Per-Ankh

No Religion

One very important thing to remember about the ancient Egyptian religion, is that people never used the word "religion". That word simply did not exist. To them every day of life and every phenomena in the world around them had a symbolical connection to the gods. For them it was inconceiveable to live without their gods and their myths, they were completely interwoven with the fabric of life. Man´s task was to live according to Ma´at and to care for the gods.

Home of God

The temple was the House of the god, not the house of the priesthood. It was considered the god´s very home and as long as it was kept immaculate and everything was in order according to Ma´at, the god was happy and was content to stay in his house. If he didn´t, he would leave and there would be great unhappiness and trouble for Egypt.

The highest priest for any and all gods was of course Pharao, who in his turn appointed high priests and other priests to perform his duties to the gods. And it was only Pharao or the priest on duty who was allowed into the innermost chamber of the temple, where the naos was kept (the shrine built of wood), where the statue of the god was situated. This they did only at the morning ceremony, the midday and evening ceremony. At all other times noone entered that part of the temple and the cult statue rested peacefully in the naos behind closed and locked doors.

The rest of the priesthood were the only ones who were allowed beyond the outer court. The worshippers (the Shemsu) were not allowed further than the outer court, where they could leave their offerings to priests who brought them into the temple. So the temple did not function like the temples of other cultures, where people come and go more or less as they please. These temple precincts were the domains of the god, who was believed to be resident in actual fact.

The most important task of the priesthood was to see to it that the god was well cared for and got everything that he could need. They were indeed "servants of the god". They had the duty to ensure that the god remained in his home and in Egypt for the wellbeing of the land and its citizens. If he were to be discontent he would no longer give his protection. Therefore one of the most important duties was to at all times give the gods their due respect and observation, and this fell mainly on the priesthood.

Everyday Worship and Festivals

But the relationship between the everyday Egyptian and his god was nevertheless an intense one. Those who lived near an important cult center or even a smaller temple could always go to the outer court and leave their offerings. There was also a backdoor behind the main building where they could hand in their ostraca on which they had scribbled prayers and questions, or they could whisper their questions to an attending priest. The priests took care of it and usually provided the questioner with an answer of sorts.

Then there were the festival days when the god was carried on his bargue in procession through the city. At those occasions the processional route was lined with worshippers and residents who came to get a glimpse of the statue, even though it was usually hidden with hangings and shaded with great ostrich feathers. These festive occasions were much cherished and longed for, and then it was probably allowed for the commoner to enter the temples and, after having made a suitable offering he could perhaps wander across the holy courtyards and maybe visit the place where the sacred animals were kept.