Temples and Egyptian Cults Flashcards
1
Q
The religious policy of the Ptolemies
A
-Ptolemies had no hostility towards the religion of the country they had conquered, & no interest in the diffusion of Greek religion among the Egyptians
- Traditional Egyptian religion considered the pharaoh as the sole intermediary between the gods and human beings.
- The gods gave him the authority to govern the country and bring the divine order. So opposition to his power was an act of impiety.
-This made their authority not only legitimate, but also absolute.
2
Q
Monarchy and the temples
A
- The Ptolemies tried to secure the support of the Egyptian clergy from the beginning.
- The coronation ceremony of the king, at least in the 2 c. BC, was one of the principal venues to show the mutual relationship between the crown and the clergy.
- The cult of Arsinoe II, sister of Ptolemy II, was introduced in all existing temples
- In Upper Egypt the priestly class of Thebes appears to have been less receptive.
- Temples received financial support, benefits and exemptions, but were also subject to some taxes and contributions. Taxes intended to support temples were collected by royal officials and only then passed on to the temple
3
Q
Dionysis
A
Osiris (god of afterlife)
4
Q
Artemis
A
Bastet (goddess of warfare in lower egypt)
5
Q
Aphrodite
A
Hathor
6
Q
Demeter
A
Isis (mother, wife, nature)
7
Q
Zeus
A
Amun
8
Q
Hermes
A
Thoth
9
Q
Typhon
A
Seth (monster)
10
Q
Temples
A
- Centers of cult
- Land holders
- Economic institutions
270BC 1/6 vineyard harvest were cultivated within temple estates
11
Q
Ptah
A
=Hephaestus
- Creator god, patron of craftsmen
- High priest of Ptah in Memphis had strict relationship with royal power
- Ptolemies tradition continued
12
Q
Decree of Kanopos 238BC
A
- continually bestow many great temples
- Honor the gods
- Safe and sacred Images back to Egypt that the Persians took
- Kept country in state of peace
- Provide law and order
13
Q
Rosetta Stone 196BC
A
- Decree passed by council of priests to celebrate first anniversary of coronation of Ptolemy V (13 years old)
- He has assigned to temples revenues in money and grain
- He is a god from a god and goddess
- Compares his parents to Osiris and Isis
14
Q
Greek Influence on Egyptian religion
A
- Some religious practices, such as incubation – sleeping in the sanctuaries
- Diffusion of images of Isis and some other gods in Greek style
- The creation of the new divine figure of Serapis in Alexandria: Greek in appearance, but based on a local deity, he developed into a god of agriculture with healing and oracular functions.
