Ancient Egyptian religions were focused on the king, and the afterlife. The king was often associated with Osiris or Horus. Osiris, the first king of Egypt, was murdered by his evil brother Seth and then was avenged by Horus, his son. The story was told in many ways, but the most extensive version is found in Plutarch's writings in the second-century AD. Its purpose was to associate a living king with the god Horus.
Afterlife beliefs of the Egyptians
Ancient Egyptians believed the afterlife was a spiritual one. They would meet demons as well other evil creatures on their way. They needed the help of the falcon-headed god, Horus, to pass through the obstacles. Incantations and spells taken from the Book of the Dead were used to fill the Egyptian tombs. To aid them in their journey, the dead were aided by guardian Gods.
The crook and flail
Ancient Egyptian religion regarded the flail and crook as symbols of authority and power. It is often depicted in the form of a god's weapon by the ruler pharaoh or viceroy de Nubia. Although often shown together, the flail and crook were not always used together.
The solar vision of the afterlife
Ancient Egyptians had a complex view of reality. Their religious beliefs often overlapped with science. For example, the Egyptians viewed the sky in a cosmic ocean. They built monuments to align with this cosmos. For example, the Sphinx was designed to catch the rising sun on its shoulder.
The role of the king and egypt’s afterlife beliefs
Egyptians believed the soul would be transferred to another realm upon death. This realm was known as the Duat. This realm was where the dead would spend the rest of their lives without suffering from the diseases and nastiness that plagued their bodies. A powerful figure in the afterlife who played an important role in preparing his subjects for this realm, was the king.
The crook
The crook and flail were ancient Egyptian symbols of kingship and fertility. These were attributes of Osiris. The Gerzeh Culture has the earliest examples of the crook. Meanwhile, Abydos found the first flail in tomb U547. Although originally two separate objects, the crook and flail became more common in later centuries.
The crook or flail is a sign that you are filial.
In ancient Egypt, the flail and crook were symbols for pharaonic authority. The Osiris god was represented by the crook, which resembled a snake. The flail was made of wood, which was scarce in ancient Egypt. Howard Carter discovered the flail and crook inside King Tut's grave.