What do symbols painted in tombs reveal about the beliefs of Ancient Egyptians?

Answer 1

There are several different images representing different aspects of their lives. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife that was an idealized version of this life. That's why you see pictures of them as they were in their youth, with abundance in everything. They also believed there were several gods, many with the heads of animals. Those are protrayed on several Egyptian wall paintings, and especially in the Book of The Dead, which was often buried with the mummy to help them answer the questions they needed to pass to continue into the afterlife. You may have seen one in which two animal-headed gods are holding scales, with a feather in one side and a heart in the other, and a dog-like monster on the right-hand side. This is a depiction of the weighing of the heart. In this ceremony, the heart had to weigh less than the feather (in other words, be guilt-free) before the deceased could pass in to the next life. If it outweighed the feather, it would be tossed to the monster to be eaten.

Another picture that was often on the wall paintings showed the mummy being held up, and a priest touching his mouth with a long tool. This was a picture of the opening of the mouth ceremony. This was also a very important ceremony. It was the last rite performed by the priests after mummification, and allowed the dead to speak to the gods to defend their actions in life so they could pass on to the next world.

Answer 2

The tomb writing tells about the individual who died, their accomplishments, where and how they lived.The writing is an attempt to justify their lives and win a place in the after life. It is interesting to note that the writing has lasted thousands of years and their stories have granted them immortality, if not everlasting life.

Hieroglyphs are found on the Ancient Egyptian art, sculpture and architecture. This picture writing was a mystery for hundreds of years until the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which helped unlock the language mystery.

http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/VideoTestbed/Projects/Mummy/hieroglyphics.html
From the earliest times and continuing throughout the entire period of dynastic history (3100 B.C.—31 B.C.), Egyptians believed that people existed after the death of their bodies. The Egyptians believed that a human consisted of at least three parts: the body (or “ba”), the soul, and the ghost (the image, double, genius, or the “ka”). It was very important to ensure that the “ka” be reunited with the body after death. To this end, Egyptians mummified their bodies in order to preserve the body so that the “ka” would recognize it when it was ready to rejoin the body. Egyptians also built indestructible tombs to preserve the body and all its belongings and to prevent robbers from gaining access to the riches of the tombs. Included in the deceased’s possessions were servant figures and household goods.
Not only did the Egyptians believe in an afterlife, but they thought they would continue to live as they had been accustomed to on earth. Numerous items attest to preparation for this continuation of earthly life, from grave pots containing food, tools, war flints, and......http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1985/6/85.06.07.x.html
Burying the dead was of religious concern in Egypt, and Egyptian funerary rituals and equipment eventually became the most elaborate the world has ever known. The Egyptians believed that the vital life-force was composed of several psychical elements, of which the most important was the ka.
http://www.isismoontemple.com/temple07beliefs.html

Answer 3

They believed in life after death and the dead person must go through rituals to prepare for it