The Old Kingdom ... 2686 - 2181 B.C. ... Dynasties III - VIII

The Middle Kingdom ... 2134 - 1786 B.C. ... Dynasties XI and XII

The Second Intermediate Kingdom ... 1786 - 1570 B. C. ... Dynasties XIII - XVII

The New Kingdom ... 1570 - 1085 B.C. ... Dynasties XVIII - XX

From early in their history, the Egyptians believed in the concept of life after death, which led them to perfect the art of embalming and drove them to build the magnificient pyramids and tombs. Their belief system was reflected in the nature and appearance of their deities.

Egyptians did not require human sacrifice and they did not discriminate against people with other religious beliefs. Their temples were considered homes of the deities rather than places of worship, and the ruling Pharaoh was considered an incarnated god on Earth.

Individual worship was performed at home altars. The people participated in seasonal festivals and occasionally made pilgrimages to shrines. The average person's life was a mixture of religious belief and magick.

In the beginning, the priests and priestesses didn't believe in polytheism or animal worship. They believed that the god-forms each represented a principle or aspect of the Supreme Creator. The ancient Egyptians believed that people had more than just a physical body ... they believed they had seven souls.

Their calendar was made up of twelve months of thirty days each with an adjustment period at the end to make up for the extra days. Their culture was primarily agricultural, and they closely observed the seasons, equinoxes, and solstices. Each month they celebrated two moon festivals ... one at the new moon with dance and song and one at the full moon with petitions and magick, rituals, and religions celebrations.