Egyptian religious poetry

INTRODUCTION

Tue importance of Egypt in the study of religion and in the performance of rites and ceremonies attracted attention as early as the time of Herodotus, for the Greeks were always ready to acknowledge their indebtedness to the people of the Nile Valley. Herodotus puts the matter in a few words: “ The Egyptians were the first to discover the year, which they divided into twelve months ... The Egyptians were the first who introduced the names of the twelve gods, and the Greeks borrowed those names from them ; they were the first to assign altars, images, and temples to the gods, and to carve figures of animals instone. ... The Egyptians were also the first who introduced public festivals, processions, and solemn supplications”” (Bk. ii, 4, 58).

Palestine was so closely linked geographically with Egypt that the influence of that great civilization must have been immense on the smaller and less civilized country. But to the jealous and barbarian Hebrews the splendour of Egypt was an offence, though they borrowed largely from the ideas and ideals, and even the very language, of the Egyptians. Yet in spite of hatred and malice, the influence of Egypt on the religion of both the Canaanites and Hebrews can be clearly seen, and through the Hebraic Scriptures that influence is found in the later religions, Christianity and Islam.