Egyptian Myth and Folklore
•Télécharger en tant que PPTX, PDF•
6 j'aime•2,272 vues
This was for LIT 208 (Mythology and Folklore). It includes s\topics such as Egyptian Creation myth, gods and goddesses, mythical creatures and folklore. Has some videos to aid in the instruction. Notes are also included within the presentation.
Recommandé
Contenu connexe
Tendances
Tendances (20)
En vedette
En vedette (13)
Similaire à Egyptian Myth and Folklore
Similaire à Egyptian Myth and Folklore (20)
Plus de Ezr Acelar
Plus de Ezr Acelar (20)
Dernier
Dernier (20)
Egyptian Myth and Folklore
- 4. • Nu / Nun – chaos of burning, bubbling water; out of which everything began • The sun (Atum) created himself, by his own thoughts and will. He is known by many names: Khepri - the great scarab beetle (the rising sun) Ra-Harakhte - winged solar-disk (the youthful sun of the eastern horizon) Ra – midday sun Atum – setting sun in the west (old man) Horus - sun on the horizon Aten – the solar disk • A hill rose (Temple of Heliopolis) CREATION MYTH
- 5. • Without a mate, he made a union with his shadow. • He gave birth to his son by spitting him out. Shu represented the air. • He vomited his daughter, Tefnut. • Shu and Tefnut became separated from their father. • Atum remved his Udjat eye (removable, only eye) to search for his children. • Upon their return, Atum cried. His tears of joy became the first men. • Shu and Tefnut became the parents of Geb, the earth and Nut, the sky. Geb and Nut gave birth to Osiris and Isis, Seth, Nephthys.
- 8. Aker The Double Lion god • Guardian of the sunrise and sunset
- 9. Amun The Hidden One • God of Air and Wind (early times) ; Fertility God • Relations: Self created at the beginning of time. Believed to be the physical father of all Pharaohs. • Other Names: Amon, Amen, Amen Ra, Amon Re
- 10. Amut The Devourer • She who would devour the souls of those who's hearts proved heavier than Maat. • Other Names: Amam, Am-mit.
- 11. Anubis Guardian of the Underworld • Guardian of the Necropolis (cemetery) • the guide of the dead; announcer of death • Patron of magic and embalming; keeper of poisons and medicines
- 12. Aten Lord of Heaven, Lord of Earth
- 13. Bastet The Tearer • Sun goddess; she represents the warm, life giving power of the sun. • Relations: Daughter and wife of Ra, mother of Khensu and Maahes • Other Names: Bast
- 14. Geb Great Cackler • Represents the Earth, vegetation-god • Relations: Son of Shu and Tefnut, twin brother of Nut, husband of Nut, father of Osiris and Isis • Other possible Names: Keb
- 15. Hapi Father of the gods • God of the Nile • Relations: Husband of Nekhebet • Other possible Names: Often confused with Horus' son, Hapy
- 16. Hathor Lady of Heaven • Plays the role of a sky-goddess, a sun-goddess, a moon-goddess, a goddess of the east, a goddess of the west, a goddess of moisture, a goddess of fertility, an agricultural goddess, and a goddess of the underworld • Relations: Daughter of Nut and Ra. Wife of Ra, mother of Ihy. Many legends portray her as the mother of Horus the Elder. Other as the wife of Horus of Edfu, The fruit of this union was Horus the Younger.
- 17. Horus He Who Is Above • Hor (face); Mekhenti-irry ('He who has on his brow Two Eyes’); Mekhenti-en-irty, (He who on his brow has no eyes’) • Haroeris (Horus the Elder), Horus Behudety, Ra- Harakhte (Horus of the two horizons), Harsiesis (Horus son of Isis), Harpokrates (The infant Horus), Harendotes (Horus the avenger of his father), Har-pa- Neb-Taui (Horus Lord of the Two Lands)
- 18. Isis The Throne • Female counterpart of Osiris, the great mother goddess • Protector of the dead, embalmer and guardian of Osiris • Great enchantress, the goddess of magic • With Thoth, taught mankind the secrets of medicine • Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Sister of Osiris, Nephthys, and Seth. Wife of Osiris. Mother of Horus
- 19. Khepri He Who Comes Into Existence • Sun god, associated with sunrise • Relations: Self created. • Other possible Names: Khepra, Khepera
- 20. Khnum Lord of the Cool Waters • Relations: Self created • Other Names: Khnemu
- 21. Maat The Goddess of Truth • "that which is straight”; represents the ideals of law, order, and truth • Relations: Daughter of Ra, wife of Thoth • Other possible Names: Mayet
- 22. Min Chief of Heaven • a fertility god, a bestower of sexual powers • a rain god that promoted the fertility of nature • Lord of the Eastern Desert, Lord of Foreign Lands • Relations: Son of Ra or of Shu
- 23. Mut Lady of Heaven • Divine Mother, queen of all gods • Relations: Wife of Amun, mother of all the gods, mother of all living things.
- 24. Neith Great Goddess • Goddess of the Hunt; War Goddess • Protector of the Dead, “Opener of the Ways” • Relations: Varied with time period. Mother of Sobek, Isis, Horus and Osiris. Or mother of Ra. The pharaoh Nectanebo II of the Twenty- sixth Dynasty, claimed her as his Mother. Wife of Khnum
- 25. Nephthys Lady of the House • Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Sister of Osiris, Isis, and Seth. Wife of Seth, mother of Anubis • Other Names: Nebhet
- 26. • Relations: Daughter of Shu and Tefnut, twin sister of Geb, wife of Geb, mother of Osiris and Isis, Seth, Nephthys. Nut The Sky
- 27. Osiris King of the Dead • Supreme god and judge of the dead. The symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Provider of fertility and prosperity to the living. • Relations: Son of Geb and Nut. Brother of Isis, Nephthys, and Seth and in some myths he is brother of Horus. Husband of Isis and father of Horus. Father of Anubis by Nephthys.
- 28. Ptah The Opener • patron of architects, artists and sculptors • boats for the souls of the dead to use in the afterlife • a master architect, and responsible for building the framework of the universe • Relations: husband of Sekhmet, father of Nefer-tem. • Other Names: Ptah-Seker
- 29. Ra Father of the Gods • Sun god • Relations: Father of the first divine couple, Shu and Tefnut. Grandfather of Geb and Nut, whose children were Osiris and Isis, Seth and Nephthys. • Other Names: Re, Phra.
- 30. Sekhmet Mighty One • Sun goddess, represents the scorching, burning, destructive heat of the sun • Goddess of war, destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris • Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Wife of Ptah, mother of Nefer-Tem • Other Names: Sakhmet, Sekhet, Nesert.
- 31. Seshat Lady of the Library • Goddess of reading, writing, architecture and arithmetic • Relations: Wife of Thoth • Other Names: Sesha
- 32. Seth Lord of Upper Egypt • God of wind and storms • Lord of Upper Egypt • Relations: Son of Geb and Nut. Brother of Isis, Nephthys, and Osiris. The husband of Nephthys or sometimes the husband of Taurt • Other Names: Set, Suetekh.
- 33. Sobek He Who Causes To Be Fertile • Relations: Son of Neith of Sais. • Other Names: Sebek, Sebek-Ra, Sobk, Suchos, Sobki or Soknopais
- 34. Taurt The Great Lady • Protectress of pregnant woman and infants • Protectress of rebirth into the afterlife • Relations: Daughter of Ra, sometimes considered the mother of Isis and Osiris. Sometimes considered the wife of Seth. • Other Names: Taueret, Ta-weret, Thoeris, Rert, or Reret.
- 35. Thoth The Great Measurer • Moon god • inventor of spoken and written language, astronomy, geometry, and medicine • lord of books he was the scribe of the gods and patron of all scribes. • the measurer of the earth and the counter of the stars, the keeper and recorder of all knowledge. • written important religious texts such as The Book of the Dead • Relations: Self conceived at the beginning of time. Husband of Maat. Brother and some times husband of Seshat. • Other Names: Tehuti.
- 40. Apophis / Apepi / Aapep Shezmu
- 43. Uraeus Set animal / Sha
- 44. The Story of Osiris and Isis
Notes de l'éditeur
- Guardian of the sunrise and sunset. Between the lions is the akhet symbol which represents the horizon on which the sunrises or sets. This symbol is made up of a solar disk cradled between the two peaks of the mountain djew. The western peak was called Manu, while the eastern peak was called Bakhu. It was these peaks that supported the sky.
- Cult Center: Thebes, the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Attributes: Early, a god of air and wind. Later, a fertility god. The Creator of all things. During the New Kingdom he became "The king of the gods". He was said to be able to assume any form he wished, with each of the other gods being one of these forms. From the eighteenth dynasty on he was a national deity. Through political means managed to assimilate many lesser gods. Representation: A bearded Man wearing a cap surmounted by two tall plumes. A ram, a ram headed man, or a ram headed sphinx. Relations: Self created at the beginning of time. Believed to be the physical father of all Pharaohs. Other Names: Amon, Amen, Amen Ra, Amon Re
- Cult Center: A female demon, she is found in The Book of the Dead, She plays an important role in the Hall of Maat. Attributes: We find Ammut during the judgement of the deceased, when his heart is weighied against the feather of Maat. It was Ammut who would devour the souls of those who's hearts proved heavier than Maat. This was a terrifying prospect for the ancient Egyptians. It meant the end of existence. They would never meet Osiris and live forever in the Fields of Peace. Representation: A combination of the head of a crocodile, the middle of a lioness and the hind quarters of a hippopotamus. Other Names: Amam, Am-mit.
- Cult Center: Thinis, Lycopolis, quickly spreading throughout Egypt. Attributes: Guardian of the Necropolis (cemetery). He was the guide of the dead as they made their way through the darkness of the underworld. As a patron of magic, it was believed he could foresee a person’s destiny, in this role he was the announcer of death. Anubis was the patron of embalming. He was also the keeper of poisons and medicines. He provided unguents and rare herbs to help Isis and Nephthys with the embalming of Osiris. Anubis then performed the funeral of Osiris, which would be the model for all funerals to come. As he received the mummy into the tomb, he performed the 'Opening of the Mouth' ceremony. In the "Hall of Maat", Anubis appears on behalf of the deceased. It was Anubis who saw that the beam of the great scale was in the proper position as he supervises the weighing of the heart of a deceased person against the feather of Maat. The god of knowledge,Thoth, records the results. It is also Anubis that protects the dead from Ammut, the 'Devourer'. Representation: A man with the head of a jackal. A dog or a jackal. Relations: Son of Nephthys and Osiris, some believe him to be the son of Seth. Later adopted by Isis.
- Cult Center: At Tell el-Amarna in the city of Akhetaten (the horizon of Aten) Attributes: The Aten gained its prominence during the reign of Akhenaten. The heretic king made an effort it seems, to unite all the peoples of Egypt under one god. He abolished the traditional cults of Egypt and replaced them with the Aten. Unfortunately for Akhenaten, the Egyptians did not wish to be united in this fashion. The king considered the Aten to be the creative force in the universe and the only god worthy of his worship. Representation: Inscriptions state that the god had no physical image, but it was represented as a solar disk projecting many downward rays that ended as human hands. Sometimes holding ankhs, the symbol of eternal life.
- Cult Center: Bubastis in the Delta. Attributes: As a sun goddess she represents the warm, life giving power of the sun. Her cult appears as early as the Second Dynasty. Like a cat, she was admired for her agility and strength. Bast defended Ra against the serpent Apep. Representation: A woman with the head of a domesticated cat, sometimes holding a sistrum. Relations: Daughter and wife of Ra, mother of Khensu and Maahes. Other Names: Bast.
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt. Attributes: Geb was thought to represent the earth, he is often seen reclining beneath the sky goddess Nut. Geb was called 'the Great Cackler', and as such, was represented as a goose. It was in this form that he was said to have laid the egg from which the sun was hatched. He was believed to have been the third divine king of earth. The royal throne of Egypt was known as the 'throne of Geb' in honor of his great reign. Representation: As a vegetation-god he was shown with green patches or plants on his body. As the earth, he is often seen lying beneath Nut, leaning on one elbow, with a knee bent toward the sky, this is representive of the mountains and valleys of the earth. He was often pictured with a goose on his head or as a goose. Relations: Son of Shu and Tefnut, twin brother of Nut, husband of Nut, father of Osiris and Isis, Seth, Nephthys Other possible Names: Keb
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt. Attributes: Hapi was a very important deity to anyone living in the Nile valley. He was the god of the Nile, particularly the inundation, His followers worshipped him even above Ra. After all, without the sun the Egyptians would have lived in darkness, but without the Nile the Egyptians would have perished. It was believed that Hapi's source was two whirlpools in the caves on Elephantine island. On his journey he was thought to flow through the Underworld, through the heavens, and then through Egypt. He was responsible for watering the meadows and bringing the dew. But most importantly he brought the fertile inundation. He provided food and water for nourishment and for offerings to the gods. As a fertility god he is associated with Osiris. Representation: A bearded man coloured blue or green, with female breasts, indicating his powers of nourishment. As god of the Northern Nile he wears papyrus plants on his head, and as god of the southern Nile he wears lotus plants. He is often seen carrying offerings of food or giving libations of water from a vase. Sometimes he is pictured offering two plants and two vases, which represented the upper and lower Nile. Relations: Husband of Nekhebet Other possible Names: Often confused with Horus' son, Hapy.
- Cult Center: Dendera and throughout Egypt Attributes: .Because her worship stretches back to pre-dynastic times, we find Hathor identified with many local goddesses, and it can be said that all the goddesses were forms of Hathor. At times we find her playing the role of a sky-goddess, a sun-goddess, a moon-goddess, a goddess of the east, a goddess of the west, a goddess of moisture, a goddess of fertility, an agricultural goddess, and a goddess of the underworld. Hathor was the goddess of joy, motherhood, and love. She was considered the protectress of pregnant women and a midwife. She was the patron of all women, no matter their station in life. As the goddess of music and dancing her symbol was the sistrum. As a fertility goddess and a goddess of moisture, Hathor was associated with the inundation of the Nile. In this aspect she was associated with the Dog-star Sothis whose rising above the horizon heralded the annual flooding of the Nile. In the legend of Ra and Hathor she is called the "Eye of Ra." In later times, when the Osiris cults gained popularity, her role changed. She now welcomed the arrival of the deceased to the underworld, dispensing water to the souls of the dead from the branches of a sycamore and offering them food. Hathor was also represented as a cow suckling the soul of the dead, thus giving them sustenance during their mummification, their journey to the judgement hall, and the weighing of their soul. In the Late Period, dead women identified themselves with Hathor, as men identified with Osiris Representation: Hathor was originally worshipped in the form of a cow, sometimes as a cow with stars on her. Later she is represented as a woman with the head of a cow, and finally with a human head, the face broad and placid, sometimes she is depicted with the ears or horns of a cow. She is also shown with a head-dress resembling a pair of horns with the moon-disk between them. Sometimes she is met with in the form of a cow standing in a boat, surrounded by tall papyrus reeds. As the "Mistress of the Necropolis" she is shown as the head of a cow protruding from a mountainside. In this case she wears a menat necklace, which is a symbol of rebirth. Relations: Daughter of Nut and Ra. Wife of Ra, mother of Ihy. Many legends portray her as the mother of Horus the Elder. Other as the wife of Horus of Edfu, The fruit of this union was Horus the Younger .
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt. Attributes: The name Horus comes from the Egyptian word Hor, which translates as 'face'. We find him worshipped as Mekhenti-irry which translates as 'He who has on his brow Two Eyes', the sun and moon representing his eyes. On nights when there is no moon we find him worshipped as Mekhenti-en-irty, 'He who on his brow has no eyes', in this form he was considered the god of the blind. The followers of Horus invaded Egypt in pre dynastic history, at this time he was venerated as a victorious warlord. He became a part of the state religion and was associated with the sun god, Ra. Horus was so important to the state religion that Pharaohs were considered his human manifestation and even took on the name Horus. In the more popular religious beliefs of the Osiris cults he was the son of Osiris and Isis. The avenger of his father's murder and the model of a dutiful son. It is in these stories that we find him doing battle with his uncle, Seth. Representation: You will find different Representations of Horus that fit with the different names that are listed below, however, the most common is a falcon or falcon headed man. Other Names: Haroeris (Horus the Elder) An early form of Horus. He was a god of light. His eyes represented the sun and the moon. He was also the brother of Osiris and Seth. Sometimes he was the son, or the husband of Hathor. Horus Behudety In the form of Horus of Edfu, he represented the midday sun. This Horus was worshipped in the western Delta and later, as his cult spread south into Upper Egypt, a cult center was established in Edfu. Horus of Edfu fights a great battle against Seth and an army of conspirators. He is pictured as a winged sun-disk or as a hawk headed lion. Ra-Harakhte (Horus of the two horizons) This horus was identified with Ra and the daily voyage of the sun from horizon to horizon. The two deities combined to become Ra-Harakhte. He was represented as a falcon or a falcon-headed man wearing the solar disk and double crown or the uraeusand the atef crown. Harmakhet (Horus in the Horizon) In this form he represented the rising sun and was associated with Khepri. He was also considered to be the keeper of wisdom. He was sometimes pictured as a man with a falcon's head, or a falcon headed lion. But his most recognizable form is that of a sphinx, or as a ram-headed sphinx. Harsiesis (Horus son of Isis) This Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris. He was conceived magically after the death of Osiris and brought up by Isis on a floating island in the marshes of Buto. The child was weak and in constant danger from the scheming of his wicked uncle Seth, who sent serpents and monsters to attack him. But his mother, Isis was great in the magical arts and she warded off this evil by using a spell against creatures biting with their mouths and stinging with their tails, and the young Horus survived and grew. Harpokrates (The infant Horus) As a child he represented the new born sun and was often pictured being suckled by Isis. He was usually represented as a seated child, sucking his thumb, his head was shaved except for the sidelock of youth. Even as a child, he wore the royal crown and uraeus. Harendotes (Horus the avenger of his father) Har-pa-Neb-Taui (Horus Lord of the Two Lands)
- Cult Center: A temple is dedicated to her on the Island of Philae, near the first cataract. She is revered throughout Egypt. Attributes: Isis is one of the earliest and most important goddess in ancient Egypt. She was regarded as the feminine counterpart to Osiris, a role she probably occupied before the dawn of dynastic Egypt. No other Egyptian deity has stood the test of time as well as Isis. Her cult was not extinguished with the other Egyptian gods, but was embraced by the Greeks and Romans, her worship has even lasted into the present day. She was revered by the Egyptian people as the great mother-goddess and represents the maternal spirit in its most intimate form. She is often seen suckling a young Horus. In the Osiris legend she is seen as a dutiful wife, a grieving widow and as a protector of the dead. As a winged goddess she may represent the wind. In the Osiris legend there are references to Isis wailing and moaning like the wind. She is also continually travelling up and down the land in search of her lost husband. Upon finding Osiris' body, she takes the shape of one of the swiftest birds, a kite. Flapping and darting above his dead body she wails in mourning. She restores life to Osiris by flapping her wings and filling his mouth and nose with air. Isis was a great enchantress, the goddess of magic. Together with Thoth, she taught mankind the secrets of medicine. She was the embalmer and gaurdian of Osiris. She is often rendered on the foot of coffins with long wings spread to protect the deceased. Representation: A woman wearing on her head the hieroglyphic symbol of her name, which represents a throne or seat. Often seen wearing horns and a solar disk on her head. Sometimes she is pictured with wings, It is noteworthy that she is one of only a few deities that we find with wings in ancient Egyptian mythology. Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Sister of Osiris, Nephthys, and Seth. Wife of Osiris. Mother of Horus.
- Cult Center: Heliopolis. Attributes: A sun god, associated with the sunrise. Because of his association with the sunrise he is considered to be one of the creator gods. It was Khepri that pushed the sun across the sky in much the same fashion that a dung beetle (scarab) pushed a ball of dung across the ground. Representation: A man with a scarab head. Or a scarab. Relations: Self created. Other possible Names: Khepra, Khepera
- Cult Center: Philae, Elephantine and Esna. Attributes: A very ancient deity. As a water god he was closely associated with the annual flooding of the Nile. His name means to create. He was the creator of all things that are and all things that shall be. He created the gods and he fashioned mankind on a potters wheel. Representation: A ram headed man. Relations: Self created. Other Names: Khnemu
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt. Attributes: The goddess Maat represents the ideals of law, order, and truth. The word, Maat translates "that which is straight." it implies anything that is true, ordered, or balanced. She was the female counterpart of Thoth. We know she is a very ancient goddess because we find her in the boat of Ra as it rose above the waters of the abyss of Nu on the first day. Together with Thoth, they charted the daily course of the sun god Ra. She is sometimes called the 'eye of Ra' or the 'daughter of Ra'. Maat also plays an important part in the Book of the Dead. It is in the Hall of Maat the judgement of the dead was performed. This was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat. If a balance was struck the deceased was deemed to be worthy of meeting Osiris in the after life. If the heart of the deceased was found to be heavier then the feather of Maat it would be devoured by Ammut. Representation: A woman wearing a tall ostrich feather on her head. Or an ostrich feather. Relations: Daughter of Ra, wife of Thoth. Other possible Names: Mayet
- Cult Center: Thebes. Attributes: Mut was the divine mother, the queen of all gods. She was the female counterpart of Amun. Mut usurped many of the other Egyptian goddess that exhibited the attributes of motherhood. During the New Kingdom, The marriage of Mut and Amun was one of the great annual celebrations. Amun would be brought from his temple at Karnak, a great following would escort him to visit Mut at her temple at Luxor. In spite of her marriage to Amun, Mut was bisexual, perhaps to reinforce her position as the mother of all things. Her hieroglyphic symbol was a vulture, it was worn on the crowns of Egypt's queens to typify their motherhood. Representation: A woman wearing a vulture headdress, with the double crown of upper and lower Egypt. In some pictures the heads of vultures project from her shoulders. Sometimes she holds a papyrus sceptre. Relations: Wife of Amun, mother of all the gods, mother of all living things.
- Cult Center: Sais in the western Delta Attributes: Neith was a goddess of the hunt. She may have also been a war goddess. Her worship dates from pre dynastic history. In early times she was called 'mother of the gods' and 'Great Goddess'. She was considered the guardian of men and gods. Later, Neith was seen as a protector of the dead, she is often seen standing with Nephthys at the head of coffins. Or assisting Isis, Nephthys, and Serqet to guard the Canopic jars. As 'Opener of the Ways', she was a guide in the underworld, a female Anubis. In the Eighteenth Dynasty she took on the attributes of Hathor, as a protector of women. As a creative deity she was said to be the wife of Khnum at Elephantine. She was appealed to for her wisdom as an arbitrator during the great quarrel of Horus and Seth. Neith assumed the role of state deity during the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, when the kings of Sais repeled the invading Assyrians and reunited Egypt. This period lasted for about a century and a half and the tendency in art and religion was to try to regain the glories of the past. This was a suitable time for the worship of an ancient goddess. Representation: Neith was pictured as a woman wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt, holding a bow and crossed arrows. Her cult sign was a shield and crossed arrows. Occasionally she was represented as the great cow, mother of Ra. Relations: Varied with time period. Mother of Sobek, Isis, Horus and Osiris. Or mother of Ra. The pharaoh Nectanebo II of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, claimed her as his Mother. Wife of Khnum.
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt. Plays a role in the Osiris legend. Attributes: Her name means 'Lady of the House' it's thought to be referring to Osiris' Palace. Nephthys conceived no children with her husband Seth. Her son, Anubis was conceived from a union with Osiris. It is said that she tricked Osiris into this union by making him drunk, or by disguising herself as Isis. Fearing Seth's anger, Nephthys hides the infant in the Delta marshes shortly after his birth. Seth murders Osiris and Nephthys flees in fear. She finds her sister, Isis, and helps in the search for Osiris' body. Nephthys tells her sister about the infant. During the search for Osiris, Isis finds Anubis and adopts him. After finding the body of Osiris, she helps Isis embalm him. The two sisters turn into birds and fly about mourning over the dead body. She is often rendered on the head of coffins, as Isis is rendered at the foot, with long wings spread to protect the deceased. Representation: A woman wearing on her head the hieroglyphic symbol of her name. Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Sister of Osiris, Isis, and Seth. Wife of Seth, mother of Anubis. Other Names: Nebhet
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt Attributes: Nut was originally a mother-goddess who had many children. The hieroglyph for her name, which she is often seen wearing on her head is a water pot, but it is also thought to represent a womb. During the day, Nut and Geb are separated, but each evening Nut comes down to meet Geb and this causes darkness. If storms came during the day, it was believed that Nut had some how slipped closer to the earth. She also plays an important role in creation mythology. Representation: As the sky goddess, she is shown stretching from horizon to horizon, touching only her fingertips and toes to the ground. Her husband, Geb is often shown reclining beneath her. She is also pictured as a giant sow, suckling many piglets. These piglets represented the stars, which she swallowed each morning before dawn. Nut was considered to be the mother of the sun and the moon. In some cases she took the form of a great cow who's eyes represented the sun and the moon. Relations: Daughter of Shu and Tefnut, twin sister of Geb, wife of Geb, mother of Osiris and Isis, Seth, Nephthys.
- Cult Center: Busiris, later Abydos. Attributes: Supreme god and judge of the dead. The symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Provider of fertility and prosperity to the living. Representation: A bearded man wearing white mummy wrappings. Wearing the atef crown and holding the symbols of supreme power, the flail and crook. His skin is green to represent vegetation or red to represent the earth. See also the Osiris legend. Relations: Son of Geb and Nut. Brother of Isis, Nephthys, and Seth and in some myths he is brother ofHorus. Husband of Isis and father of Horus. Father of Anubis by Nephthys.
- Cult Center: Memphis Attributes: Ptah represents the sun at the time when it begins to rise above the horizon and or right after it has risen. As early as the Second Dynasty, he is regarded as a creator god. The patron of architects, artists and sculptors. It was Ptah who built the boats for the souls of the dead to use in the afterlife. In the Book of the Dead we learn that he was a master architect, and responsible for building the framework of the universe. It was said that Ptah created the great metal plate that was the floor of heaven and the roof of the sky. He also constructed the supports that held it up. Some creation legends say that by speaking the names of all things, Ptah caused them to be. Representation: A man wrapped as a mummy with a shaved head and beard. Hanging from the back of his neck is the Menat, a symbol of happiness. Holding a staff that is a combination of three symbols. An ankh, a djed, and a was scepter.This staff represents life, stability, and longevity. Relations: husband of Sekhmet, father of Nefer-tem. Other Names: Ptah-Seker
- Cult Center: Heliopolis and throughout Egypt. Attributes: From very early times Ra was a sun god. He took on many of the attributes and even the names of other gods as Egyptian myths evolved. A good example of this is the god Ra and Amun merging to become Amun-Ra or Ra and Horus combining to become Ra-Harakhte. Since Ra was a god of great antiquity, there are far to many stories connected with him to relate them all. I will relate some that I find interesting, including the legend of Ra and Hathor. One legend states that each day, Ra was born and began a journey across the sky. Ra was believed to travel in the Manjet-boat. or the 'Barque of Millions of Years'. He was joined on this daily journey by a crew of many gods . The Manjet-boat would sail through the twelve provinces, representing the twelve hours of daylight. At the end of each day Ra was thought to die and embarked on his night voyage. For this journey he was called Auf, which means 'corpse'. Ra sailed in a boat called the Mesektet-boat or night-barque on his journey through the twelve hours of darkness. It was not always smooth sailing on these ships. During the day Ra had to defeat his chief enemy, a serpent or snake named Apep. A great battle was faught between Ra and Apep, and Ra was usually victorious, however on stormy days or during an eclipse the Egyptians believed that Apep had been victorious and swallowed the sun. Because no wind blows in the Underworld, Auf (Ra) had to rely on various unfriendly spirits and demons to help tow his barque along the river in the underworld. Auf's main job in the Underworld was to bring light to the souls of the dead as he passed through their realm. After his departure these souls fell back into a lonely darkness. The Underworld of these early solar myths was a very different place then the fields of peace that we find in the Osiris cults of the later periods. Representation: He is often pictured as a hawk or as a hawk headed man with a solar disk encircled by a uraeus on his head. He is often pictured wearing the double crown of upper and lower Egypt. Relations: Father of the first divine couple, Shu and Tefnut. Grandfather of Geb and Nut, whose children were Osiris and Isis, Seth and Nephthys. Other Names: Re, Phra.
- Cult Center: Memphis. Attributes: A sun goddess. She represents the scorching, burning, destructive heat of the sun. She was a fierce goddess of war, the destroyer of the enemies of Ra and Osiris. Her temper was uncontrollable. In the legend of Ra and Hathor, Sekhmet's anger became so great, she would have destroyed all of mankind if Ra had not taken pity on us. He tricked her by dyeing beer blood-red which she drank believing it to be human blood and became drunk. She soon forgot her anger and we were saved from destruction. Sekhmet was the wife of the creator-god Ptah. This marriage was unusual in that it resulted from geographical proximity of their cults rather than a sharing of attributes. Representation: A woman with the head of a lion. Relations: Daughter of Nut and Geb. Wife of Ptah, mother of Nefer-Tem Other Names: Sakhmet, Sekhet, Nesert.
- Cult Center: Throughout Egypt Attributes: Goddess of reading, writing, architecture and arithmetic. She plays an important role in a ceremony called stretching the cord in which she assists the pharaoh in locating and laying out the corners of a temple. She was also responsible for recording the names and tribute of captives taken in battle. We often find her recording the pharaohs name on the tree of life or recording the royal jubilees on a notched palm branch. Representation: A woman wearing a panther skin, the ornament on her head consists of a star under a bow or cow horns. She is often holding a palm branch with the symbol of a jubilee pavilion hanging from it. Relations:.Wife of Thoth. . Other Names:Sesha
- Cult Center: Ombos. Attributes: Early in Egyptian history, Seth is spoken of in terms of reverence as the god of wind and storms. He was even known as the Lord of Upper Egypt. Horus being the Lord of Lower Egypt. It was Seth who stood in the front of the solar barque to defended the sun god Ra from his most dangerous foe, the serpent Apep. At this time, he seems to have had no conflicts with the cults of Isis or Osiris. In fact, he was part of the same family of gods, and married to his twin sister, Nephthys. However, it appears the followers of Seth may have resisted the followers of Horus and the First Dynasty pharaoh, Menes, when he united Upper and Lower Egypt. This struggle for control of Egypt seems to be reflected in the mythology. At this point, Seth is portrayed as questioning the authority of his brother, Osiris. The Osiris cults took this opportunity to discredit the followers of Seth; he was now considered to be Osiris' evil brother. And the story was told that Seth was evil since birth, because he ripped himself from his mother's womb by tearing through her side. In the Osiris legends, it is Seth who tricks and murders Osiris. He is also the antagonist of Horus. By the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, Seth was the embodiment of evil. He was depicted with red eyes and hair. The ancient Egyptians believed red represented evil. Representation: Man with the head of an unknown animal. Some times he takes the form of a crocodile. He is represented as a hippopotamus or a black pig in his battles with Horus. Relations: Son of Geb and Nut. Brother of Isis, Nephthys, and Osiris. The husband of Nephthys or sometimes the husband of Taurt. Other Names: Set, Suetekh.
- Cult Center: Crocodilopolis in the Faiyum, after the Twelfth Dynasty he was worshipped everywhere with cult centers at Kom Ombo, Thebes and at Lake Moeris. Attributes: Admired and feared for his ferocity. At the command of Ra, He performed tasks such as catching with a net the four sons of Horus as they emerged from the waters in a lotus bloom. Sometimes identified with Seth when Seth took the form of a crocodile. It is said that in the Osiris legends, Horus takes the form of a crocodile in order to retrieve the parts of Osiris's body that were cast into the Nile by Seth. Representation: A crocodile, a mummified crocodile or as a man with a crocodile-head. Sometimes wearing horns like those of Amon-Ra, and the solar disk. Relations: Son of Neith of Sais. Other Names: Sebek, Sebek-Ra, Sobk, Suchos, Sobki or Soknopais.
- Cult Center: Temples at Thebes and Deir el-Bahri. Attributes: Protectress of pregnant woman and infants. Also protectress of rebirth into the afterlife. Representation: A pregnant hippopotamus with human breasts, the hind legs of a lioness and the tail of a crocodile. Relations: Daughter of Ra, sometimes considered the mother of Isis and Osiris. Sometimes considered the wife of Seth. Other Names: Taueret, Ta-weret, Thoeris, Rert, or Reret.
- Cult Center: Eshmunen or Hermopolis. Attributes: Thoth was a moon god who played an important role in the Osiris legend and the judgment of the dead in the Hall of Maat. Thoth was said to be mighty in knowledge and divine speech. The inventer of spoken and written language. As the lord of books he was the scribe of the gods and patron of all scribes. He is credited with inventing astronomy, geometry, and medicine. Thoth was the measurer of the earth and the counter of the stars, the keeper and recorder of all knowledge. It was Thoth who was believed to have written important religious texts such as The Book of the Dead. In this text, he appears in the Hall of Maat as a scribe holding a writing reed and palette to record the results of the weighing of the deceased's heart against the feather of Maat. Representation: A man with the head of an Ibis. An ibis or an ape. A dog faced ape. He is often seen wearing a lunar disk and cresant on his head or the Atef crown. Relations: Self conceived at the beginning of time. Husband of Maat. Brother and some times husband of Seshat. Other Names: Tehuti.
- (Apophis / Apepi / Aapep) The ancient Egyptian deity who embodied chaos and was thus the opponent of light and Ma'at (order/truth). He appears in art as a giant serpent. Apep was first mentioned in the Eighth Dynasty, and he was honored in the names of the Fourteenth Dynasty king 'Apepi and of the Greater Hyksos king Apophis. Shezmu (Shesmu, Schezemu, Schesmu, Shesemu, Shezmou, Shesmou, Sezmu and Sesmu) The ancient Egyptian demonic god of execution, slaughter, blood, oil, wine and perfume. Like many of the gods of Ancient Egypt, Shezmu was of a complex nature. He had qualities of both light and darkness, but this was not the reason that he was known as a 'demon'. To the Egyptians, like other Semitic and Middle Eastern gods, demons were not necessarily evil in nature. Often they were quite helpful. Instead, the term "demon" was given to Shezmu because he was one of the lesser deities, and due to his relation to the underworld.
- The Bennu is an ancient Egyptian deity linked with the sun, creation, and rebirth. It may have been the inspiration for the phoenix in Greek mythology. A modern legend about a femalesea nymph-like genie who calls men to the Nile, most likely to their death. It is quite popular in the Nile Delta, the northernagricultural-based area of Egypt, typically north to Cairo, where the Nile constitutes a main part of the environment.
- ANROSPHINX. . One of three varieties of Egyptian sphinx, having the head of a man. HIERACOSPHINX. . One of three varieties of Egyptian sphinx, having the head of a hawk. CRIOSPHINX One of three varieties of Egyptian sphinx, having the head of a ram. A mythical creature with, as a minimum, the head of a human and the body of a lion. In Greek tradition, it has the head of a human, the haunches of a lion, and sometimes the wings of a bird. It is mythicised as treacherous and merciless. Those who cannot answer its riddle suffer a fate typical in such mythological stories, as they are killed and eaten by this ravenous monster. This deadly version of a sphinx appears in the myth and drama of Oedipus. Unlike the Greek sphinx which was a woman, the Egyptian sphinx is typically shown as a man (an androsphinx). In addition, the Egyptian sphinx was viewed as benevolent, but having a ferocious strength similar to the malevolent Greek version and both were thought of as guardians often flanking the entrances to temples. In European decorative art, the sphinx enjoyed a major revival during the Renaissance. Later, the sphinx image, something very similar to the original Ancient Egyptian concept, was exported into many other cultures, albeit often interpreted quite differently due to translations of descriptions of the originals and the evolution of the concept in relation to other cultural traditions. Sphinxes are generally associated with architectural structures such as royal tombs or religious temples. The oldest known sphinx was found near GobekliTepe at another site, NevaliÇori, or possibly 120 miles to the east at KortikTepe, Turkey, and was dated to 9,500 BCE.
- The stylized, upright form of an Egyptian cobra (asp, serpent, or snake), used as a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, deity, and divine authority in ancient Egypt. The Uraeus is a symbol for the goddess Wadjet, who was one of the earliest Egyptian deities and who often was depicted as a cobra. The center of her cult was in Per-Wadjet, later called Buto by the Greeks. She became the patroness of the Nile Delta and the protector of all of Lower Egypt. The pharaohs wore the Uraeus as a head ornament: either with the body of Wadjet atop the head, or as a crown encircling the head; this indicated Wadjet's protection and reinforced the pharaoh's claim over the land. In whatever manner that the Uraeus was displayed upon the pharaoh's head, it was, in effect, part of the pharaoh's crown. The pharaoh was recognized only by wearing the Uraeus, which conveyed legitimacy to the ruler. There is evidence for this tradition even in the Old Kingdom during the third millennium BCE. Several goddesses associated with or being considered aspects of Wadjet are depicted wearing the Uraeus also. At the time of the unification of Egypt, the image of Nekhbet, who was represented as a white vulture and held the same position as the patron of Upper Egypt, joined the image of Wadjet on the Uraeus that would encircle the crown of the pharaohs who ruled the unified Egypt. The importance of their separate cults kept them from becoming merged as with so many Egyptian deities. Together, they were known as The Two Ladies, who became the joint protectors and patrons of the unified Egypt. Later, the pharaohs were seen as a manifestation of the sun god Ra, and so it also was believed that the Uraeus protected them by spitting fire on their enemies from the fiery eye of the goddess. In some mythological works, the eyes of Ra are said to be uraei. Wadjets existed long before the rise of this cult when they originated as the eye of Wadjet as cobra and are the name of the symbols also called the Eye of the Moon, Eye of Hathor, the Eye of Horus, and the Eye of Ra—depending upon the dates of the references to the symbols. As the Uraeus was seen as a royal symbol, Horus and Set were also depicted wearing the symbol on their crowns. In early mythology, Horus would have been the name given to any king as part of the many titles taken, being identified as the son of the goddess. According to the later mythology of Re, the first Uraeus was said to have been created by the goddess Isis, who formed it from the dust of the earth and the spittle of the then-current sun deity. In this version of the mythology, the Uraeus was the instrument with which Isis gained the throne of Egypt for Osiris. Isis is associated with and may be considered an aspect of Wadjet. A chimerical beast, the totemic animal of the god Set. Because Set was identified with the Greek Typhon, the animal is also commonly known as the Typhonian animal or Typhonic beast.