longer occurring due to the existence of the Aswan Dam).

Kemetics refer to the ancient Egyptian deities as the Netjeru, also referred to as the Neteru or the Netjer. [6] Commonly Kemetics like to refer to the Netjeru with their ancient Egyptian name, in example they would refer to Horus as Heru, Thoth as Djehuty, and Anubis as Anpu.

Kemetics do not consider themselves direct descendants of the ancient Egyptian religion but consistently speak of its recreation or restoration. [7] [8] Some Kemetics or hermeticists claim direct continuity with secret societies allegedly continuously existing since the prohibition of Paganism by Roman emperor Theodosius I in 392 CE, or since the closing of the last functional Egyptian temple (of the goddess Isis on the island of Philae) by Emperor Justinian around 535. [9] [10] Though these claims are so far historically unprovable and mythical in nature. [11]

Relationship to tradition

The traditional ancient idea of a solar god in a barque; his daily voyage across the sky () Ra Barque.jpg
The traditional ancient idea of a solar god in a barque; his daily voyage across the sky (𓇯)
Ancient Isis (ancient Egyptian Isis) in modern imagery; has some primary significance of its connection to ancient Egyptian tradition with the sistrum that the goddess holds in her hand Isis 1652.jpg
Ancient Isis (ancient Egyptian Isis) in modern imagery; has some primary significance of its connection to ancient Egyptian tradition with the sistrum that the goddess holds in her hand

Kemetism is depicted as a modern reflection of Ancient Egyptian religion, which was a supporting element of the entire ancient Egyptian culture. Reflection on ancient Egypt however, has a very long tradition. [12] Its roots can be traced back to the Hellenistic period, since when it has continuously developed in many streams (see Hermeticism) until the present day. It did not escape early and medieval Christianity, whether it takes the form of radical rejection, extra-biblical legends of the stay of Jesus in Egypt, the recognition of the authority of Hermes Trismegistos by the Church Fathers and Medieval philosophers, or the adaptation of myths associated with the goddess Isis. [13] [14]

The common feature of these reflections is the more or less accentuated belief, referred to by Erik Hornung as Egyptosophy, [12] that "mysterious Egypt is the cradle of a special esotericism" by which the highest "transcendence of cognition beyond the conventional framework of conceptual-logical thinking" can be achieved, because "Egypt was a land where gods lived among men, i.e. A land in which people were in direct contact with (hidden) natural forces which we (people of the modern age) have made the subjects of fairy tales." [15]

However, this approach is not only found in authors sympathetic to esoterism, [16] but also in the historical sphere, where it can take the form of interpretation update: "it seems (in fact) that the wholism of the ancient Egyptians is closely related to the latest natural science, to the world of quarks and bosons... In doing so, we encounter similar structures that suggest fruitful comparisons between, for example, quantum mechanics and Egyptian belief in gods." [17]

Kemetism therefore stands as the youngest alongside other unique reflections upon the same object, from which it differs in emphasis on the religious aspect of ancient Egyptian tradition. The others are usually devoted to other parts of it, such as "Egyptian wisdom" or magic [18] and interprets the culture and religion itself and its gods symbolically, unlike Kemetism, [19] and consequently, they reflect rather an "imaginary Egypt", i.e. "an idea (of Egypt) independent of time, which is only loosely related to the historical reality." [20] In contrast, the goal of Kemetist groups is a more or less rigorous restoration of the religious system in its historical form, although Kemetists generally admit that a completely accurate imitation of ancient practices is not always possible or even advisable. [21]

The degree of knowledge and understanding of the original ancient Egyptian thought plays an important role here, [22] while their difficulty is due to the very nature of the subject: ancient Egyptian religion underwent complex transformations during the Pharaonic period, within which there was always "a multitude of approaches" [23] and has always had its "local dimension", [24] in which one and the same god could have different forms of cult in individual nomes or even individual temples and be involved in different mythological contexts.

In this respect, it can be seen quite dissimilar to the common tradition of Judaism and Christianity, and it is questionable to what extent the difference of traditions can be bridged with regard to the fact that Kemeticism develops in the area of Euro-American civilization. Due to its long development moreover, it is difficult to seek a purely "original" form of Egyptian religion that can be easily pointed to and reconstructed (see Reconstructionism), but only of its forms in certain historical periods.

The mentioned interpretive tradition, beginning in the Hellenistic period, did not merely adopt Egyptian religious ideas, but also fundamentally transformed them. [25] At the same time, these new concepts often differ greatly from their original drafts. [26] In view, it has been questioned whether their "second life" and the changes brought about by it should also belong to what the Kemetists are recovering, or whether they should instead be excluded as "traditions of antiquity and not of Egypt"; [27] the attitude towards this question is one of the fundamental differences between the various groups. An illustration of this problem is the question of whether the gods should be strictly worshipped by their Egyptian names or whether they can also be addressed by their Greek versions; [28] its significance within Kemeticism stems from the ancient Egyptian idea of the importance of name to existence.

Jeremy Naydler generally distinguishes two modes of religious reflection on the ancient Egyptian tradition: It can be conceived as a re-stitching consisting in "attempts to "return to Egypt" in pursuit of a renewed state of "consciousness of the people of those times", or as an effort to "enter into conversation with the Egyptian experience" of spiritual life, by which he states, one can get closer to the spiritual roots of the modern world. [21] These two points of view are hard to distinguish from each other. [29]

Religious practice

A Kemetic altar with a small offering Naos kemeti.JPG
A Kemetic altar with a small offering
Household Kemetic shrine Mezaenaset's household Kemetic Shrine.jpg
Household Kemetic shrine

The conceptual content of the principle of maat implies the vital necessity of ritual worship of gods, possibly a universal divine force. The most common objects of veneration from the individual Old Egyptian gods today are mainly Ra, Amun, Isis and Osiris, Thoth, Sekhmet, Bastet, Hathor, but of course one can also encounter others. In defining their nature, contemporary Kemetists are fairly consistent in adhering to the ancient tradition contained in the known mythology, modern mythological and theological works are as yet rare. In particular, there is hardly any theoretical and speculative theology in Kemetism, which is understandable on the one hand given the (more superficially seen) character of ancient Egyptian religious thought, on the other hand, thus Kemetism hardly formulates answers to problematic aspects of modern society.

The practice of religious ritual and other manifestations of religious life varies from individual associations. Its centrepiece, as in the original Old Egyptian religion, is usually a cult image, most often in the form of a statue or other representation depicting the likeness of the worshipped god. Its role in the cult may be conceptualized differently not only by different currents, but also by different individuals, with no precise boundaries between the different attitudes. [30]

In a schematic distinction, the most widespread modernist Kemetism today generally attaches a more symbolic meaning to the cult image, understanding it as a means of enabling Kemetists to better focus on God (or divine power) as the proper object of veneration [31] [32] Consequently, there is no need to strictly observe a particular ritual procedure. [33]

The minority traditionalist current understands the cult image as a real representation of the divine being in the human world. Therefore, in accordance with ancient Egyptian tradition, it may recommend its preservation in a special sacred container - nau, from which it is to be removed only in the course of a religious ritual, described as precisely as possible and strictly observed,[ citation needed ] of which the presentation of sacrifices is the most essential part. S in the absence of a binding doctrine, however individual Kemetists may choose any combination of these aspects.

Although even in this case the religious reverence shown does not belong directly to the cult image as a physical thing, but to the worshipped god who is present in it in a special way, monotheistic religions raise the objection of idolatry in this context. Kemetism, however, regards it as inappropriate, since there is nothing within its framework that realistically corresponds to this notion. "The Egyptians (in fact) did not experience any marked separation of the psychic from the physical realm... (and therefore) the world of material objects could also be imbued with divine power... These could serve as effective mediums through which spiritual forces manifested themselves on the material plane... In ancient Egypt there was no such thing as idols, because the ancient Egyptian mentality could perceive no such thing. It was not until the Israelites created the idea of idols." [34]

In Egypt, as Stephan Quirke notes, any object could become more than a mere physical object by performing a special ceremony: it could "live permanently and thus open the way between this world and the world of the gods. The mummified body in a coffin, the cult image of a god, the statue of a king or a deceased nobleman, were all soulless objects that opening the mouth transformed into living forces, or, more precisely, into receptacles for the invisible and elusive force we call life." [35]

Worship

Private altar of a practitioner in the Czech Republic, with a statue representing Thoth featured prominently Th oltar.JPG
Private altar of a practitioner in the Czech Republic, with a statue representing Thoth featured prominently

Followers of Kemetism generally worship a few gods (Maat, Bastet, Anubis, Sekhmet, or Thoth, among others), but recognize the existence of every god. This worship generally takes the form of prayer, offerings, and setting up altars. [36] Altars are most often constructed using a statue or two-dimensional representation of one or more given deities, as they serve as the focal point of worship. Additional items include candles, votive offerings, prayer beads, incense burners, and one or more dishes for food offerings. [37] Most Kemetic offerings try to keep to tradition, offering the same or similar items the ancient Egyptians would have offered. It is common during worship for Kemetics to pray in the dua (𓀃) gesture, which models the hieroglyph meaning worship and adoration. [38] [39]

Principles of Kemetism

The idea of god/gods

The judgement of the dead in the presence of Osiris.jpg
Hunefer kneels in adoration before a company of deities. [41]

The looseness of the Kemetist doctrine is best captured just by defining the object of Kemetist religious veneration. Although the Egyptian religion was a polytheistic religion (though there are scholarly Egyptologies now no longer accepted [42] distinctly minority views[ contradictory ] that monotheism was always covertly present in the background of the plurality of worshipped gods) and Kemetists do not deny this formal polytheism, it can be interpreted differently by different currents.

Today, the minority definition of this problem is the traditionalist notion of individual gods as wholly individual beings with a separate cult that enter into the interactive relationships and agencies described in myths and legends. In accordance with the ancient Egyptian concept, any of the gods can be considered as the "supreme" or "most powerful" of the gods, analogically according to the mythological context that is currently referred to within the cult. The notion of a universal single god, if used at all, has a rather abstract meaning and is close in meaning to the philosophical notion of gender: it is a designation of a particular divine quality forming "the defining feature of a group of beings of the same kind" – gods rather than individually existing beings. [43]

In contemporary times, one can encounter within Kemeticism the prevalent, but somewhat more distant from the original ancient Egyptian conception, idea of a single universal divine force manifesting itself in various forms, which are the gods themselves, so that they are understood as somewhat separate but nevertheless mere aspects of it. In this case, the Kemetists follow the late antique henotheism as manifested, for example, in the cults of Serapis and Isis (originally the ancient Egyptian Isiss) or in the philosophical outlook in Neo-Platonism, but like other neopagan movements, undeniably also to the Western experience of Christian monotheism and its reflection in modern thought starting with the Enlightenment. [44]

Another variant of modernist Kemetism is monolatry, but based on the same sources. In these conceptions, leaving aside the external features derived from ancient Egyptian culture and the use of Egyptian mythological context, Kemetism in many respects bears a strong resemblance to, for example, the religion of Wicca; [45] perhaps this is related to the fact that it is developed in areas with a predominantly Anglo-Saxon tradition.

A woman worships Ra-Horakhty, who blesses her with rays of light. Taperet stele E52 mp3h9201.jpg
A woman worships Ra-Horakhty, who blesses her with rays of light.

Given this possible dualistic understanding of the object of religious veneration in Kemeticism, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide whether to focus more on an abstractly conceived divine power in the practice of their religion, or whether to prefer the more original worship of individual gods.

Virtually the only Czech Kemet website Temple of the Land of Kemet notes: "This does not mean that we deny that there is one universal deity, but we argue that it probably does not exist in the way monotheists imagine it, and that this does not necessarily imply a denial of a plurality of gods. Individual gods and goddesses in their multiplicity share this divinity in the same way that we humans share one universal 'humanity'. The gods ... represent certain types of energies and qualities. The universal 'one god' of the monotheists can hardly be present in a similar way." [8] The same source elsewhere questions whether it is even possible to make this universal divine power itself an object of religious veneration, [43] thus categorically rejecting any form of not only monotheism but also the aforementioned henotheism or monolatry. Czech Kemeticism would thus place itself in the traditionalist stream of this movement.

In both basic Kemetist conceptions of god/gods, the sun usually plays a non-negligible role: Regardless of whether it is worshipped as a god by particular Kemetists or not, as in Ancient Egypt [47] [48] is considered to be an analogous image of the divine power as the universal source of every single existence and of all existence in general.

Order

Sun god as "Lord of Order" 800px-Louvre Re tete faucon2.jpg
Sun god as "Lord of Order"

Another important principle of Kemeticism is maat, order. This concept was one of the cornerstones of (not only) religious thought of the Ancient Egyptians – its observance was supposed to ensure the stability of the world and its orderly running. Its importance is already evident from the fact that even the pharaoh, who was in a certain sense himself understood as a divine (i.e. exempt from the rules of the human world) being, was, from the end of the Old Kingdom at the latest, overridden by this principle; the main task of the ruler was to bear responsibility and to contribute to the observance of the maat by all his actions. The epitome of the concept in Ancient Egyptian religion was the eponymous goddess Maat and its symbol—the ostrich feather.

The word maat itself is difficult to translate due to its complexity and combines concepts such as truth, harmony, and stability, or simply right action. It represents all that is right and necessary for the right course of things. It is the universal unchanging cosmic order encompassing the world of men and the world of gods and their interconnection as well as their interdependence.

The expression of the functioning of the maat in the world of the gods is mainly myths and legends, in cosmic sense it is manifested in regular unchangeable and from human point of view eternal natural cycles (especially in solar and lunar cycles. Therefore, the Egyptian gods Ra and Thoth were referred to as Lord Maat), in the human world in the existence of the state and in the proper functioning of its institutions, in the maintenance of social rules and, at the latest since the time of the New Empire, in personal human morality.

As a result, in the Egyptian concept, the respect of rules of all kinds by each individual was merged into one with the support and maintenance of the cosmic order, while their non-observance (especially by the ruler, but not only by him) could lead to its disruption. The collapse of the maat would lead to the demise of the world and the victory of chaos (egypt isfet).

In this sense, the Kemetic movement refers to the generally prevailing traditional ethical ideas, to the "good manners" or customs in which "maat" in the human world naturally and more or less unquestionably shows itself. There is no explicitly binding text codifying moral norms. Instead, Kemetists are formally non-binding in their interpretation of the concept of maat in relation to human conduct, inspired by ancient Egyptian scriptures.

The most prominent (though by no means the only) source for understanding maat in a more general social sense is the ancient Egyptian Books of Wise Advice for Life. Only chapter 125 of the Books of the Dead, containing the testimony of the deceased before the underworld court, by which he proves his moral purity by listing the deeds he did not commit (the so-called negative confession), is of a somewhat normative nature.

Since all these ancient texts are exclusively casuistic in nature, even Kemeticism does not (yet) contain any generally formulated theory of moral conduct. The Bohemian Temple of the Land of Kemet rather only marginally notes in this context: "Do not be subject to any extremes and choose the 'middle way'" and "do not doubt that if you look after the interests of the gods, they will look after your interests." [27]

Kemetic organizations

Kemetic Orthodoxy

Sanctuary of Kemetic Orthodoxy Truth and Mother Temple.jpg
Sanctuary of Kemetic Orthodoxy

The American Society of Kemetic Orthodoxy was founded in the 1980s. It brings together members from various states and, according to its own characterization, attempts to follow the Egyptian traditions as closely as possible and to revive them. [49]

Entirely in this spirit, it is headed by an authority (currently Tamara Siuda) using some of the titles and other attributes of ancient pharaohs. She is conceived as the present incarnation of the royal ka, gold embedded in the spirit of Hora, an aspect of divinity embodied in the human form of a spiritual leader of the community. [49]

On the other hand, it is in this movement that the departure from the traditionalist (i.e., closest to Egyptian religion) conception of god/gods, expressed in the concept of monolatry as official doctrine, is most pronounced. [4]

Fellowship of Isis

Another type of Kemetic organization is the Fellowship of Isis, formed in Ireland. It differs from most others in that, following the model of late antiquity in the henotheistic sense, it focuses on the cult of the goddess Isis, transposed into ancient Greek and Roman settings. Egyptian traditions are therefore heavily modified in him by their ancient interpretation, by religious syncretism, and by modern multiculturalism. [50]

Other Kemetist societies include The Living Nuhati, and the defunct French Ta Noutri. [51]

Kemetism in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic there is only one known society claiming to be a member of the Kemetism, the civic association Per Djoser Achet registered by the Ministry of the Interior. [52]

Atonist Kemetism

Atonistic Kemeticism (or Atonian Kemeticism) is a Kemetic movement, inspired by Atenism. This form of Egyptian religion existed only during the brief reign of Akhenaten, during whose reign all other Egyptian cults were banned and only worship of Aten was allowed.

See also

Notes

  1. Daugherty, Michelle (2 October 2014). "Kemetism. Ancient Religions in our Modern World". Michigan State University . USA. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  2. Harrison, PM (2012). Profane Egyptologists: The Revival and Reconstruction of Ancient Egyptian Religion. UCL (University College London).
  3. "Khémitisme, Tradition païenne égyptienne, la religion des anciens égyptiens" (in French). Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  4. 1 2 "What is Kemetic Orthodoxy? Introduction". Archived from the original on 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  5. Verner, Miroslav; Bareš, Ladislav; Vachala, Břetislav (2007). Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Prague: Libri. p. 168. ISBN   978-80-7277-306-0.
  6. "Netjer | Kemet.org". www.kemet.org. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  7. "International Network of Kemetics". Archived from the original on 2008-10-05. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  8. 1 2 Raneb, Djehutijdjedef. "Egypt - the image of heaven" (in Czech). Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  9. David(ova), Rosalie (2006). Religion and Magic of Ancient Egypt. Translated by Vymazalová, Hana. Prague: BB/art. p. 333. ISBN   80-7341-698-0.
  10. Verner, Bareš, Vachala, p. 139
  11. DeTraci Regula (2002). Isis and her mysteries: understanding the universal goddess. Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club. p. 35. ISBN   80-242-0806-7.
  12. 1 2 Hornung, Erik (2002). Mysterious Egypt: the roots of Hermetic wisdom. Translated by Plzák, Allan. Prague: Paseka. pp. 9n, 175n. ISBN   80-7185-436-0.
  13. Forman, Werner; Quirke, Stephen (1996). Afterlife on the Nile. Translated by Bareš, Ladislav. London: Opus Publishing. pp. 17, 177n.
  14. Hornung, p. 74n
  15. Nakonečný, Milan (1995). "Hermeticism, its history and doctrine". Logos. 11 (1): 18n. ISSN   0862-7606. Available online
  16. Kozák, Jaromír (2002). Hermetism: the secret teachings of ancient Egypt. Prague: Eminent. pp. 24n, 62. ISBN   80-7281-109-6.
  17. Hornung, p. 184
  18. In the Czech environment, probably the most influential and still unsurpassed example is Pierre de Lasenic, Egyptian Hieroglyphs and their Philosophy [ dead link ]
  19. see, e.g., Kefer, John (1991). Synthetic Magic. Prague: Trigon. pp. 136n. ISBN   80-85320-18-5.
  20. Hornung, p. 90
  21. 1 2 Naydler, Jeremy (1999). Temple of the Cosmos: the Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred. Translated by Krůta, Miroslav. Prague: Volvox Globator. pp. 8n. ISBN   80-7207-245-5.
  22. Janak, George (2003). "105". Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Brno: L. Marek. pp. 13n. ISBN   80-86263-37-1.
  23. David(ova), Rosalie (2006). Religion and Magic of Ancient Egypt. Translated by Vymazalová, Hana. Prague: BB/art. p. 68. ISBN   80-7341-698-0.
  24. Assmann, Jan (2002). Egypt: theology and piety of an early civilization. Translated by Krumphanzlová, Barbora; Bareš, Ladislav. Prague: Oikuméné. ISBN   80-7298-052-1.
  25. Janák, Jiří (2005). Gate of Heaven: Gods and Demons of Ancient Egypt. Prague: Libri. p. 57. ISBN   80-7277-235-X.
  26. Hornung, p. 24
  27. 1 2 Raneb Jehutijjedef. "A few little tips before you decide to address the gods" (in Czech). Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  28. Sannion. "What's in a name?". Archived from the original on 2007-12-06. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  29. Hornung, p. 160n. Some good examples are Dillaire, Claudia R. (2007). Egyptian Love Magic. Translated by Faltejsková, Lenka. Frýdek-Místek: Alpress. ISBN   978-80-7362-371-5. and Christie, Anne (2005). The Secret Magic of Ancient Egypt. Translated by Konečná, Eva. Frýdek-Místek: Alpress. ISBN   80-7362-125-8. in comparison with Lasenic, for example.
  30. DeTraci Regula (2002). "Isis and her mysteries: the knowledge of a universal goddess". Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club: 17. ISBN   80-242-0806-7.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. Dutton, Erik. "In Praise of Idols". Archived from the original on 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  32. Kallistos. "On Images" . Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  33. DeTraci Regula (2002). "Isis and her mysteries: the knowledge of a universal goddess". Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club: 58. ISBN   80-242-0806-7.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  34. Naydler, Jeremy (1999). "The Temple of the Cosmos: The Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred". Translated by Krůta, Miroslav. Prague: Volvox Globator: 133n. ISBN   80-7207-245-5.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. Forman, Werner; Quirke, Stephen (1996). "Afterlife on the Nile". Translated by Bareš, Ladislav. London: Opus Publishing: 21.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  36. "Kemetic Starter Guide". The Twisted Rope. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  37. LaBorde, Sharon (2017). Following the Sun: A Practical Guide to Egyptian Religion (New Revised ed.). ISBN   978-1-365-87722-3.
  38. "Feeding the Ka". www.joanannlansberry.com. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  39. "Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Adore". www.egyptianmyths.net. Retrieved 2023-05-28.
  40. "papyrus | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  41. "papyrus | British Museum". www.britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  42. As Jan Assmann summarizes, however, Egyptologists themselves have long regarded Egyptian religion as primarily monotheistic. See Assmann, John (2002). Egypt: theology and piety of early civilization. Translated by Krumphanzlová, Barbora; Bareš, Ladislav. Prague: Oikuméné. p. 24. ISBN   80-7298-052-1.
  43. 1 2 Raneb Jehutijdjedef. "Cult – the way to the gods" (in Czech). Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  44. On this, see generally Stampach, Ivan Odilo. "Contemporary Neo-Paganism" (PDF). Dingir. Magazine About Contemporary Religious Scene (1): 13–15. ISSN   1212-1371 . Retrieved 2008-08-24.
  45. Krogh, Marilyn C. "Kemetic Orthodoxy: ancient Egyptian religion on the Internet – a research note" . Retrieved August 19, 2007.
  46. Wilkinson 2003, p. 33.
  47. The adoption of the sun as a central divine principle was continuously present in Egyptian religion and remained a subject of constant evolution throughout the Pharaonic period, described many times in literature. Mircea Eliade, for example, refers to it, albeit not with entirely convincing arguments, from a general religious studies point of view as the relationship between theology and the politics of solarization. See Eliade, Mircea (1995). "History of Religious Thought 1: From the Stone Age to the Eleusinian Mysteries". Translated by Dejmalová, Kateřina. Prague: ISE: 106n. ISBN   80-7298-052-1.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  48. The development is summarized in Assmann, Jan (2002). Egypt: theology and piety of early civilization. Translated by Krumphanzlová, Barbora; Bareš, Ladislav. Prague: Oikuméné. p. 61. ISBN   80-7298-052-1.
  49. 1 2 "Biography of Hekatawa I, our Nisut (AUS)". Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
  50. See the book Regula, DeTraci (2002). Isis and her mysteries: the knowledge of a universal goddess. Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club. ISBN   80-242-0806-7., which is not, however, the official text of the community.
  51. Ta Noutri is referred to as a Kemetic organization by the website Religioscope Archived 2007-11-24 at the Wayback Machine and the website Unisson Archived 2008-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  52. "List of civic associations" (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2008-08-18.

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Aten also Aton, Atonu, or Itn was the focus of Atenism, the religious system formally established in ancient Egypt by the late Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten. Exact dating for the 18th dynasty is contested, though a general date range places the dynasty in the years 1550 to 1292 B.C.E. The worship of Aten and the coinciding rule of Akhenaten are major identifying characteristics of a period within the 18th dynasty referred to as the Amarna Period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osiris myth</span> Story in ancient Egyptian mythology

The Osiris myth is the most elaborate and influential story in ancient Egyptian mythology. It concerns the murder of the god Osiris, a primeval king of Egypt, and its consequences. Osiris's murderer, his brother Set, usurps his throne. Meanwhile, Osiris's wife Isis restores her husband's body, allowing him to posthumously conceive their son, Horus. The remainder of the story focuses on Horus, the product of the union of Isis and Osiris, who is at first a vulnerable child protected by his mother and then becomes Set's rival for the throne. Their often violent conflict ends with Horus's triumph, which restores maat to Egypt after Set's unrighteous reign and completes the process of Osiris's resurrection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nehebkau</span> Ancient Egyptian deity

Nehebkau was the primordial snake god in ancient Egyptian mythology. Although originally considered an evil spirit, he later functions as a funerary god associated with the afterlife. As one of the forty-two assessors of Ma’at, Nehebkau was believed to judge the deceased after death and provide their souls with ka – the part of the soul that distinguished the living from the dead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renenutet</span> Ancient Egyptian goddess of nourishment and the harvest

Renenūtet was a goddess of grain, grapes, nourishment and the harvest in the ancient Egyptian religion. The importance of the harvest caused people to make many offerings to Renenutet during harvest time. Initially, her cult was centered in Terenuthis. Renenutet was depicted as a cobra or as a woman with the head of a cobra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neith</span> Ancient Egyptian goddess

Neith was an early ancient Egyptian deity. She was said to be the first and the prime creator, who created the universe and all it contains, and that she governs how it functions. She was the goddess of the cosmos, fate, wisdom, water, rivers, mothers, childbirth, hunting, weaving, and war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hathor</span> Major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion

Hathor was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion who played a wide variety of roles. As a sky deity, she was the mother or consort of the sky god Horus and the sun god Ra, both of whom were connected with kingship, and thus she was the symbolic mother of their earthly representatives, the pharaohs. She was one of several goddesses who acted as the Eye of Ra, Ra's feminine counterpart, and in this form, she had a vengeful aspect that protected him from his enemies. Her beneficent side represented music, dance, joy, love, sexuality, and maternal care, and she acted as the consort of several male deities and the mother of their sons. These two aspects of the goddess exemplified the Egyptian conception of femininity. Hathor crossed boundaries between worlds, helping deceased souls in the transition to the afterlife.

Belief in magic exists in all societies, regardless of whether they have organized religious hierarchy including formal clergy or more informal systems. While such concepts appear more frequently in cultures based in polytheism, animism, or shamanism. Religion and magic became conceptually separated in the West where the distinction arose between supernatural events sanctioned by approved religious doctrine versus magic rooted in other religious sources. With the rise of Christianity this became characterised with the contrast between divine miracles versus folk religion, superstition, or occult speculation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial cult</span> Form of state religion

An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor or a dynasty of emperors are worshipped as demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense. The cult may be one of personality in the case of a newly arisen Euhemerus figure, or one of national identity or supranational identity in the case of a multi-ethnic state. A divine king is a monarch who is held in a special religious significance by his subjects, and serves as both head of state and a deity or head religious figure. This system of government combines theocracy with an absolute monarchy.

<i>Interpretatio graeca</i> Methodology for cultural comparison

Interpretatio graeca, or "interpretation by means of Greek [models]", refers to the tendency of the ancient Greeks to identify foreign deities with their own gods. It is a discourse used to interpret or attempt to understand the mythology and religion of other cultures; a comparative methodology using ancient Greek religious concepts and practices, deities, and myths, equivalencies, and shared characteristics.

Kemetic Orthodoxy is a modern religious movement based on the reconstruction of ancient Egyptian religion known as Kemeticism. It was founded in 1988 by Tamara Siuda, who until 2023 was recognized as the leader of the movement, called its "Nisut" or "Pharaoh".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellenistic religion</span> Late form of ancient Greek religion

The concept of Hellenistic religion as the late form of Ancient Greek religion covers any of the various systems of beliefs and practices of the people who lived under the influence of ancient Greek culture during the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire. There was much continuity in Hellenistic religion: people continued to worship the Greek gods and to practice the same rites as in Classical Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menouthis</span> Sacred city in Ancient Egypt

Menouthis was a sacred city in ancient Egypt, devoted to the Egyptian goddess Isis and god Serapis. The city was probably submerged under the sea as a result of catastrophic natural causes: earthquakes or Nile flood. Land in the bay area was subject to rising sea levels, earthquakes, and tsunamis, parts of it apparently becoming submerged after a process of soil liquefaction sometime at the end of the 2nd century BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Egyptian deities</span> Deities in the ancient Egyptian religion

Ancient Egyptian deities are the gods and goddesses worshipped in ancient Egypt. The beliefs and rituals surrounding these gods formed the core of ancient Egyptian religion, which emerged sometime in prehistory. Deities represented natural forces and phenomena, and the Egyptians supported and appeased them through offerings and rituals so that these forces would continue to function according to maat, or divine order. After the founding of the Egyptian state around 3100 BC, the authority to perform these tasks was controlled by the pharaoh, who claimed to be the gods' representative and managed the temples where the rituals were carried out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian mythology</span> Myths of the Ancient Egyptians

Egyptian mythology is the collection of myths from ancient Egypt, which describe the actions of the Egyptian gods as a means of understanding the world around them. The beliefs that these myths express are an important part of ancient Egyptian religion. Myths appear frequently in Egyptian writings and art, particularly in short stories and in religious material such as hymns, ritual texts, funerary texts, and temple decoration. These sources rarely contain a complete account of a myth and often describe only brief fragments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar deity</span> Deity that represents the Moon

A lunar deity or moon deity is a deity who represents the Moon, or an aspect of it. These deities can have a variety of functions and traditions depending upon the culture, but they are often related. Lunar deities and Moon worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mysteries of Isis</span> Religious rites in the Greco-Roman cult of Isis

The mysteries of Isis were religious initiation rites performed in the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis in the Greco-Roman world. They were modeled on other mystery rites, particularly the Eleusinian mysteries in honor of the Greek goddesses Demeter and Persephone, and originated sometime between the third century BCE and the second century CE. Despite their mainly Hellenistic origins, the mysteries alluded to beliefs from ancient Egyptian religion, in which the worship of Isis arose, and may have incorporated aspects of Egyptian ritual. Although Isis was worshipped across the Greco-Roman world, the mystery rites are only known to have been practiced in a few regions. In areas where they were practiced, they served to strengthen devotees' commitment to the Isis cult, although they were not required to worship her exclusively, and devotees may have risen in the cult's hierarchy by undergoing initiation. The rites may also have been thought to guarantee that the initiate's soul, with the goddess's help, would continue after death into a blissful afterlife.

The decline of ancient Egyptian religion is largely attributed to the spread of Christianity in Egypt. Its strict monotheistic nature did not allow the syncretism seen between ancient Egyptian religion and other polytheistic religions, such as that of the Romans. Although religious practices within Egypt stayed relatively constant despite contact with the greater Mediterranean world, such as with the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, Christianity directly competed with the native religion. Even before the Edict of Milan in AD 313, which legalised Christianity in the Roman Empire, Egypt became an early centre of Christianity, especially in Alexandria where numerous influential Christian writers of antiquity such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria lived much of their lives, and native Egyptian religion may have put up little resistance to the permeation of Christianity into the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Egyptian offerings</span>

The ancient Egyptians performed rituals focussed on making offerings of food, drink, clothing and ointment, to a deity. Offerings commonly took place in temples everyday by groups of priests acting on behalf of the Pharaoh. Offerings were provided to the gods to gain their favor. These offerings would feature incense to be burned. It was mandatory for the offering of food or beverage to be consumed by the offeror during the offering.

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