Chapter 2

Africa: Gods, Rulers, and the Social Order

(ca. 3100–330 B.C.E.)

The Gods of Ancient Egypt

Associated with the effects of the environment

Worship of Amon, the sun god and creatorMost powerful – but thousands of lesser deities existed

Worship of Aten, symbol of life force

Worship of Osiris, symbol of rebirth

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The Rulers of Ancient Egypt

Union of Upper and Lower Egypt by the first pharaoh, Narmer

Dynasties and the role of the pharaoh

Theocratic socialism

Pharaonic lineage of succession

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Egypt’s Cult of the Dead

The pharaoh and the sun-god generally viewed as having shared aspects

Burial practices based on stringent belief in reincarnation

The pyramids reached a zenith of organizational effort on behalf of the pharaoh’s comfort in the spirit world

The Book of the Dead emerged as a lengthy guide for preparing oneself for physical death

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Akhenaten’s Reform

Elevated Aten (sun god) to position of supremacy over all other deities to suppress power of priesthood

Centered a new city (Akhetaten) between existing political capitol at Memphis and religious center at Thebes, thereby redirecting influences of each

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The Social Order

The social hierarchy – topped by the ruling dynasty supported by a priestly elite; multiple rungs in the social ladder and anyone could advance through education

The role of women – all property inherited through the female line of a family, offering large degrees of economic freedom; women could own and operate businesses

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The Arts in Ancient Egypt

Literature – no masterpieces of literature emerged from ancient Egypt, but many examples survive of written business records, lyric poetry, and works of advice

The visual arts The canon of proportion in painting

Spatial depth represented through conceptual stacking

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The Arts in Ancient Egypt (continued)

Temple architecture Mirrored Egyptian view of the cosmos: pylons, hypostyles, and obelisks

Music – many surviving instruments from tombs, and visual representations of musicians

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