Priests & Rituals
Unlike some other ancient religions, the Egyptians didn't sacrifice humans on a regular basis as offerings. Animal sacrifices were more common, including ritual sacrifices of kittens to control the population of sacred cats. Sacrifices weren't the only rituals. Others included daily washing and clothing of the statues of the gods. Other rituals were big parties and festivals, maybe because one god had decided to visit the cult center of another. During these festivals, common Egyptians were the closest they had ever been to their gods. Usually, they were not permitted to enter the cult centers.
At first the management of the cult, was limited to the king, although the rituals were performed by his priests. Common Egyptians hoped the King took the religion seriously, or they would experience disasters like drought or famine. As religion got more popular, Egyptians built shrines in their homes, or small public ones to worship together.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/religion.htm
Priests had many duties - caring for the gods, arranging funerals, giving advice, arranging libraries and teaching.
http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html
During the New Kingdom, priests worked one month in three. For the other eight months, priests married, had children, and enjoyed spending time with family.
Egyptian priests had a highly complicated daily ritual. Before they entered the inner temple, they needed to purify themselves. First they washed at a stone pool, then rinsed their mouths with a natron-water mixture. (Natron was the salt used to dry out mummies). Priests were only allowed to wear linen, and white papyrus sandals. No leather or wool.
The daily temple rituals were to honour the gods, pay for the gifts they received, and ask for more blessings. The statue housed the spirit of the god or goddess.
As the sun rose, the priests would say "Awake in peace, great god". A prayer was said four times over the statue, giving the god his soul so that he could appear in physical form.
The statue was cleaned, its clothes changed, and incense was burned. The priests applied makeup to the statue, and covered it with jewellery. After this, the god was presented with a breakfast of bread, meat, fruit and vegetables, along with beer and wine. Once the god had eaten, the food was either offered to lesser deities or given to the temple staff. The entire sanctuary was sprinkled with water, then exactly five grains of salt were placed on the floor. When completed, the doors were closed and sealed.
These rituals were done in the morning, midday and evening. The morning ritual was the most important.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/priests.htm
At first the management of the cult, was limited to the king, although the rituals were performed by his priests. Common Egyptians hoped the King took the religion seriously, or they would experience disasters like drought or famine. As religion got more popular, Egyptians built shrines in their homes, or small public ones to worship together.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/religion.htm
Priests had many duties - caring for the gods, arranging funerals, giving advice, arranging libraries and teaching.
http://www2.sptimes.com/Egypt/EgyptCredit.4.3.html
During the New Kingdom, priests worked one month in three. For the other eight months, priests married, had children, and enjoyed spending time with family.
Egyptian priests had a highly complicated daily ritual. Before they entered the inner temple, they needed to purify themselves. First they washed at a stone pool, then rinsed their mouths with a natron-water mixture. (Natron was the salt used to dry out mummies). Priests were only allowed to wear linen, and white papyrus sandals. No leather or wool.
The daily temple rituals were to honour the gods, pay for the gifts they received, and ask for more blessings. The statue housed the spirit of the god or goddess.
As the sun rose, the priests would say "Awake in peace, great god". A prayer was said four times over the statue, giving the god his soul so that he could appear in physical form.
The statue was cleaned, its clothes changed, and incense was burned. The priests applied makeup to the statue, and covered it with jewellery. After this, the god was presented with a breakfast of bread, meat, fruit and vegetables, along with beer and wine. Once the god had eaten, the food was either offered to lesser deities or given to the temple staff. The entire sanctuary was sprinkled with water, then exactly five grains of salt were placed on the floor. When completed, the doors were closed and sealed.
These rituals were done in the morning, midday and evening. The morning ritual was the most important.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/priests.htm