Ancient Egypt: priests, their knowledge and role in the life of the state. What knowledge did the Egyptian priests possess?

Almost everyone at the mention of Ancient Egypt represents, of course, primarily the pyramids. Historical information about the Egyptian temples of the times of the Pharaohs to our days is not much. The first of these relate to the period of the Old Kingdom. In general, they were built on the same pattern.

There were so-called solar temples, whose plans in the main features were close to the houses of the Middle and New Kingdom. It was natural, because they were considered the dwellings of God.

general information

The people who served these temples belonged to a special class in Egyptian society. For example, at the time of Ramses they owned ten percent of cultivated land and almost the same number of people. Ancient Egypt, whose priests were considered to be on the royal service, did not have divisions for secular and ecclesiastical authorities. Positions paid well enough. Soon the ancient Egyptian priests began to transfer their posts by inheritance.

Temple attendants

Studying this country, experts came to the conclusion that it was this class that played the main role in the formation and prosperity of the state, in the development of spiritual health and the preservation of historical and cultural values. Ancient Egypt, whose priests were considered keepers of sacred traditions, according to Herodotus, was the most God-fearing and religious in the Ancient World. It used to be that the control of these clergymen negatively affected the life of the common people and the development of statehood. In fact, priests in ancient Egypt, being the keepers of sacred traditions, played a huge role in the history and culture of this ancient nation. And this is evidenced by the fact that this civilization lasted longer than all the others.

Who are the priests?

In Ancient Egypt it was a special clan. They had a really huge power, they were legislators of etiquette. Moreover, Ancient Egypt, whose priests were considered interpreters of the divine will, lived by their rules. And this was not just about ordinary people. To their opinion, even the pharaohs listened unconditionally.

Characteristics

Egyptian temples were rich enough, even more than rulers. Nevertheless, the priests of Ancient Egypt, a photo of the rock carvings of which - that is proof, dressed in surprisingly simple. They had only aprons and loincloths. In especially solemn occasions these clergymen are depicted in white robes. In many movies that tell how ancient Egypt existed and developed, the priests are presented with shaved heads, so rubbed with oil that the sun's rays reflect from their skulls. This appearance of the temple attendants contrasted sharply with the attire of the local aristocracy, striving for luxury.

Role

Nevertheless, many still do not represent who are the priests in ancient Egypt. This is a special caste of ministers to the higher powers, which performed many functions in the country. They should have followed the respectful attitude to the Egyptian gods, as well as observance of rituals and rituals.

But their role in the life of the country was not limited to this. What Egyptian priests possessed is still amazing to historians and many other scientists. They were carriers of the most versatile mental baggage, which was handed down from generation to generation, since the times of the deepest antiquity. All their knowledge and experience were kept as a strict secret.

Today, scientists make numerous discoveries, studying Ancient Egypt. Priests were able not only to heal, they taught children, bred the best breeds of cattle, received new varieties of plants. They are even credited with the possibility of correcting human mores. It was these servants of the gods who chose the most favorable time for sowing or harvesting, and they determined the exact timing of the Nile flood.

Moreover, in making their forecasts, the ancient Greek priests used data from the temple libraries, which contained very detailed observations of many astronomical phenomena. This is evidenced by the numerous artifacts discovered during excavations.

Knowledge

Many experts are studying the Ancient Egypt. But no one can say that he knows this civilization to the end, and in particular, has a relatively complete idea of this of its high caste.

The question of what kind of knowledge the Egyptian priests possessed, is still open. But one thing can be said for sure: the overwhelming majority of scientists do not deny the version that humanity today enjoys their discoveries, their technologies.

In ancient Egypt, astronomy was very developed, which closely intersected with astrology. However, it was not "prophetic", but agrarian and medical. Priests studied the influence of stars and other celestial bodies on the nature and well-being of people.

But there is one more opinion: our civilization is obliged to the representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations by acquisition of the most secret knowledge. And this statement is connected with such a state as Ancient Egypt, the priests of which the entire way of life of their people and their religious rituals were measured in accordance with the laws by which the star Sirius moved .

Surprisingly, this is the name of the main god of the Egyptians. Osiris ... In this name, you can clearly hear admiration and admiration for Sirius.

Duties

Priests, as many believe, were not intended to suppress the will of the Egyptians by religion. They did not intimidate the common people with it. Moreover, religion for this civilization was a guarantee of social development and personal perfection.

In ancient Egypt, the priests were divided into separate groups, performing certain duties. They were both guardians of sacred secrets, and religious administrators. To obtain even the lowest rank one had to learn a lot, and this process was serious and difficult. If, for example, talking about the career of Bakenkhons, the high priest during the reign of Ramses the Great, his training began when the future clergyman was only four years old, and it ended by the age of twenty.

Magic

This was considered their most powerful weapon. They used magic in almost all spheres of life. For example, to cure a sick person, the Egyptian priest first introduced him into a trance. During the patient's forgetting, he coded his consciousness for the necessary result: for an early and full recovery to occur.

They used magic in all areas of life, however, in the curative-protective sphere closely connected with medicine, the culture of trance among the ancient Egyptians reached its maximum development.

Any use of medicines in Ancient Egypt should have been accompanied by the patient's entry into this state, and then by coding, conducted with the help of spells and appeals to the most authoritative gods.

Remote impact

The priests perfectly mastered the ability to influence hostilely not only their opponents, but also the enemies of the state through the trance. To do this, they used the secret mystical psychology of various spells, for example, witchcrafting over the wax figures of enemies, as well as over their magical images. For remote exposure, they themselves had to go into trance in order to be able to influence the consciousness and the body of opponents.

Some experts believe that it is the Egyptian priests who are the ancestors of the knowledge of mankind about such a phenomenon as hypnosis.

Spellbinding Magic

It is known that these clergymen of the temples were primarily engaged in servicing the cults of the gods. But not only. The priests perfectly mastered the technique of ritual - requiem - magic, since there were a lot of necropolises and tombs in Ancient Egypt. It is believed that they were able to influence mystical secret spells and to "ka" - existence after death, were able to mummify the dead. Priests placed in the sarcophagi near them specially made for this case witchcraft. "Ushabti", as they were called, according to the Egyptians, guarded "ka" of the deceased in the afterlife.

Customs and rituals

Many people assume that in this way they showed their respect for the gods and did not turn their backs on them. Another custom, when the priests dressed in costumes and masked masks on the day of the Osiris rebellion or on New Year's Day , and then went out into the city and walked along the streets, very much resemble today's carnivals. The only difference is that they only took place on new moon and were considered a special sacred rite, and in modern people this is an ordinary entertainment show. Yet the priests had the most powerful "weapon" in their magic. There was even a whole trance culture with amulets, drugs, images and conspiracies, protecting, including from various diseases: even from the bites of insects and snakes, as well as scorpions and predators. In addition, among this caste there were special customs that surprise researchers so far. For example, why did the ancient Egyptian priests leave the temple and retreat.