
How the Afterlife Shaped Ancient Egypt
Clip: Season 52 Episode 4 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Discover why the ancient Egyptians invested so much in life after death.
Were ancient Egyptians obsessed with death? That common misconception hides the true relationship between life and death in ancient Egypt. Discover how they thought about death, why they invested so much in life after death, and how their belief in the afterlife shaped Egyptian culture.
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

How the Afterlife Shaped Ancient Egypt
Clip: Season 52 Episode 4 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Were ancient Egyptians obsessed with death? That common misconception hides the true relationship between life and death in ancient Egypt. Discover how they thought about death, why they invested so much in life after death, and how their belief in the afterlife shaped Egyptian culture.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(light dramatic music) - [Narrator] The Ancient Egyptians invested vast amounts of wealth and energy preparing for life after death.
- Their belief of the afterlife built Egypt.
(light dramatic music continues) That belief made the Egyptian to build pyramids, tombs, and thimbles.
- [Narrator] They believe that life continued after death and the tomb was considered the house for eternity.
For those who could afford it, the mummified body would have laid to rest inside beautifully decorated tombs.
- There's the popular belief that the Ancient Egyptians were obsessed by death and that they were only caring about the life in another world.
This is of course, definitely not the case.
The Egyptians were people like us, so they wanted to live.
(serene inspiring music) Mortuary rituals is actually something that helps the living to overcome their sorrow, their grief.
(serene inspiring music continues) What you find in tombs tells you so much about society and about the living.
(serene inspiring music continues)
Video has Closed Captions
A long lost ancient cemetery opens the door to a unique period in Egyptian history. (30s)
The God’s Wife of Amun: Powerful Women in Ancient Egypt
Video has Closed Captions
Discover a time in Ancient Egypt when women held a role with extraordinary power. (3m 3s)
Opening a Sealed Egyptian Tomb
Video has Closed Captions
Archaeologists remove the mud brick seal of an unopened Egyptian tomb. (2m 38s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipNational Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.