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 Religion in Tut’s Time
Religion in ancient Egypt was more than a belief system—it was a way of life, permeating every aspect of existence. The fundamental principle governing this system was maat, an abstract concept often translated as truth or justice and represented by the goddess Maat.. More accurately, maat represented the way the world was supposed to be.
To maintain maat—order in the universe—the living constantly had to pacify the many deities and spirits in the afterworld. This system of beliefs persisted for thousands of years until Akhenaten (probably Tutankhamun’s father) introduced the concept of the one god Aten and did away with the pantheon of gods.
After his father’s death, it then fell upon Tutankhamun to reinstate the old gods and restore order to Egypt…and the universe.
 Traditional Religion
In traditional Egyptian belief, the pantheon was composed of many gods and goddesses, such as Osiris, Re, Ptah, and Amun. Often they were arranged in family groups of three consisting of father, mother, and child. The gods could be represented in art as human, animal, or a combination of the two. Each was linked to one or more sites where enormous temples were erected to house their images.
The Pharaoh’s Role in Traditional Religion
Considered semi-divine, the pharaoh was an intermediary between mortals and gods during his lifetime. He was responsible for the establishment and maintenance of maat and stood against the powers of chaos that threatened Egypt’s stability.
In theory, the pharaoh was the high priest in every temple, although in actuality his role was often delegated to priests. But in temple art, it is always the king who is shown performing the cult rituals and thus eternally caring for the gods and goddesses who dwell within.
Continue to Religious Revolution. >>
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