Westfield Washington Public Library Egyptian Mythology Story Lab— Week #1 June 2, 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WELCOME! Learn 2 This year’s Summer Reading Program Egyptians were one of the first 3 Read theme is Imagine Your Story. But what civilizations to develop a written Draw 4 does that mean? Last year we focused language. In the beginning, only specially Make 5 on space and science which is more trained scribes could understand the Search 6 about facts. This year we’re concentrat- new written language, so mostly they Solve 7 ing on fantasy themes, including myths, just wrote down whatever the pharaohs Play 8 fables, fairy tales, and legends which asked them to write. helps you use your imagination. Explore 9 Because of this much of the what Laugh 10 What is Story Lab? A laboratory is a survives is about the gods and the place to gather and study evidence, then pharaohs and not much about the daily analyze what we’ve studied. In this lives of the regular people. Fortunately, virtual lab environment, we’re going to some of these stories about the creation gather evidence of stories throughout of the earth and humans are very history and the world, then take what interesting! See the article on page 2 for Story Lab Schedule we’ve learned to help us write our own more about the gods and goddesses. stories. After reading about some of these 06/02—Egyptian Mythology Do you know the difference between a myths and the personalities of the gods, myth and a legend? By the end of this consider what a creation story would be 06/09—Roman & Greek series you will have learned about both. like if you wrote one! Mythology 06/16—Medieval Legends 06/23—Age of Enlightenment WATCH Fairy Tales We can’t fit thousands of years of infor- Did you know that the Sphinx has a tail?! mation about Ancient Egypt all in this From this playlist you can take a walking 06/30—American Tall Tales document so we created a supplemental tour around the back side of Sphinx, playlist on our YouTube channel called learn how to make early turquoise- 07/07—To Be Determined SRP 2020: Story Lab Week #1—Egyptian colored pottery, and hear a story about 07/14—TBD Mythology, which you can find here— the Egyptian Cinderella. Of course, there are also videos about the better https://www.youtube.com/user/ 07/21—TBD known gods and goddesses and the WWPL46074/playlists mythology surrounding them! 07/28—TBD *Please note that this playlist is housed on regular YouTube and parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s activity in the event that any questions arise while watching. What’s special about myths? LEARN Myths are traditional stories, Can you guess how many gods and Let’s look at a couple of the especially ones concerning the goddesses the ancient Egyptians most prominent gods. early history of a people or believed in? Well your guess is as explaining some natural or social good as anyone else's! In the beginning there was phenomenon, especially before nothing (Nun). A mound of earth science and typically Hundreds of deities, another word rose from Nun and upon it involving supernatural beings or for gods and goddesses, were Atum created himself. He events. The main characters in known by name but many others spat Shu (air) and Tefnut myths are usually gods, demi- were not. Also, the kings of ancient (moisture) from his mouth. He gods or supernatural humans! Egypt, who were known as phar- named Shu as “life” and Tefnut as aohs, were considered gods by the “order” and entwined them people they ruled. The government together. Shu and Tefnut gave and religion were tied together, birth to Geb (the earth) and Nut and as the leader of the govern- (the sky) who in turn give birth to places other's interests and well- ment, the Pharaoh was also leader Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys and being ahead of her own. of the religion. Horus the Elder. Keep in mind that these myths Some gods looked human but Osiris was considered to be the varied based on where and when others took the form of animals. king of the underworld. Anubis, son you lived in Ancient Egypt. For There were even gods who were a of Osiris, was the god of the dead more information about Egyptians combination of human and animal. and helped usher them to the gods and goddesses, check out Some of these gods’ powers were underworld. some nonfiction books from the used to explain natural occurrences library or visit this website— that people didn’t understand Isis is known as the Mother of because they hadn’t learned about Gods, and is portrayed as a selfless, https://kids.kiddle.co/ science yet. giving mother and protectress, who List_of_Egyptian_gods_and_goddesses Page 2 EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY STORY LAB —WEEK #1 Page 3 READ Early Chapter Fiction Books Magic Tree House: Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osborne Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby A to Z Mysteries: The Missing Mummy by Ron Roy Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby The Curse of King Tut’s Mummy by Kathleen Zoehfeld Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby Fiction Books Time Warp Trio: Tut, Tut by Jon The Kane Chronicles: The Red Scieszka Pyramid by Rick Riordan Physical book—Evergreen Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby Theodosia Throckmartin Series: Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by Robin LaFevers Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby Goosebumps: Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb by R.L. Stine Non-Fiction Books Physical book—Evergreen Pro Tip: non-fiction books about Ancient Egypt are found under the eBook—Libby number 932. Books about Modern Audiobook—Hoopla Egypt are found under 962. For Mummies, look under 393! If I Were a Kid in Ancient Egypt Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby DK Findout! Ancient Egypt Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby Mummies and Pyramids (companion to Mummies in the Morning) Physical book—Evergreen eBook—Libby DRAW Image taken from the book How to Draw Egypt’s Sights and Symbols by Betsy Dru Tecco. For more, find this book in our catalog here—http://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/opac/record/20326031 Page 4 EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY STORY LAB —WEEK #1 Page 5 LEARN Egyptians began mummifying their and salt. The body was drained of because the Egyptians believed it to dead nearly 5,00 years ago. At first, any liquids and left with the skin, be the seat of the soul, and so it only pharaohs were mummified. In hair and muscles preserved. Incan- was left inside the body. time, the pharaohs’ wives, children, tations, a series of words said as a relatives, officials, priests, and serv- magic spell or charm, were said After the organs were removed, ants were also mummified so they over the mummy to turn it into an the body was washed inside and out with wine. The embalmers then could join the pharaohs in the af- immortal being. stuffed the body with cotton and terlife. The first step was to remove the laid it on a bed of salt. The body In order to live for all eternity and internal organs and liquid so that was left for 40 days to dry. When be presented in front of Osiris, the the body would not decay. The the body was dried, the embalmers god of the afterlife, the body of the embalmers took out the brain and rubbed the body with perfumes and deceased had to be preserved by discarded it because they thought oils. Before being put in the coffin mummification, so that the soul that the heart did all the thinking. the body was wrapped in many could reunite with it, and take layers of linen bandages which The lungs, liver, stomach, and intes- pleasure in the afterlife. could take weeks to complete! tines were removed and placed The main process of mummification in canopic jars with lids shaped like was preserving the body by dehy- the heads of the protective deities, drating it using natron, a natural the four sons of Horus: Imsety, material found in the desert which Hapy, Duamutef, and Qebhseneuf. is like a combination of baking soda There was no jar for the heart MAKE Make your own mummy... What's happening? If you've had enough of apple pies You should see that one of your apple slices has rotted. The and apple crumble, how about slice covered in the salt and baking soda mixture hasn't rotted. mummifying an apple? It's been mummified! What you need: Salt and baking soda are desiccants. Desiccants remove water from any material it comes into contact with. Bacteria that Apple cause rotting and decay need water to survive. Salt and baking Knife soda remove the water from the apple, which makes it hard for 1/3 cup (40 grams) baking soda bacteria to survive and cause decay. 2/3 cup (80 grams) table salt Two plastic cups Ancient Egyptians use a similar method to preserve human bodies after death. They used natron, a naturally occurring How to: desiccant, to mummify bodies. 1. Cut the apple in half. Eat half! You could make an 2. Cut the remaining half in half again. Put each piece of apple apple mummy head! Draw a picture on an into a separate cup. apple with felt tips or Don’t forget to sign up for the 3. Mix together the baking soda and salt. Pour this on top of marker pens. Cover the one of the apple slices.