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Discover the fascinating world of Egyptian mythology and the gods and goddesses that were worshipped during ancient times. This comprehensive guide provides insights into the characteristics, symbols, and roles of prominent deities such as Ra, Osiris, Isis, Set, Horus, Hathor, Anubis, Ammut, Aten, Nut, Thoth, Bast, Bes, Hapy, Neith, and Sekhmet.
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Ra / Re / Amen-Ra • King of the Gods • Sun god • Falcon head with a sun on top. • Sometimes seen as the creator of men (Egyptians called themselves "the cattle of Ra”) • Since heaven and the underworld have water, Ra uses a boat (Madjet (“strong”) while rising and Semektet ("becoming weak") when setting. He often has help from other gods to successfully navigate his boat. • He constantly had to fight monsters (Sebau, Nak, and Apep) • The phoenix is one of his symbols
Osiris • God of the earth and vegetation • Symbolized the yearly drought and flooding of the Nile. • Gave Egypt civilization. • Married his sister, Isis • Osiris rules Egypt and he leaves Isis in charge when he is gone • Set and 72 conspirators kill him by chopping him up into pieces • Isis found almost all the pieces and put him back together (making the missing part out of clay) • King of the afterlife • Usually shown as a bearded, mummified human with green skin and wearing the atef crown. His hands come out from the mummy wrappings and hold the flail and crook.
Horus • Falcon headed • The Pharaoh was supposed to be his earthly embodiment. • Son of Osiris (after his resurrection) • Set is always trying to hurt him • Stunted from his waist down • In art, he is often shown standing on crocodiles • His sons are born from Isis. Each take care of the organs during the mummification process • Duamutef (stomach) • Imsety (liver) • Hapi (lungs) • Qebehsenuef (intestines)
Nephthys • Wife of Seth • Seduced her brother Osiris (possibly getting him drunk or by looking like Isis) to get pregnant with Anubis • BFFF Isis
Isis • Isis was the sister/wife of Osiris • Shown as a a woman wearing a vulture head-dress and the solar disk between a pair of horns • Isis suckles the pharohs • May be one of the judges of the dead • Has great magical powers • Created the cobra and uses the cobra bite to make Ra reveal to her his secret name • The purest example of the loving wife and mother
Set • God of evil, the desert, storms, and chaos • A devil figure • Antelopes are sacred to him • Hates Osiris (jealous) • Kills Osiris and becomes king before he is killed by Horus • Part pig and part donkey
Hathor • Usually depicted as a cow or as a beautiful woman wearing a horned headdress • She is both wife/ daughter of Ra • Also married Horus • Suckled Horus when he was young and took care of him after Set blinded him • Her milk is food of the gods • She offers food and drink to the dead • Women aspire to be her
Anubis • Son of Nephthys and either Set or Ra – adopted servant of Isis • Head of a jackal • Guides the dead to the underworld and weighs their heart (bad deeds make your heart weigh more) • Works with Osiris in the underworld • Mummification god
Ammut • “Eater of the Dead” • She stands by the scales of the hearts and eats the hearts of the wicked (a final death) • Head of a crocodile, body of a leopard, hind legs of a hippo (apparently wicked hearts are fattening – who knew?)
Aten • The actual disk of the sun • His hands are the sun’s rays • May be the creator of men
Nut • The Sky • She and her brother, Geb (the earth), could not stop “holding hands” so now their father (Shu – air) stands between them holding them apart.
Thoth • Moon god • Head of an ibis • Scribe (records the weight of the hearts in the underworld) • Invented writing • From the Book of the Dead:“Hear the word of the very truth. I have judged the heart of the deceased, and his soul stands witness for him. His deeds are righteous in the great balance and no sin has been found in him.”
Bast • Cat-headed • Goddess of love, sex, and childbirth • Cats are sacred (many catswere mummified in her honor
Bes • Popular, household god • Dwarf • Frightens evil spirits away • Hangs out with Taweret, a goddess of childbirth (she is scary looking) • Roman soldiers wore amulets with his likeness for protection
Hapy • God of the Nile floods • Keeps the land and river fertile • He has long hair, large breasts, and a protruding stomach (all symbols of fertility) and also a beard and is blue • In some areas, he was worshipped over Ra
Neith • A mother goddess • Invented childbirth • Created gods, humans, and animals • Warrior goddess • Once she spit into the Nile and this spit turned into Apep, a serpent who lives in the underworld and tries to eat Ra each night
Sekhmet • Lion headed • Wife of Ptah (an early creator god) • Breathes fire against her enemies • Delivers punishment to the gods