Book of the Dead: The Egyptian Afterlife

Over 3,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians developed remarkable beliefs about life, death, and what came after. In this course, students will dive into one of history's most fascinating documents — the Book of the Dead — and explore what Egyptians believed happened to the soul after death.

Students will explore the gods who watched over the dead, including Anubis, the jackal-headed guardian of the underworld, and Osiris, who ruled over the afterlife. They'll learn about the weighing of the heart ceremony — a ritual where a person's soul was judged by placing their heart on a scale against a feather. Students will also get to decode hieroglyphics, the picture-based writing system the Egyptians used to record their stories, spells, and beliefs.

One of the course highlights is a hands-on mummification activity, where students will walk through the steps the Egyptians used to preserve the body for the afterlife. Don’t worry– we will be using fruits and vegetables in our reenactment! 

Student Outcomes:

• Explore the beliefs and stories recorded in Ancient Egypt's Book of the Dead
• Compare and contrast varying ancient beliefs of life and death 
• Learn about the Egyptian gods connected to the afterlife and their roles
• Experience the mummification process through a hands-on activity
• Decode and write hieroglyphics, the writing system used in ancient Egypt

*Note: Materials will be needed for this class. Nothing that can't be purchased at a grocery store, and will not cost more than $10. Material list will be shared during the first class, and they won't be needed until the 3rd class.