The religious tradition in Egypt is extremely conservative. It opposes any change and possesses its own archetypal models of gods and heroes. It is entirely oriented towards an immutable hereafter in its perfection, the mysteries of which numerous generations of researchers have attempted to decipher.
The unique style of Egyptian iconography, as well as hieroglyphic writing, emerged around the time of the first pharaonic dynasty and the unification of the northern and southern Nile valleys, around 3000 BC. The starting point of Egyptian history coincides with the beginnings of royalty, first appearing on the Narmer Palette where the king wears the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Originally, the kings identified themselves with the god Horus, the lord of light and the cosmos. The superhuman status of the king was established early on and proved to be a lasting and effective political instrument. Menes, later known as the first king and unifier of Egypt, supposedly founded the capital city of Memphis. The kings of the early dynasties (Old Kingdom) commissioned the construction of pyramids and the largest funerary complexes, whose inscriptions and enchantments contain their early theologies (Pyramid Texts).
At the beginning of the Middle Kingdom, around 2200 BC, political crisis and civil war kept Egypt divided for one hundred and fifty years. It was during this period that the funerary enchantments from the ancient royal tombs reappeared on the coffins of those who could afford them (Coffin Texts). Finally, a third phase in the development of funerary literature is represented by the text commonly known as the Book of the Dead. From the 18th dynasty (16th century BC) to the Roman era, this book, placed in the coffin, provided the deceased with the necessary enchantments for their journey and judgment, largely drawn from the Coffin Texts with some reinterpretations.
Source: Shiva Shambho
Egyptian religion documents
Books on Egyptian religion
External Links: Ancient Egyptian religion / Religion in Egypt / Periodization of ancient Egypt