History Channel's Egypt, Land of the Gods...

[Kaylara]

Is anyone else watching this? It's very informative, explaining the Egyptian pantheon and society very well.

Kaylara

[amberlaine]

Ah, shit! I meant to watch this! Well, hopefully it will come on again. ARGH!

[Kaylara]

The second hour is on now.

Kaylara

[Twilight Garden]

I watched it. It was actually really good. I only knew about from reading this thread. So Thanks Kaylara! :thumbsup:

[Melysande]

:( Well, that bites. Didn't know it was on. I'm definitely going to have to watch for it to come on again. (Hope it does.)

[Azure]

If you go to the discovery channel web site, you can sign up for them to send you an email telling you when it will be on again, so you don't miss it.

[Danustouch]

Looked like a great documentary..but I missed it :( A & E and the History Channell, and the Discover Channel always do such a wonderful job of making these Historical stories come to life for us. I for one, am SO happy that these channels exist !

[Earthcup]

I watched the first hour and then flipped over to an interesting thing on Nefertiri...:o It was interesting though.

[Calixto]

I liked it, and thought they did a good job.

They even discussed the Monolatry/Monotheism v. Polytheism controversy.

:)

I find this fellow very good, I liked his Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids too.

[Azure]

I liked Beyond the Pyramids, too.

Cal I just noticed you're in Richmond??? I have lots of family there - I'm there all the time. Very cool.

[Calixto]

Yeah, I moved here in November for my new job. My profiles all show my new location! ;)

Cool. Perhaps we could meet sometime. It would be nice as I know no one but my coworkers here.

[Azure]

Given the state of things with my family right now, it could literally be this weekend. . .

urgh.

[Azure]

Oh, and Beyond the Pyramids is in fact showing right now. . .

[Mnemosyne]

"They even discussed the Monolatry/Monotheism v. Polytheism controversy. "

Sorry Calixto, I missed the documentary, so what did it have to say about the monotheism v. polytheism controversy?

[Calixto]

Well they discussed both the apparent polytheism of the Kemetics, but also how at least some took a monotheist view, specifically referring to Amun and Atum and how it was one of several possible and common explanations in Kemetic religion.

They also discussed several of the creation myths.

The show then discussed Ankenaton's reforms and the Atonist monotheisms. Basically explained how the one possible explanation became the only allowed explanation.

Some possible explanations that Atonism was a response to the increasing power of the Amunite priesthoods, and how even after the restoration of the old Gods, the Pharaohs made sure to counter the power of the priesthood of Amun by countering it with the cults of Ra, Ptah and Atum.

The coolest part of the show was showing how the Copts still retain a lot of their old customs and traditions, and how even the Muslims still have them; to the point of carrying a boat around Thebes on the same day that Amun was carried on a boat .

Also interesting was seeing Roman and Ptolemaic Emperors shown as Pharaohs on the temples they built in the traditional Kemetic style.

They also showed reconstructions of Old Kingdom temples that had huge obelisks, on the scale of the Washington monument (far larger than the typical ones one sees today, the many "Cleopatra's Needles").

All in all, a very interesting show.

Azure: Hey whenever you drop by drop me an email...calixto@necronomi.com