Reference no: EM133688627

Assignment:

In your Egypt packet you will find a section of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, "Chapter 125": "The Judgment of the Dead." Read the section with particular Attention to the first four pages of the Ancient text concerning the "Introduction" and the "Negative Confessions and the Naming of the 42 Gods". Also keep in mind, when answering the prompt below, the very final statement at the end of the chapter: "Effective a million times."

Writing Instructions:

You are to write three paragraphs of approximately ½ page each, with each paragraph addressing a specific prompt:

First Paragraph:

Having looked at the negative statements given here, (e.g. "I have not....), there is a moral code implied as to how Egyptians were to act if they wished to pass on into the afterlife. Looking at the rather long list of these statements, explain what were the basic moral demands placed on the ancient Egyptians. Don't simply focus on specific moral demands, but on general categories, and show the demands which coincide"

Sample Topic Sentence: "Of the many demands implied by the "Negative Confessions," Ancient Egyptians primarily had to concern themselves with respecting the gods, treating others well, and being personally pious.

Of the many possible categories: respecting public resources, being socially just, being honest, showing integrity, etc.

For each category, provide three examples. I don't need a long quote here--a paraphrase of the confessions will do

Sample Body Sentence: Regarding treating others well, one was not to have, killed a man, defrauded a person of their property, or stolen.

Paragraph Two:

Drawing again from the "negative confessions," Answer the following question, how easy would it have been to live up to the ideals set forth by the document, and why? (Hint: Some of the demands are quite hard, some relatively easy, and others terribly vague)

Sample topic sentence: It would have been very challenging if not impossible to live by the Negative Confessions in that some of the confessions are impractical, others are unlcear and there are simply to many of them.

Sample Body Sentence: Many of the confession don't seem to make practical sense, like "I have not eaten my heart," which must have meant something, but what that was was unclear. Another example is the statement . . .

Paragraph Three:

Considering what has been discussed in paragraphs one and two, answer the following: Going by the "negative confessions" what must been the nature of living in Egyptian Society? Why? How in fact did the "Judgment of the Dead" likely play a role in Ancient Egyptian lives?

Sample Topic Sentence: Going by the implied moral demands suggested by the Confessions, daily life might have been very challenging if people actually believed in it and followed it. At same time, this would also cause people to either be very kind or very terrible to each other.