http://the-ascended.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] the-ascended.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-03-28 06:51 pm
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Introduction to Archaeology, 5th Period

"Continuing with Ancient Egyptian religion, we're looking at their creation myths.

Lower Kingdm.

Only the ocean existed at first. Then Ra (the sun) came out of an egg that appeared on the surface of the water. Ra brought forth four children, the gods Shu and Geb and the goddesses Tefnut and Nut. Shu and Tefnut became the atmosphere. They stood on Geb, who became the earth, and raised up Nut, who became the sky. Ra ruled over all. Geb and Nut later had two sons, Set and Osiris, and two daughters, Isis and Nephthys. Osiris succeeded Ra as king of the earth, helped by Isis, his sister-wife. Set, however, hated his brother and killed him. Isis then embalmed her husband's body with the help of the god Anubis, who thus became the god of embalming. The powerful charms of Isis resurrected Osiris, who became king of the netherworld, the land of the dead. Horus, who was the son of Osiris and Isis, later defeated Set in a great battle and became king of the earth.


Upper Kingdom

At first there was only Nun, the primal ocean of chaos that contained the beginnings of everything to come. From these waters came Ra who, by himself, gave birth to Shu and Tefnut. Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture gave birth to Geb and Nut, the earth god and the sky goddess. And so the physical universe was created. Men were created from Ra's tears. They proved to be ungrateful so Ra, and a council of gods, decided they should be destroyed. Re created Sekhmet to do the job. She was very efficient and slaughtered all but a few humans, when Ra relented and tricked her into stopping. Thus was the present world created. Against Ra's orders, Geb and Nut married. Ra was incensed and ordered Shu to separate them, which he did. But Nut was already pregnant, although unable to give birth as Ra had decreed she could not give birth in any month of any year. Thoth, the god of learning, decided to help her and gambling with the moon for extra light, was able to add five extra days to the 360-day calendar. On those five days Nut gave birth to Osiris, Horus the Elder, Set, Isis, and Nephthys successively. Osiris became the symbol of good, while Set became the symbol of evil. And thus the two poles of morality were fixed once and for all.

Any questions?

Homework from last week, on my desk please. Next lesson we'll be looking at some of these gods in more detail."

Re: Sign in (03/28)

[identity profile] lovechildblair.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
Blair signed in

Re: Homework

[identity profile] lovechildblair.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Blair turns in his homework on Apep or Apophis who was an evil demon, the deification of darkness and chaos, and thus opponent of light and Ma'at (order/truth), whose existence was believed about from the Middle Kingdom onwards.

Re: Class time (03/28)

[identity profile] lovechildblair.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
"So do you really believe these people existed? Like they were kings and priests or something? Or is it all myth?"

Re: Sign in (03/28)

[identity profile] bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
Molly signed in.

Re: Class time (03/28)

[identity profile] bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
Molly tried to take notes on the lecture and what others asked in class. Mostly though, she just doodled in her notebook.

Re: Sign in (03/28)

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Pippi signs in.

Re: Class time (03/28)

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Pippi does her best to pay attention during the lecture.

Re: Homework

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
Because she didn't know much about her, Pippi wrote about Isis. She talks about how Isis went from being Horus' wife to being his mother when she becomes the mother of Osirus... Who is her brother. Which is kinda creepy.

Pippi suspects also that she is her own grandpa.

"Isis" means "Queen of the Throne", and in honor of his is often depicted with a chair on her head. Pippi thinks that this is a nice sentament, but ultimately undignified.

Re: Homework

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Pippi comes up to Daniel after class.

"Dr. Jackson? I've been really enjoying the class... But um... Are we ever going to... Ya know... Try to dig things up?"

Re: Homework

[identity profile] strongestgirl.livejournal.com 2006-03-29 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh boy!" she gleed. "That sounds like great fun!"