fe made them have bad premonitions towards their afterlife. They believed that at death that they were going to descend forever into a dark underworld, a huge cave filled with nothing but dust and silence. They tried to enjoy life as much as they could but did not look forward to the afterlife. Death was not the paradise that the Egyptians believed in. It was considered eternal hell. (Hause, 2001, pg. 10) An example of the Sumerians fearing the afterlife is portrayed in The Epic of Gilgamesh Gilgamesh asks Unthapashtim (a biblical version of Noah; Genesis), if there is anyway he can attain immortality. Gilgamesh realized that he was mortal after the death of his friend. Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh that there is no such thing as permanence. Gilgamesh must come to terms that one day he will die and that scared him greatly. (Sherman, 2000, pg. 8)Life in general was ideal for the Egyptians. Contrary to Mesopotamia, Egypt had the reliable Nile for constant irrigation as well as a location that was almost impossible to invade. Egyptians didnt have to deal with warfare for some two thousand years. The Niles annual flood was so predictable that it provided the moisture needed to sustain life. (Hause, 2001, pg. 11)An example of how important the Nile was can be seen in Hymn to the Nile. This hymn praises the Nile as well as the gods of the Nile. They received such great praise for its abundance since this the Nile was the main reason why Egypt stayed peaceful and powerful. (Sherman, 2000, pgs. 10-11)Egyptians were rarely at odds with the gods/goddesses or Pharaohs. The gods and Pharaohs were constantly praised for all the deeds and riches that Death and Afterlife 4were given to the Egyptians. Hymn to the Pharaoh, is a hymn that portrays the Pharaohs as powerful and generous rulers who provide Egypt with its riches. You have protectedenrichedstrengthenedenlarged and made them prosper. This hymn reveals that there were always p...
