THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION

The similarities and differences between religious beliefs of the ancient Greece and Egypt civilizations An Assignment Submitted by Name of Student Name of Establishment Class XXXX, Section XXXX, Fall 2011

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION

Abstract Ancient Greece and Egypt went though the long historical path with each civilization inheriting its own peculiarities and features. However, there was a period when they coexisted together in terms of time frameworks, thus influencing each other and adopting some common patterns. As regards to the religious believes these two civilizations introduced some common believes and perception of the world through religion and local believes. On the other hand, they both developed their own understanding of the environment and organizational structure with religion being in the center of both societies. Keywords: Egypt, Greece, religion, gods, pantheon, believes.

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION The similarities and differences between religious beliefs of the ancient Greece and Egypt civilizations Ancient Greece and Egyptian civilization are lost in times of history, but still widely discussed in terms of their religious structures. According to the Hellenic Foundation, Ancient Greece dates of 1100 BC with its decline in 146 BC, while Egyptian civilization lasted from 3110 BC to 31 BC when Pharaoh rule terminated (The British Museum). Both civilizations have some common features and fundamental differences, in particular as regards to the religion and its understanding. However, religious believes of two civilization are directly linked to their cultures as both are inextricably interwoven with religion being a subset of the later (Blanco, Leyva, Nicklaw, Winton, 2006). When exploring Greek and Egyptian cultures in terms of their religious believes, we see that both ancient civilizations had Gods pantheon in the center of their world perception. For instance, ancient Egypt recognized various gods that were divided into personal gods, local gods and cosmic gods with over eighty gods being worshipped totally (Durant, 1935, p.197). On the other hand, we can see that Greece had many different gods as well. They were distinguished by the functional and attributive hierarchy with twelve major divinities being worshiped on a permanent basis (American Philosophical Society, 2001). At the same time, with Gods pantheon being a center of both civilizations believes, they had significant differences as regards to society structure and outer world perception. When talking about Egypt we can say that religion was pervasive and deeply penetrated the entire society from totemism to theology, however, with no influence on morality (Durant, 1935, p.197). On the other hand, Greeks personified abstract objects and tools as well as endorsed moral sense and life to the surrounding world: they had Naiads, Gods of

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION winds, Gods of rivers, Gods of seas, Gods of the woods and trees, Eurus, Auster and Zephyr, etc. (Godwin, 1814). Further, both Greeks and Egyptians endorsed their gods with symbolic features that explained material world, social life and emotional conditions of the individual. We can see that dual nature of life is symbolically featured in negative and positive forces represented by opposite gods. For instance, Seth and Osiris were associated with death and life respectfully in Egypt (Morenz, 1994), while Uranus and Tellus represented Heaven and Earth relatively in Ancient Greece (Godwin, 1814). Egyptians presented their gods in pairs and through the divine family of Osiris, Iris and Horus who considered themselves as descendants of gods (Watterson 1996). Greeks instead created a network of family ties that related gods to the myths and heroes. For example, Uranus was the son and the husband of Tellus with both of them being the parents of the Titans who had halfbrothers Giants (Godwin, 1814). Moreover, both civilizations were similar in having their supreme gods - Jupiter in Greece and Re in Egypt - that were set to oversee the Earth and the Heaven. The major difference is that Jupiter was presiding on the mount Olympus and gave birth to all deities (Godwin, 1814), while Re was considered as the sun god that obtained original power of men creation as well as introduced the concept of truth and balance justice (Morenz, 1994). At the same time, while Greeks were constant with worshipping their gods, Egyptians accepted various gods, had no common system of religious beliefs and were flexible in adopting new divine representatives (Quirke, 1992). On the other hand, understanding of religion as regards to worshipping and religious ceremonies differed in Egypt and Greece significantly. Egyptians constructed

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION magnificent pyramids and tombs to worship their gods and, mostly, to ensure descent burial of the dead pharaoh (Nicholas, 1992). Egyptian religious buildings were closed for ordinary people with only pharaohs having access to them through consent and nomination of the priests (Watterson, 1996). Greeks, instead, built their temples as homes for their respected gods and goddess that controlled natural forces. These temples were equipped with the best servants to satisfy gods needs, while Greeks made daily offerings in the form of food, drink, or profit share from the military or trading activities (Odyssey Adventures in Archaeology, 2012). In addition, in contrast to the Egyptian civilization Greeks deeply personified their gods creating myths and heroes as well as explained the surrounding environment though abstract religious concepts. For example, Homer presented Minerva trying the rage of Achilles (Homer, 1998) meaning that the Prudence and Wisdom of the later produced the relevant consequences (Godwin, 1814). As a result, while both civilizations have some common features in terms of religious believes and perception of the world through religion, they differed significantly in worshipping their gods. While Greeks personified gods relating them with heroes and praising them in myths, Egyptians endorsed religion through divenisation of the ruling family and attributing religious rites to the governance. Greeks believed that Jupiter created all deities, while Egyptians considered Re as men creator. At the same time, Greeks had more constant approach to their gods with Olympus and Jupiter being respected through the entire history of Ancient Greece. Egypt instead was tend to change gods depending on the new concept of governance and social life conditions.

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION

References Blanco F., Leyva C., Nicklaw D., Winton B. (2006). The Globalisation of Religion. Arizona State University. Durant, W. (1935). The Story of Civilisations (Vol.1): OUr Oriental Heritage. MJF Books.

THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE ANCIENT GREECE AND EGYPT CIVILISATION Godwin, W. (1814). The Pantheon: Or, Ancient History of the Gods of Greece and Rome. (4th ed.). London. Hellenic Foundation. The History of Greece. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.hellenicfoundation.com/History.htm Homer. (1998). The Iliad. Orange Street Press. New York. Morenz, S. (1994). Egyptian Religion. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press. Odyssey Adventure in Archaeology. (2012). The Role of the Temples. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/articles/greektemple/greek_temple.htm Quirke, S. (1992). Ancient Egyptian Religion. New York: Dover Publications. The British Museum. Ancient Egypt. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html Watterson, B. (1996). Gods of Ancient Egypt. Gloicestershire, England: Suttom Publishing.