SOC250Y1 Lecture : Egypt Cont. and Hell
Document Summary
Book of gates from the new kingdom era narrates passage of the deceased to the underworld (tuat), after judgment before osiris. Must pass through a series of 12 gates with guardian goddesses . In the 8th region, the fire-serpent burns up the bodies and souls of wrong-doers. Book of am-tuat describes and depicts the deceased pharaoh s. 12 hour night journey with ra, in cosmic battle with apep, demon of darkness and disorder (a snake below the horizon). Also contains scenes of torments, with 5 fire-pits and a serpent breathing fire, burning up bodies and souls, and in another pit the wrong-doers are hung upside down and hacked to pieces. If there are equal rewards not fair to people who lived their lives in a good manner. Egyptian hell features destruction rather than eternal punishments. Death as a theodicy problem, and a social control problem.