A day in the life of an ancient Egyptian priest

Every town or city in ancient Egypt had at least one temple, and yet most people never set foot inside. The largest temples dominated the skyline and employed lots of people to look after their farms and buildings, but only the king and his priests could enter these sacred homes of the gods. The temple priests were very important, and every day they had many tasks. The priest starts his day by shaving the hair on his head and body. After washing in the temple's sacred lake, he dresses in clean, bright linen. This is so he is pure in the presence of the gods. Entering through colourful courtyards, gradually working his way deeper into the temple, the priest breaks clay seals to unlock doors until he arrives at the hidden shrine. Gold doors to the shrine open to reveal the statue of the god. Then he bows down with arms raised. He cleans and washes the statue, then wraps it in a fresh piece of linen. Perfumed incense is burned and sweet-smelling smoke drifts up around the statue. The Egyptian word for incense means to make divine. Food offerings are left in front of the shrine for the god. Finally, as the priest leaves, he sweeps the floor behind him, erasing his footprints from the ground, leaving the god in the silent peace of the temple.