How did religion affect the lives of the ancient Egyptians?

Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akenaton. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. read more

Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex system of polytheistic beliefs and rituals which were an integral part of ancient Egyptian society. It centered on the Egyptians' interaction with a multitude of deities who were believed to be present in, and in control of, the forces and elements of nature. read more

The religion of the Ancient Egyptians affected their daily lives through the belief that floods, drought, and successful harvests were caused by the gods and goddesses. As a result they would perform sacrifices, pray, and give gifts to the temples of worship, to honor the gods and ensure successful harvests and floods. read more

However, the ethics and morals from the cosmology (or creation story) of two main gods, Osiris and Amon-Ra, represent the foundational beliefs of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Ancient Egyptian beliefs maintained that social, political and religious realms were interdependent. read more