Existing comment:
Egyptian Religion:
The ancient Egyptians expressed their relationship to the divine through sacrifice and other daily activities designed to maintain ma'at, the principle of order, balance, and truth brought into existence by a creator god.
Egypt's ruler maintained ma'at as the mediator between the people and their deities. The ruler -- or the priests acting on his or her behalf -- conducted rituals such as washing, clothing, and feeding the cult images in which gods and goddesses were believed to manifest themselves. Ordinary people were excluded from these rituals, but they took part in the official worship of the deities through festivals held at regular intervals.
In addition to the deities worshipped in the great temples, household gods and goddesses were worshipped in domestic shrines. Ordinary people could also establish a relationship with deities through the use of amulets and magic. |