Intercession

Definition

Intercession refers to the act of intervening on behalf of someone, particularly in a spiritual or religious context. In ancient Egyptian belief, intercession was crucial for connecting the mortal world with the divine, where deities acted as intermediaries to convey human prayers and needs to higher gods. This practice was especially significant for households, where personal deities played a vital role in the daily lives of individuals, providing protection and guidance through intercessory actions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In ancient Egypt, families often had small household shrines dedicated to their personal deities where they would perform acts of intercession through offerings and prayers.
2. Intercession was viewed as essential for maintaining the favor of the gods and ensuring protection and blessings for the household.
3. Household deities were believed to have specific attributes that aligned with the needs of the family, allowing them to intercede effectively on their behalf.
4. Priests also played a significant role in intercession by performing rituals and sacrifices in temples to gain the favor of the gods for both individuals and the community.
5. The concept of intercession highlights the relational aspect of ancient Egyptian religion, where personal connections with deities influenced everyday life and decision-making.

Review Questions

• How did intercession influence the relationship between households and their personal deities in ancient Egyptian culture?
  • Intercession created a dynamic relationship between households and their personal deities by emphasizing the need for divine assistance in daily life. Families relied on their deities to act as intermediaries who could communicate their needs and prayers to higher gods. This relationship was maintained through rituals and offerings at household shrines, which not only reinforced family identity but also ensured continued blessings and protection from their chosen deities.
• Discuss how rituals performed as acts of intercession differed between personal household practices and those conducted by priests in temples.
  • Rituals performed by families as acts of intercession were generally more intimate and focused on personal needs, such as health or prosperity, using simple offerings at home shrines. In contrast, rituals conducted by priests in temples were more formalized and grander in scale, often involving elaborate sacrifices and communal participation to invoke divine favor for the entire community. Both types of rituals served to connect worshippers with the divine but catered to different scopes of influence—personal versus communal.
• Evaluate the importance of intercession within the broader context of ancient Egyptian religious practices and how it reflects societal values.
  • Intercession was fundamental to ancient Egyptian religious practices as it underscored the belief in a network of relationships between humans and gods. It reflects societal values that prioritized connection with the divine for personal well-being and community stability. The emphasis on both personal deities and ritualistic practices reveals a culture deeply invested in maintaining harmony between the earthly realm and the divine. Furthermore, intercession illustrates how individuals sought agency in their spirituality while recognizing their dependence on divine forces for life's blessings.

Related terms

Personal Deity: A personal deity is a god or goddess that an individual or household specifically worships and calls upon for protection, guidance, and support in their everyday life.

Ritual: Ritual refers to a prescribed set of actions performed in a specific order, often as part of worship or religious ceremonies, designed to invoke the presence or favor of deities.

Prayers: Prayers are structured forms of communication directed towards deities, expressing devotion, requests for assistance, or gratitude, often accompanied by rituals.