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Egyptian Mythology

C r e a t i v e E x p e r i e n c e s i n E G Y P T I A N M Y T H O L O G Y

W r i t t e n b y V o w e r y C a r l i l e

I l l u s t r a t e d b y K a r e n B i r c h a k

The purchase of this book entitles the individual teacher to reproduce copies of the student pages for use in his or her classroom exclusively. The repro-duction of any part of the work for an entire school or school system or for commercial use is prohibited. ISBN 1-56644-258-3 (10-digit)

978-1-56644-258-9 (13-digit)

?2007 Educational Impressions, Inc., Hawthorne, NJ EDUCATIONAL IMPRESSIONS, INC. Hawthorne, NJ 07507

Printed in the United States of America.

Table of Contents

TO THE TEACHER (4)

INTRODUCTION (5)

STORIES OF EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY:

Background, Vocabulary Activities, Discussion Questions,

and Creative-Thinking Activities........................................................................................6–114 The Beginning Was Chaos................................................................................................6–16 Ra: His Secret Name........................................................................................................17–27 Hathor: Eye of Ra............................................................................................................28–38 The Anger of Ra..............................................................................................................39–49 The Story of Osiris..........................................................................................................50–60 The Conflict of Horus and Seth......................................................................................61–71 The Journey of the Soul..................................................................................................72–82 The Seven Year Famine....................................................................................................83–93 King Khufu and the Magician........................................................................................94–107 RESEARCH UNIT..........................................................................................................108–121 BIBLIOGRAPHY. (122)

?Educational Impressions, Inc.Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology

The Beginning Was Chaos

Much of Egyptian history has been lost through the ages; however, enough bits and pieces have survived to provide an understanding of their early religion and mythology. Much of the Egyptian religion was based more on symbolism than mythology. A few stories have been pieced together from hymns, prayers and temple inscriptions. As with all religions, not everyone believed the same. Each king worshiped his own gods, as did the workers, priests, merchants and peasants. Many scholars believe that writing was invented in order to communicate these beliefs to the pop-ulations. All agree that the most important story in Egyptian history is the myth of creation.

According to the ancient Egyptians, the Creator had many forms and names. Some of these included Ra, Ra-Atum, Amon-Ra, and Ra-Horakhy. However, there was only one name for the watery abyss, and that was Nun. In this book the name Ra will be used when discussing the Creator. Just as there were several names for the Creator, there were also several versions of cre-ation.

The Egyptians believed that in the beginning there were only the waters of chaos. These included darkness and silence. According to one version of the myth, at the bottom of the abyss lay the Creator, a lifeless form. A mound of earth rose from the waters forming land. The Creator, in the form of a phoenix with flaming plumage, flew to the land and let out a shrill cry. This was the first sound. The silence was broken forever.

Another myth tells us that there were eight creatures with frog heads and serpent bodies that swam through the waters of chaos. These creatures swam together to form a great egg. According to this myth, the Creator hatched from the great egg.

Still another story explains that at one time darkness covered the waters. Then a lotus rose from the abyss. When the petals of the lotus opened, a young god was revealed. The child's sweet smell banished darkness. That child was to become Ra, the Sun God, the source of life.

At night, when the lotus would sink into the abyss and rest, Chaos would reign. When the lotus returned at dawn, order would be restored. The forces of chaos and the Sun God, who rep-resented order, were always at war with one another.

Even though there were several versions of creation myths, all tell us that the Creator was alone in the beginning. He was lonesome and wanted company. Because he had no mate, his thoughts created other gods and goddesses. He first created a son, Shu; shu represented air. He then created a daughter, Tefnut, who represented moisture. Upon creation, Shu and Tefnut sank into the abyss and were raised by Nun.

Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology?Educational Impressions, Inc.

The Creator took one of his eyes and named it Hathor. Ra instructed her to supervise the raising of his children. Hathor became a symbol for the sun. The Creator promised Hathor that she would always have power over her enemies and that gods and men would always fear her.

Shu and Tefnut gave birth to Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky. Geb and Nut later became the parents of Osiris, Isis, Set (Seth). Nephthys and Horus. These gods and goddesses began the history of Egyptian mythology.

Once Ra's children were lost in the darkness. Hathor, the Eye of Ra, was sent to find them. Upon their return, Ra was so full of joy that he wept tears. These tears created mankind.

?Educational Impressions, Inc.Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology

The Beginning Was Chaos

V ocabulary Activities

Look up each word in the dictionary and write its definition.

abyss:

chaos:

phoenix:

lotus:

symbol:

Fill in the blanks with a form of the correct vocabulary word from above.

1. There was much confusion and disorder, and the ______________________ bothered him.

2. The ______________________ opened its petals to show a beautiful purple color.

3. The scarab beetle was a ______________________ used to represent a great king.

4. To fall into the ______________________ would prove deadly.

5. The mythical bird called a ______________________ can be found in many legends.

Use the vocabulary words in a paragraph about “The Beginning” according ancient Egyptian mythology.

Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology?Educational Impressions, Inc.

The Beginning

Comprehension Questions

1. Explain how the myths of the ancient Egyptians came to be known.

_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

2. Describe three myths about the beginning according to Egyptian mythology.

3. List the Creator’s children and their children, the nine gods and goddesses who provided the foundation for the Egyptian pantheon.

4. Who was Hathor? Explain how she came to be and her responsibilities.

5. According to the mythology of the ancient Egyptians, how was mankind created?

?Educational Impressions, Inc.Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology

Answers to “The Beginning Was Chaos”

Comprehension Questions and V ocabulary Exercises

Discussion Questions

1. Explain how the myths of the ancient Egyptians came to be known.

Inscriptions on tomb walls, hymns and prayers have been found that provide bits and pieces of the myths.

2. Describe three myths about the beginning according to Egyptian mythology.

The first myth describes everything being chaos. From the bottom of a great abyss arose a great mound of earth. The Creator came in the form of a phoenix and gave a great cry; this was the first sound. The second myth describes eight creatures with frog heads and serpent bodies swim-ming together to form a giant egg from which the Creator hatched. The third version includes a lotus. From inside the lotus emerges a golden prince. This child will become Ra, the Sun God.

3. List the Creator’s children and their children, the nine gods and goddesses who provided the foundation for the Egyptian pantheon.

Ra created Shu and Tefnut. They had Geb and Nut. Geb and Nut had Isis, Osiris, Nephthys and Seth.

4. Who was Hathor? Explain how she came to be and her responsibilities.

Hathor is a daughter of Ra. He took one of his eyes and created her. She became known as a sym-bol for the sun. Her job was to supervise the raising of Shu and Tefnut.

5. According to the mythology of the ancient Egyptians, how was mankind created?

Ra was upset because his children had disappeared. When they were returned, he cried. Those tears became mankind.

Look up each word in the dictionary and write its definition.

abyss:a gulf so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured

lotus: any of various water lilies, including several represented in ancient Egyptian and Hindu art phoenix:a legendary bird which was thought to live for 500 years, burn itself to death, and then rise newborn from the ashes

chaos:complete confusion

symbol:something that stands for something else; something real that stands for or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured or shown.

Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word.

1. There was much confusion and disorder, and the chaos bothered him.

2. The lotus opened its petals to show a beautiful purple color.

3. The scarab beetle was a symbol used to represent a great king.

4. To fall into the abyss would prove deadly.

5. The mythical bird called a phoenix can be found in many legends.

Creative Experiences in Egyptian Mythology?Educational Impressions, Inc.