Ancient Egyptian religions focused on the king and the afterlife. They also equated the king with Osiris, Horus, and other gods. Osiris the first king of Egypt was killed by Seth. His evil brother was then killed and his son Horus was forced to take revenge. There were many versions of this myth, but the second century AD writings of Plutarch contain the most detailed version. Its purpose was to associate a living King with the god Horus.
The beliefs about the afterlife of Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians believed that the dead had an afterlife that involved a spiritual journey. They would meet demons as well other evil creatures on their way. To overcome the obstacles, they needed the assistance of Horus, a falcon-headed god. The Book of the Dead spells and incantations were found in the Egyptian tombs. The dead also had guardian gods who helped them on their journey.
The crook and flail
Ancient Egyptian religion regarded the flail and crook as symbols of authority and power. It is commonly depicted as a god's weapon, held by the ruling pharaoh and viceroy of Nubia. Although the crooks and flails were often depicted together in pictures, they weren't always used together.
The solar vision in the afterlife
The ancient Egyptians had a very complex understanding of reality. Many of their religious beliefs overlapped with actual science. They saw the sky as a cosmos, and constructed monuments in harmony with it. The Sphinx, for instance, was placed to catch the rising Sun over its shoulder.
The role of the king in Egypt's afterlife beliefs
The Egyptians believed that after death, the soul would go to a different realm. This realm was called Duat. The Duat was a realm where the dead could live out their remaining lives free from any disease or nastiness that plagued them. The king, a powerful figure in the afterlife, played an important role in preparing his people for this realm.
The crook
Ancient Egyptian symbols of fertility and kingship, the flail and crook were both symbols of kingship. They were attributes to the god Osiris. The earliest known examples of the crook date back to Gerzeh culture, while the first flail was found in tomb U547 in Abydos. Although the crook & flail were initially two distinct objects, they were increasingly seen together in the Second Dynasty.
The flail and crook signify filial piety
In ancient Egypt, the flail and crook were symbols for pharaonic authority. The god Osiris was represented by the crook which looked almost like a snake. The flail was constructed of wood, which is rare in ancient Egypt. Howard Carter discovered a flail, and crook within King Tut’s burial.