State Religion
In ancient Egypt, religion permeated all aspects of life. The gods, as divine forces, were always present and could be prayed to for help or blamed for misfortune.
The great state gods, those whose cults were supported by the government, such as Amun and Osiris, were attended by priests in large temples; these were organised like houses for the gods, and the priests acted as their servants.
Certain deities, such as the fertility god Min, were elevated to the position of state gods; the cults of these deities were supported by official donations from the government, leading to them having extensive landholdings, great wealth, and a large staff, headed by a high priest.
Generally, the non-elite were excluded from within the temples, except perhaps during festival occasions, when they might have been allowed into the outer courts. Indeed, even most priests were barred from entering the most sacred parts of the temples - only the high priest and the king could enter the divine sanctuary.