Religious Research

Religious Research

The Philosophy of the Body in Ancient Egyptian Mythology

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Sajad Dehganzadeh 1
fereshtehkhedmati khedmati 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Religions and Mysticism, Azarbaijan shahid madani university, Tabriz, Iran
2 MA Student in Religions and Mysticism, Azarbaijan shahid madani university, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2025.496778.2251
Abstract
The discussion concerning the "nature," "origin," "function," "raison d'être," "subtle inner aspects," and "specific characteristics" of the physical body can be proposed and analyzed under the title of "philosophy of the body". In ancient cultures, the attribution of religious meaning to the body and the attention paid to its identity and its dimensions, as a relatively objective strategy for securing the necessary conditions for ultimate bliss (lasting pleasure), is most evident in the mysterious religion of ancient Egypt (3100 BC - 300 BC). This research is organized around the following questions: 1. Based on what evidence can we speak of the body possessing a sacred meaning for the ancient Egyptians? 2. What is the relationship between the concept of immortality (ultimate bliss) and the health of the body? 3. From the religious viewpoint of ancient Egypt, what is the structural nature of the human construct?
Based on this research, which has been conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, it becomes clear that from the perspective of the mythological anthropology of ancient Egypt, the human body, in addition to its divine origin, has a structurally unified, compound, and homogeneous existence, like a highly organized set. In this view, the "Ka" (faculty of thought), "Ba" (life force), "Khat" (physical body), "Akh" (transformed self), and "Ib/Haty" (heart) are considered its main components. However, the eternal survival of a human is absolutely contingent upon the "Khat" (physical body) preserving its physical health and integrity; and this is considered the fundamental philosophy behind the prevalence of the mummification industry in ancient Egypt.
Keywords
Philosophy of the Body
Primitive Religion
Ancient Egypt
Religious Anthropology
Mythology
Subjects
A. Persian Sources
Bout, S. 1394 Sh. Mesr-e Bāstān [Ancient Egypt]. (Alireza Baharlou, Trans.). Tehran: Avand Danesh.
Chevalier, J., & Gheerbrant, A. 1387 Sh. Farhang-e namād-hā [A Dictionary of Symbols]. (Soodabeh Fazayeli, Trans.). Tehran: Saraye Nik.
Davis, A. H. 1395 Sh. Dā'eratolma'āref-e moṣavvar-e tārīkh-e jahān [History: The Definitive Visual Guide]. (Elham Shoushtari Zadeh, Trans.). Tehran: Sayan.
Drioton, É., & Vandier, J. 1332 Sh. Tārīkh-e Mesr-e qadīm [Les Peuples de l'Orient Méditerranéen: L'Égypte]. (Ahmad Behmansh, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press.
Eliade, M. 1375 Sh. Namādpardāzī-ye amr-e qodsī va honar-hā [Symbolism, the Sacred, and the Arts. (Mani Salehi Allameh, Trans.)]. Tehran: Niloufar.
Eliade, M. 1385 Sh. Motūn-e moqaddas-e bonyādīn az sarāsar-e jahān (Jeld-e 3 va 4) [Essential Sacred Writings from around the World (Vols. 3 & 4)], (Mani Salehi Allameh, Trans.). Tehran: Ramin.
Eliade, M.1397 Sh. Az Javāme'-e Ebtedāyi tā Zen [From Primitives to Zen], (Sajjad Dehghanzadeh, Trans.). Tehran: Ketab-e Parseh.
Enel. 1390 Sh. Asrār-e ḥayāt va marg (bar ḥasb-e āmūzeh-hā-ye ma`ābed-e Mesr-e bāstān [The Secrets of Life and Death (According to the Teachings of Ancient Egyptian Temples)]. (Andre Guy et al., Trans. From English to French [; Shahla Alma'ei, et al., Trans. From French to Persian]). Tehran: Alma'ei-Kiyafar.
Firouzi, J., & Haghighat, S. 1393 Sh. "Ostūre-hā-ye āfarīnesh-e ensān dar Mesr va Beyn-on-nahrayn" [Myths of Human Creation in Egypt and Mesopotamia]. Faslnāme-ye 'elmī va pajūheshī Pazhouheshnāme-ye Adyān (Research of Religions Quarterly), 15, 53-75.
Frazer, J. G. 1382 Sh. Shākhe-ye zarrīn (pajūheshī dar jādū va dīn) [The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion]. (Kazem Firouzmand, Trans.). Tehran: Agah.
Hartmann, G. 1380 Sh. Sāzandegān-e donyā-ye kohan [Builders of the Ancient World]. (Hossein Mortezavi Mahdi Abad, Trans.). Tehran: Agah.
Ions, V. 1375 Sh. Shenākht-e asāṭīr-e Mesr [Understanding the Egyptian Mythology]. (Bajlan Farrokhi, Trans.). Tehran: Asatir.
Johnston, S. I. 1394 Sh. Darāmadī bar dīn-hā-ye donyā-ye bāstān [An Introduction to Ancient Religions]. (Javad Firouzi, Trans.). Tehran: Qoqnous.
Mohammad Panah, B. 1385 Sh. Asrār-e tamaddon-e Mesr-e bāstān [Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Civilization]. Tehran: Sabzan.
Nasr, S. H. 1384 Sh. Dīn va nazm-e tabī'at [Religion and the Order of Nature]. Tehran: Hekmat.
Pals, D. L. 1381 Sh. Haft nazariye dar bāb-e din [Seven Theories of Religion]. (Mohammad Aziz Bakhtiari, Trans. & Critique). Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute Press.
Rezaei, M. 1386 Sh. Āfarīnesh va marg dar asāṭīr [Creation and Death in Myths]. Tehran: Asatir.
Tillich, P. 1381 Sh. Elāhīyāt-e sīstemātīk [Systematic Theology]. (Hossein Nowroozi, Trans.). Tehran: Hekmat Publications. (Original work published 1951-1963).
Unamuno, M. de. 1360 Sh. Dard-e jāvedānegi; seresht-e soghnāk-e zendegī[The Tragic Sense of Life]. (Baha'al-Din Khorramshahi, Trans.). Tehran: Nahid.
Viaud, J. 1381 Sh. Asāṭīr-e Mesr [Egyptian Mythology]. (Abolghasem Esmailpour, Trans.). Tehran: Caravan.
 
B.  English Sources
Allen, J. P. 2005. The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Society of Biblical Literature.
Budge, E. A. W. 2016. The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead: Prayers, Incantations, and Other Texts from the Book of the Dead. Quarto Publishing.
Kootz, A. 2021. The Body as a Toolbox in Ancient Egypt. University of Cologne.
Malinowski, B. 1984. Magic, Science and Religion and Other Essays. The Free Press.
Mark, J. J. 2017. Ancient Egypt. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org
Pinch, G. 1994. Magic in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press.
Ruiz, A. 2001. The Spirit of Ancient Egypt. Algora Publishing.
Suita, H. 2022. Study of Egyptian Monuments (Vol. 1). Kansai University, Japan.
Thomas, E. 2021. Magic in the Ancient World: Egyptian Deities and Uses. The Collector. Retrieved from https://www.thecollector.com
Turner, V. 1986. Death. In M. Eliade (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Religion (Vol. 4, p. 253). Macmillan.
Wilkinson, T. 2010. The Egyptian World. Routledge.
Religious Research
Volume 13, Issue 25 - Serial Number 25
November 2025
Pages 239-266