| By far, the ancient Egyptian culture represents one of | | | | wolf's head. Some gods were identified with multiple |
| the least understood and most interesting facets of | | | | animals, as well, such as Thoth, who was associated |
| beliefs throughout human history. In this article, we'll give | | | | with the ibis, the baboon, and the moon. The creationist |
| you a basic idea of what modern day man knows | | | | beliefs of the Egyptians varied from tribe to tribe. |
| about what the ancient Egyptians put their faith in. | | | | Some felt that the god Khnum had built the world on a |
| Our understanding of Egyptian religion is far from | | | | potter's wheel, while others felt that the existence of |
| complete. Many of the things that we know about their | | | | the universe was due to the spiritual thought of the |
| religion seem incomplete; we seem to have found | | | | god Ptah. |
| alternate gods they've worshipped that served the | | | | Organized religion found its way into Egypt at around |
| same purposes, as well as conflicting stories about | | | | 3200 BC, when Egypt became organized as a state. |
| what they believed about how the world was formed. | | | | Many of the gods that the ruling class were in favor of |
| While our knowledge is somewhat lacking, we'll focus | | | | received the most acclaim throughout the land, with the |
| on what we do know. | | | | god Amon receiving much more acclaim than he had |
| Many researchers feel that one of the most basic | | | | previously. The Egyptian religious experience was |
| forms of religious identity that the Egyptians performed | | | | unique in that over time, the ruling class had the power |
| was the worship of animals. The tribes of Egypt that | | | | to directly influence which gods received the most |
| existed pre-dynasty often worshipped different | | | | praise. As time changed, different gods came into the |
| animals as gods that represented their feelings of | | | | limelight. Any way you put it, we still don't have a |
| which animal was in most relation to their way of life. | | | | concrete knowledge of the beliefs held by these |
| Many of these gods were shown in pictures and | | | | ancient peoples. Hopefully, time and exploration can |
| writings to have an animal head on a human body, with | | | | help us to clear up many of the difficult questions |
| an example being Ophois, the god of war, who had a | | | | posed by Egyptian religion. |