The God Thoth was the ancient Egyptian deity associated with writing and knowledge. As such, he was the natural benefactor of ancient Egyptian scribes and other government officials. He was said to be married to the Goddess Ma’at (the divine personification of order and justice) and thus, was present for the judgment of the dead.

Heka is a God in the ancient Egyptian pantheon and the divine personification of magic. The ancient Egyptians believed that magic had been created by the God Atum, when he created the universe. Heka was worshipped by ancient Egyptians who were sick or injured and desired a magical remedy. To the ancient Egyptians, there was no real distinction between magic and scientific understanding, and both were forces to be used against sickness and misfortune.

The scarab beetle was considered sacred to Egyptians. They represented life after death and even the resurrection. They are popular today as they are seen belonging in pieces of jewelry.

All of these types of temples were commonly built in ancient Egypt. Mortuary cults were created to provide for the maintenance and care of a deceased ruler’s tomb and legacy; birthing and fertility houses were commonly visited by Egyptian people to pray for successful conception and childbirth or an abundant harvest; and barque stations were used as stopping points on the many ceremonial processions of boats which were meant to imitate the sailing of the Gods across the sky.

The Karnak Temple Complex was built over the course of ancient Egyptian history (beginning in the Middle Kingdom). It was constructed adjacent to the city of Thebes and reflects the religious traditions of the Thebans. Karnak contains three main precincts: the largest one is dedicated to the chief deity of Theban religion, Amun; the two smaller precincts are dedicated to Mut (Amun’s partner) and Montu (a deity associated with warfare).

The Third Intermediate Period begins with the fall of the New Kingdom in the eleventh century BCE. It was a period of time when Egypt was ruled by a series of foreign conquerors. First, the Libyans ruled Egypt during the twenty-second and twenty-third dynasties, and then the Nubians ruled Egypt during the twenty-fourth dynasty.

Adultery was illegal for both men and women throughout most of ancient Egyptian history. Women, however, were forbidden from committing adultery with anyone. Whereas men were only forbidden from committing adultery with a married woman. This was done to ensure that a father could be reassured of his paternity, and not out of some modern appreciation for women’s rights.

The temple organizations of ancient Egypt owned a great deal of property and possessed immense power in their own right. When the Pharaoh’s authority was strong, the power of the priesthood tended to be suppressed; such as during the Old Kingdom and the early years of the New Kingdom. When the power of the Pharaoh was diminished, however, the priesthood tended to become more powerful; such as in the latter years of the New Kingdom and during the Third Intermediate Period.

The Battle of Djahy was a defensive battle fought by the Egyptians against a nomadic confederation of raiders known as the Sea People, who invaded Egypt consistently over many years during the Third Intermediate Period.

The Twenty-Fifth Dynasty of Egypt was the last ruling dynasty of the Third Intermediate Period. The dynasty had the misfortune of coexisting with the rising power of Assyria and was dealt a devastating blow when Assyrian forces sacked the cities of Thebes and Memphis in the seventh century BCE.