New Egypt, 6, Temples and Priesthood, New Egypt Room 5B NK Temples and Priesthood, Tempel och prästerskap, Temples and Priesthood

Every village had at least one temple. Large cities had many. The architecture of the temple strived to recreate the world at the time of creation: A world of water and darkness with a mount on which the divine power could manifest itself. According to belief, the divine power had its abode in the statue of the god kept in the innermost room of the temple. The statue was the focal point of the daily cult that was to guarantee the continued existence of the universe.
In the temple, the world of the gods met briefly with that of the people. However, not everyone was allowed in. The temples were closed worlds, surrounded by high walls. In theory, only the king was allowed to meet the god face to face. In practice, this task was delegated to the priests.

Varje by hade åtminstone ett tempel. Stora städer hade flera. Templets arkitektur återskapade världen vid tiden för skapelsen: en värld av vatten och mörker, med en höjd där den gudomliga kraften kunde manifestera sig. Man föreställde sig att denna kraft tog sin boning i den staty av guden som förvarades i templets innersta rum. Statyn stod i centrum för den dagliga kult som garanterade universums fortbestånd.
I templet kunde gudarnas värld för en stund möta människornas. Men alla människor fick inte komma in. Templen var slutna världar, omgivna av höga murar. I teorin var det endast kungen som kunde möta guden ansikte mot ansikte. I praktiken delegerades uppgiften till präster.