Rituals In Ancient Egypt

Rituals of various sorts are a feature of almost all known human societies, past or present. It is performed mainly for their symbolic value, which is depicted by a religion or by the traditions of a community. It may be performed by a single individual, a group or an entire community. All rituals have a purpose, but they all vary; some may include compliance with religious obligations or ideals, satisfaction of spiritual or emotional needs, and sometimes simply for the pleasure of the ritual.

In Ancient Egypt, their rituals were based on religion, their belief in the rebirth after death became their driving force behind their funeral practices. According to their belief the eternal life could be ensured by means like devotion to the gods, preservation of the

The best known mask is the Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun, which is made out of gold and gems, the mask conveys the features of the ancient ruler. This mask was believed to strengthen the spirit of the mummy and guard the soul from evil spirits onto the afterworld. Masks were a very important aspect in the Ancient Egyptian burials, providing the dead with a face in the afterlife and also enabled the spirit to recognize the body. Unlike, the Bwa Culture, from Dossi, Burkina Faso, 1984, Five Masks in Performance, the masks are believed to possess powers which is controlled by those who wear them. The masks are used in ritual performance, mainly for the initiation of a young Bwa going into adulthood, the designs represent information regarding the myths and morality that the boys must learn before they can be accepted into adult society. Most masks depict spirits in human or animal form, these masks are depicted with a board shaped with a circular face at one end and a crescent moon on the other. The eyes are based on an owl and the hooked nose comes from the hornbill, both birds are thought to possess magical powers. The board section