The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They
believed that the spirit of a dead person was divided into two
parts, the ‘ba’ and the ‘ka’, and that these would be reunited in
the tomb.
A dead person was buried with everything they might need in the
afterlife, including their preserved body, called a mummy. Coffins
were made of wood, stone or cartonnage (thin layers of linen,
covered in plaster and painted) and inscribed with spells and
prayers and the name of the dead person. Sometimes the coffin was
placed inside a stone or wooden container called a sarcophagus.
Click on any of the images below to see a larger version of the
object and find out more about it.
Excavated burial sites not only tell us about how the ancient
Egyptians died, but also about how they lived and what they
believed.
Sculpture, paintings, jewellery and grooming
equipment, show how men and women may have dressed, made up
their faces and wore their hair (or wigs!), while toys, games and
musical instruments reveal how they might have spent their free
time.
Tomb-models, along with drawings, stone
carvings and writing texts, suggest their houses were simple, with
an outside staircase leading to the roof, where people often slept
at night. They had simple furniture, mainly stools, chairs and
tables. They used chests to store belongings and used wooden
headrests instead of pillows. The best houses and furniture would
be decorated.
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The ancient Egyptians had many different gods, each with special
responsibilities. They believed that the gods affected their lives,
and protected them from evil forces. Certain gods could ensure
fertility and protect mothers and babies during childbirth.
Children often wore charms to protect against illness or accident.
Small protective plaques (stele) were also used to guard children
against danger.
The gods are often shown as animals, but they appear in many
other forms including trees, the sun, moon or stars, humans or
humans with animal heads. Some of the gods were grouped as
families.
The Egyptians also worshipped the King, and sometimes important
historical figures such as Imhotep, the man thought to have
designed the pyramids.