Sam Tetrault, a contributing writer for Cake, has an article about the ancient Egyptians and their beliefs in the afterlife. For historical reference, most historians regard the "ancient" period of Egypt as lasting from circa 3100 B.C.E. (when the first pharaohs reigned) to 332 B.C.E. (when Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great). Tetrault points out that death was not something the ancient Egyptians were afraid of:
"[The] Egyptians didn’t have much fear surrounding death. Because death meant continuing on to the afterlife, which was very similar to the life they knew—this wasn’t a reason to be sad. Daily life in ancient Egypt focused on living to the fullest, whether that meant joining festivals, gaining wealth, or appreciating moments with friends and family."
One aspect of Tetrault's article that I find particularly intriguing is the concept of a confession and "final judgement", which predates the beginnings of the great monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam):
"The first stop for departed souls is to the Hall of Truths. This is where they wait in line for judgment from Osiris, the god of the afterlife. In front of Osiris and the Forty-Two Judges, the soul makes what’s known as their Negative Confessions. This is a list of 42 sins one can commit against one’s self, the gods, or others....From there, the judges discuss the confession and present the heart to Osiris. It’s weighed on a scale against the feather of truth. If the heart is lighter than the feature, the soul goes to the afterlife."
Many other interesting facts and tidbits in Tetrault's article, including the Egyptians' belief that not burying a body would cause that person to return as a ghost!
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