Analysis of the Influencing Society Factors of the Burial Ritual Evolution and Formation in Ancient Egypt
Abstract
The burial rituals in Egypt include the construction of tombs, the display of burial objects, the treatment of bodies and funeral ceremonies. As the symbol of Egyptians’ wishes for the afterlife, their formation was deeply affected by the religious culture of Egypt. However, the Egypt society also played an important role in the changes of burial rituals. This paper has chosen some typical examples from different periods in Egypt to discuss the social influence of funeral ceremonies from three aspects, namely scientific and technological development, economic situation and social ideology. The evolution and formation of funeral ceremonies in ancient Egypt were influenced by three factors: technology, economy, and social ideology. Technological development provided conditions for Egyptians to construct complex cemeteries and create exquisite funeral supplies. The economy would affect the scale of funeral ceremonies, while social relations mainly influenced the tomb objects in different tombs. Through the discussion and research of the cemeteries from different periods, the paper demonstrates that the society factors had a great influence on the burial ritual evolution and formation; they promoted the burial rituals to develop and differentiate into various forms.
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