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WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EGYPTIANS?UNDERSTANDING “THE GREAT HYMN TO THE ATEN”
ENG 273: World Literature
History
3000 Years of Relative Peace and Prosperity Intermittent Periods of
Uncertainty
Agriculture Nile River
Irrigation Fertilization
Economic Prosperity Successful Military
Campaigns Few Outside Threats
Pharoahs
Strong Central Government
Pharoah = godlike Wielded Immense
Power Gain and then keep
power Strategy =
appointed by the gods
Display Wealth
Pyramids
Tombs for Pharoahs
Massive Architectural Projects
Very Expensive
Mummies
Religious Ceremony Preserve the Dead In
as Lifelike a State as Possible
Remove Moisture to Prevent Decay
Entombed Included Everything
Necessary to Enjoy the Afterlife
Expensive Process Pharoahs, Nobility
Hieroglyphics
One of the Earliest Written Languages
Complex Writing System
Translation was Impossible Until the Discovery and Study of the Rosetta Stone in the Nineteenth Century
The Bible
Joseph Sold Into Slavery in Egypt Becomes a Powerful
Official Moses
Adopted By Pharoah’s Daughter
Pleads with Pharoah to Release Israel from Slavery
Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus Flee to Egypt to Escape
Herod
Museums Egyptology: Study of Ancient
Egyptian Civilization
Egyptian Museum in Cairo Holds Largest Collection of Artifacts At Risk During Recent Turmoil
Looted, Damaged, and Burned
British Museum Has Over 100,000 Egyptian Artifacts Controversy: Should the
Artifacts Be Returned to Egypt?
Touring Exhibits King Tut
Folklore: The Pharoah’s Curse
Anyone Who Disturbs a Pharoah’s Tomb Will Be Cursed
King Tutankhamun Tomb Opened by Howard
Carter’s Team in 1922 “Mysterious” Deaths
Lord Carnarvon Died of Blood Poisoning
After A Mosquito Bite Became Aggravated During Shaving
Most of the Team Survived Into Old Age
Popular Culture: Music
The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk
Steve Martin “King Tut”Saturday Night Live (1979)http://screen.yahoo.com/king-tut-000000724.html
Popular Culture: Movies
The Mummy (1999)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLnDT6uCr_I
The Mummy (1932)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i6xNScZRP4
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPmeEMWPMvI
What Do We Know About the Ancient Egyptians?
Mix of Influences History Legend Folklore Popular Culture Current Events
Leads To: Preconceived Ideas Misconceptions
How Can We Understand “The Great Hymn to the Aten”?
Take a Step Back Acknowledge Our Assumptions Put Aside Preconceptions
Identify Differences Morality Divinity Society
Look for Commonalities Awe of Nature Fear Death Search for Meaning in Life
Recognize That Some Concepts May Never Be Clear Missing/Broken Sources Lost in Translation Different, Ancient Culture
What Can We Learn From Egyptian Poetry?
Compare/Contrast Concepts Divinity Worship Royalty Power Glory Beauty Relationship to Nature
Identify “Timeless” Ideas Where did we come from? Why are we here?
Themes:“The Great Hymn to the Aten”
Divinity vs. Humanity
Worship Role of the “god/gods” in
People’s Lives Active? Passive?
Process of Worship Celebration? Sacrifice?
Relationship Between Ruler and Ruled “god king”
Experience of the Natural World
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