I got 35 mins to write it and were gonna be given sources weve never seen. I timed myself with a practice essay. It worked out at 700words/25 mins. Not too bad I guess. Add 200 words for the source based stuff and thats my complete essay? Any feedback would be nice =]
From the contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb as well as other sources in the time period, we can analyse and draw conclusions concerning life in New Kingdom Egypt. We can come to terms with and grasp the impact of the pharaoh in the functioning of society, religion, death and burial practices, art and technology.
The pharaoh in New Kingdom Egypt had a pivotal role to play in sustaining order, protecting their people and ensuring a prosperous harvest was yielded.
Pharaohs, particularly Tutankhamun were looked at as the undoubted ruler, where their power and influence in Egyptian society was second to none and seldom compromised. The rings of nobility indicate a clear class structure where he is considered at or above the noble status. The cobra on his crown further validates his supremacy and vengeful king-like nature.
In times of dire conflict, the king would lead his army. This labelled him as a protective warrior-king as opposed to a figure who solely guides his people. From the tomb, this idea is backed up by the crook and flail, the insignia of Osiris where an epithet labelling Osiris as the ‘good shepherd’ parallels him to the pharaoh herding his sheep, his people.
In New Kingdom Egypt, there was a strong emphasis on religion where it formed the basis of the ideologies of the Egyptian people and how they went about honouring deities and their pharaoh.
Tutankhamun also restored the orthodox religion from the changes made by his predecessor Akhenaton who forced the soul adoration of Aten, the sun God. Confirmation of this was the carvings on Tutankhamun’s gold throne of him and his wife under the sun disk (Aten). Their names are inscribed in both their Aton and Amon forms suggesting the transition period in the abolishing of the worship of Aten and the construction of the throne early in his reign.
Egyptians were also to an extent discouraged from worship certain Gods such as Seth. In the figure showing Tutankhamun as the harpooner, the king was believed to be hunting hippopotamuses. In the context of the mythical conflict between Horus and Seth, Seth turns into a. This displays the king’s ever constant battle with Seth and evil. His omission as a hippopotamus from the figure may be due to the fact he threatens the king. In this sense, this figure acts as propaganda dissuading the Egyptian people from worshipping certain Gods.
Unique amongst the New Kingdom Egyptians was their death and burial practices. They underwent numerous processes in order to ensure the body was well preserved for use by the soul in the afterlife. Apparent in Tutankhamun’s tomb was one such practice of the removal of internal organs (liver, stomach, lungs and intestines) from the body and their placement in four canopic jars. Furthermore, from his linen-wrapped body and the perfumes and oils buried with him, we can also see the extent to which Egyptians taken to preserve significant individuals. There was also a widespread belief that the head was the ‘seat of life’ and was thought to be of particular importance for continued existence after death. In Tutankhamun’s case, an ivory headrest was kept under his head to make it comfortable for when the soul returns to its body. Only nobles and pharaohs got this extravagant treatment. Commoners were often buried or discarded in the sand.
New Kingdom Egypt art was renowned for their intricately designed golden artefacts where special attention was paid to detail. Such examples include the dagger and sheathe and Tutankhamun’s death mask where meticulous golden inscriptions and decorating techniques were used to produce stunning items. The foreign materials of certain objects like the wood of the ceremonial chair which was common in Lebanese furniture also suggests that Egyptians traded in order to construct some of their elaborate items.
Through closely studying Tutankhamun’s tomb, we can familiarise the modern world with ancient Egyptians importance of the pharaoh, religion, death and burial practices, art and technology. It should be said that the contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb, in all respects, is an indispensible source of information in the comprehension of life in New Kingdom Egypt.
