Kemetism

Contemporary practice of Ancient Egyptian religion Kemetism (also Kemeticism or Kemetic paganism; sometimes referred to as Neterism, from netjer "god") is a neopagan religion based on the beliefs of ancient Egypt, which emerged during the 1970s. A Kemetic is one who follows Kemetism. There are several main groups, each of which takes a different approach to its beliefs, ranging from eclectic to reconstructionist. These can be divided into three types: reconstructed Kemetism, a syncretic approach, and the more monotheistic Kemetic Orthodoxy. Etymology Hieroglyphic writing "Kemet" The movement's name is based on an endonym of Egypt, Kemet (the conventional vocalization of hieroglyphic notation km.t). The word is also sometimes written as Takemet, from the fuller tꜣ km.t. In translation from Egyptian, it means "black" (or in longer form "black land"), which is derived from the black colour of the fertile mud brought by the Nile during the annual floods (currently no longer occurring due to the existence of the Aswan Dam). Kemetics sometimes refer to the ancient Egyptian deities as the Netjeru, also referred to as the Neteru or the Netjer. Kemetics also commonly prefer to refer to th