Egypt's Old KingdomChapter 2 Section 2

Old Kingdom 2600-2300 B.C.

Pharaohs appointed many officials – Oversaw building projects, controlled trade and

collected taxes Egyptians believed the unity of Egypt

depended on a strong leader Pharaohs were considered to be the son of

Re: sun god– believed pharaoh was a god on earth who

controlled Egypt's welfare

Famous Pharaohs of Old Kingdom

Khufu Sneferu

Djoser

Egypt's Religion

-Egyptians were polytheistic-Believed that the deities, or gods and

goddesses controlled the forces of nature and human activities

Isis: representedthe loyal wife

and mother, ruledover death with

her husbandHapi: god of the

Nile

www.ancientegypt.co.uk

Osiris

God of the Underworld Cut into pieces by his

brother Seth Put back together by his

wife Isis Rules the afterlife

Anubis

Jackal headed god He guides the dead to

the underworld God of mummification

Anhk

Symbol of life

Wedjet Eye

Believed to be stolen from Ra

Used to protect the dead

Earliest burial methods

Placing bodies in sand and letting it dry naturally

Mastabas= means bench

Life After Death

-Egyptians believed life in the next world would be better

-Place of peace and plenty

-Book of the Dead: collection of spells and prayers that was studied to obtain life after death

-Osiris would detemine whether they would be granted life after death

Book of the Dead

Weighing of the Heart ceremony

Learned about human body.

Used herbs and drugs to treat

illnesses.

Mummification Process

Process took 70 days Remove brain through nose Remove organs (not heart) Sterilize body and organs Dehydrate organs, place them in canopic jars Cover body with natron, leave for 40 days Pack body with linen that has been soaked in

resin, myrrh and cinnamon Pack eye sockets with beeswax

At first, only pharaohs and the upper class could be afforded

a burial

Egyptians created the embalmingprocess: preserving the body for

eternity

Mummification Process con’t

Wrap mummy in 1,000 yards of linen, place amulets between layers

Body is placed in coffin, then in sarcophagus All is completed by using the Book of the Dead

http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/story/main.html

http://www.virtual-egypt.com/framed/framed.cgi?url==http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/greatpyramid/mummymaker/media/mummy_maker.swf

Ka and Ba

Ka: Soul of a person

Ba: Always depicted as a half human half bird. Must be able to recognize the deceased.

Example of canopic jars

Mummy of Ramses II

Shabits

Mummy shaped figures used in the tombs

Believed to do work for the dead in the afterlife

Sarcophagus

Literally means flesh eating stone

How Was a Pyramid Built?

-built by tens of thousands of workers-farmers, surveyors, engineers, carpenters and

stone cutters-because of pyramid building advancements

were made in astronomy and math-study of the stars allowed Egyptians to determine

true north and develop a 365 day calendar with 12 months

-system of number based on 10-created fractions

How did they get the stones up? Stones were loaded onto a

sled/sledge. They were then placed on log rollers and pulled up the ramp.

The logs were kept wet with water or milk.

No mortar was needed between the stones.

See Building the Pyramids Puzzle worksheet for the steps of building.

Must have a solid base

Pyramids and tombs of ancient Egypt

Pyramid timeline

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/pyramids.html

Step Pyramid of Saqqara

First pyramid built by Pharaoh Djoser

204 feet tall Designed by Imhotep Tomb in the ground,

mastaba on top of mastaba

http://www.egyptvoyager.com/pyramids_early_pyramids_saqqara_djoser_virtual.htm#

Bent Pyramid of Dashur

Built by Snefru Unique because the angle

abruptly changes midway through construction Begins at 55 degrees then

goes to 43 degrees Total height 344 feet

http://www.guardians.net/egypt/cyberjourney/dahshur/bentpyramid/bent_pyramid_interior.htm

Reconstruction of Giza Plateau

http://www.egyptvoyager.com/pyramids_giza_virtual.htm#

Sphinx

Guardian of the plateau Built by Khafre

Head of Khafre and body of lion

http://www.guardians.net/egypt/sphinx/

The Sphinx

Pyramids of Giza

Three pyramids Smaller wives pyramids were also found Largest belonging to Khufu Second and third= Khafre and Menkaure

482 feet tall Contained 2.3 million stones, some weighing

as much as 2 ½ tons http://www.egyptvoyager.com/pyramids_giza

_virtual.htm#

Cross section of Khufu’s pyramid

Pyramids of Giza Video Check up The average weight of each block used to

construct the Great Pyramid at Giza was _____. (Choose only one answer)  

1 ton   2.5 tons  200 pounds   1,000 pounds

Funeral boat of Khufu

This boat was found disassembled in a pit outside of the Great Pyramid. It was believed to carry the body of Khufu to his final resting place.

End of the Old Kingdom

Pyramids were a financial drain on economy Nobility experienced a rapid growth

Many more nobles wanted more power Civil war breaks out with nobles fighting for power

over resources and support of lower classes

The Old Kingdom capital of Memphis is threatened