u/ODonnell937

I was watching an archaeological documentary last night about the discovery of an unopened tomb near the Nile, and it made me wonder something.

Do you think the religious beliefs of the Old and Middle Kingdom in Egypt may have influenced Greek (and later Roman) thought and practice regarding the journey of the deceased?

I find some of the parallels striking. Ancient Egyptians believed in a ferryman (Mahaf I believe?) who takes souls across the river to the Duat for a small fee or offering, just as Charon takes individuals across the Styx in Greek mythology.

Do you think this is an example of cross cultural exchange dating back to the late Bronze Age or Archaic period? I wonder this because of the evidence of trade in goods and imagery (sphinxes) between the Mycenaeans and Egypt. Could these ideas have also been influenced by exposure to Egyptian culture, as evidenced by religious syncretism that developed during Antiquity in various places of the Mediterranean?

I look forward to any ideas or evidence regarding this topic that people may have! 🙂