The Pyramids, Egypt
The people of ancient Egypt believed that
death on Earth was the start of a journey to the next world.
The embalmed body of the king was entombed
in a chamber either underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and allow his
transformation and ascension to the afterlife, and a place among the gods.
Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
During the Old Kingdom era, the kings
of Egypt began to emphasize their divine associations and their people believed
them to be manifestations of the god Horus.
After the time of Khufu, kings were
also proclaimed to be sons of the great sun god Re.
After his death, the king became
associated with Osiris, the father of Horus and god of the underworld.
His sacred powers were passed on to
the new ruler - usually his son.
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