Appendix IV: The Gods of Ancient Egypt (Tales of Gods and Men) Appendix IV: The Gods of Ancient Egypt (Tales of Gods and Men)
The following is an alphabetical listing of most of the Gods of
the Ancient Egyptians.
Please note that it is not exhaustive. Indeed from some versions of the Amduat "The Book of that which is in the Underworld" authorities have calculated that there are 765 deities involved in the nightly travails of Ra and his solar barge And that Ra himself goes through some seventy five transformations during his passage along the Celestial and Underworld Nile's !
Note that full justice has not been given to the classically popular and more famous Deities, instead the following concentrates on the broad picture and the more obscure deities of the pantheon. For a full treatment of Ra, Isis, Osiris, Horus etc. readers are directed to appropriate texts. Furthermore the Egyptians were not chauvinistic in their worship. Indeed there is good evidence that when local and national deities failed, the Egyptians would also turn to the Gods of other countries. Principally the Gods of the Phoenician and Ugarit settlements on the Mediterranean coast and other Gods of the Canaanite peoples.
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Prehistory
The earliest accounts of "Gods that went before" can probably
be tied in with the discoveries by the Egyptian predynastic neolithic
farmers of around 5000 BC. Digging post-holes and turning over
the land they would have found remains of a previous experiment
at agriculture (currently dated at 12,500 B.C.): vastly better
duplicates of their first experiments in bone and wooden sickles
with microlithic flint teeth; quern stones that had seen centuries
of use compared with their hardly worn ones and other specialised
tools whose use they could not even begin to comprehend! Thus
they rationalised an earlier and greater civilisation had lived
here and had gone away to another and better realm. In fact a
climatic change had caused massive crop failures and thus the
necessity to return to Hunter Gathering until the World got better.
The Gods were deified in the form of animals. Initially wild animals with powerful capabilities or domesticated animals with useful ones. This practice of worshipping animals that symbolically or practically exhibit the desired characteristic is known as theophany and continues to this day even in Christianity: "The Lion and the Lamb", the Dove as a manifestation of Holy Spirit and the various animals associated with Matthew: MAN. Mark: LION, Luke: BULL, and John: EAGLE. Later on these purely animal forms were anthromorphised into humans with animal heads or sometimes animals with human heads. Still later these Gods would be depicted as wholly human with perhaps just a peculiar symbol or head-dress to indicate their origins. Still later during the Graeco-Roman period the fusion of the Egyptian and Greek Myths produced a tale of the Olympians: Having defeated the Titans this pantheon then had to flee to Egypt in response to Gaia's wrath. And the Monster Typhon! During their sojourn in Egypt the Greek Gods disguised themselves as animals! Zeus was a Ram (Amun), Hera a white cow (Hathor), Hermes an Ibis (Thoth), Artemis a cat (Bast), Aphrodite a fish, Ares a boar, Apollo a crow, Dionysus a goat. This legend thus associating the original Egyptian Deities and the imported traditions of their Macedonian conquerors. Set was naturally equated to Typhon and thus, according to Greek myth, is currently imprisoned under Mount Etna!
Egyptian Demons were generally represented as chimeric beings composed of various body parts of dangerous animals combined together in bizarre and fantastic ways.
The Egyptian Triads
The Egyptians were great on family life and apart from the dynasties of Atum, Ra and Osiris there were other family triads of Father/ Mother/ Son The principle families being in chronological order:
The Memphis Triad: Ptah the local tutelary deity to Ineb-hedj "White Walls" is the predynastic Creator of the Universe and the Gods, the principle one being Ra. Ptah marries Sekhmet with a Son Nefertum (later the deified Imhotep) to complete the triad.
Sometime during the middle of the Old Kingdom, in the 4th or 5th Dynasties, the predynastic Harwer Falcon Cult is assimilated or overtaken by that of the predynastic Solar Cult of Ra (Re). The Pharaohs after Khufu (Cheops) start to identify their Afterlife as being associated with that God and taking the Re suffix in the tomb egs Khafre (Chephren c. 2558-2532 B.C.), Menkaure (Mycerinus c 2532-2503) and Userkaf being the first to build solar temples with a central Benben stone. This cult proliferated at Onn/Heliopolis in an ever complex mythology with a multitude of Goddess Companions as Aunts/ Mothers/ Sisters/ Wives /Daughters. These relationships being not necessarily mutually exclusive!.
Overlaying these successive dynastic deiforms was the Solar Cult of Ra sometimes in combination form with the Father Figure of the Triads above, notably Amon-Ra (Theban Recension), Atum-Ra (Heliopolis) and the predynastic Khepri-Ra. In the pure Solar Cult, Ra represented the heavenly father figure with Horus his earthly son and living Pharaoh. This central tenet can be seen in the Royal cartouches from Narmer (Menes) onwards with the original Solar Horus (Harwer) Cult of Nekhen in Upper Egypt. In later times the Heliopolitan priesthood embroidered their Solar Cult with these Ra/Horus Godforms:
In the Osiris cult, Harwer becomes both the elder brother to Osiris (Horus the Elder), Harsesis (Horus the Son) represents the living Pharaoh and Osiris his predecessor, real father or otherwise. This multiplication and overlaying of mythologies and deiforms is common to the religious beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians. Indeed the state religion was often used as propaganda and the nature of the Celestial Hierarchy changed to support Mundane practices!
One of first tales and central theme concerning the Gods takes us back to the predynastic days of Ancient Egypt. That of the battle between Horus (Harwer) the solar Falcon God of Lower Egypt and Seth (q.v.). This microcosmic tale is a macrocosmic history of Egypt and repeats itself time and again in the complex blend of syncretism (compound divinities) where any one god was easily combined with any other and complex iconolatry that defies a simple comprehensive treatment. The various permutations and combinations resulting from this practice adding further complications to an already confusing picture:-)
The Gods of Egypt
(In alphabetical order using the most appropriate spelling conventions)
[?] Only one reference and therefore suspect.
N.O.D. A clearly identified Egyptian Deity but No Other Details.
Aah humanised lunar deity post-dating that aspect of Thoth and Khons [?]
Aker leonine headed tutelary deity of the town "To Remu", Gr. Leontopolis one of the many lesser 'genies' aiding Ra in his passage through the underworld.
Ament-et, Imentit "Lady of the West". The west bank of the Nile valley was considered to be the first step towards the setting or dying Sun thus the Spirit World and the Afterlife. There were many Goddesses that would greet the deceased as they entered the Underworld especially Nut and Isis. However Hathor was especially aspected in this role and when depicted as a divine cow in funerary furniture was given the name "Menuret".
Amenti A collective term for the four Sons of Horus the Elder (Harwer, Ra-Horakhty) by Hathor but born from lotus buds out of the primeval waters of Nun. In one narrative they helped Osiris in his travails saving him from hunger and thirst. In the Osiris cult the Amenti were the sons of Horus the Son (Harsesis) also by Hathor or by Isis or by the appropriate Goddess (see below). Present at the magical resurrection of Osiris, the Amenti were given the special responsibility for the canopic jars containing the internal organs of the deceased. Linked also with the four compass points and latterly the pillars that supported heaven. The original myth had Horus the Elder, Set, Thoth and Sopdu supporting the legs of Nut in her form of a Celestial Cow.
- Imsety LIVER (human headed) Isis [North] WATER
- Hepy LUNGS (baboon headed) Nephthys [South] EARTH
- Duamutef STOMACH (jackal headed) Neith [West] FIRE
- Qebehsnewef INTESTINES (falcon headed) Selkit [East] AIR
Ammit Ammut, Amenait "Devourer of the unworthy" the monster demon with the forelimbs of a Leopard, the hindquarters of a Hippopotamus and the mouthparts of a Crocodile. Sits in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony ready to devour the heart (and soul) those found not "True of Voice"; thus denying the deceased a second rebirth into the Afterlife.
Amun (Amon, Amen, "The One who is Hidden"). Originally a local Ram Headed fertility God of Thebes. By the 12th dynasty of the Middle Kingdom became the primal solar deity Amon-Ra of the Theban Triad. Rose to national prominence after the Second Intermediate Period and rule by the Hyksos Kings. An incorruptible God whose main tenet was that of retribution especially nasty foreign interlopers who had invaded and misruled the country for a hundred years or so! Latterly represented as a Human with a Ibes crown (The Red Crown of Lower Egypt with two tall palm plumes and also worn by the original Harwer (Horus) Married Mut the vulture headed Mother Goddess with a son Khons. Known as a breaker of spells and a compassionate Vizier to the poor. In the New Kingdom was known as "Lord of the Thrones of the World".
Amunet (Amaunet). In the Ogdoad (q.v.) Amun and Amaunet are a fifth primal pair, representing 'Air'.
Anhur (Gr. Onouris) "Sky Bearer" Depicted as a muscular man dressed in colourful robes and a hat with four plumes. Patron deity to the towns of Thinis and Sebennytos. Linked in various stories with Shu of the Heliopolitan Mythos. A popular warrior God described as the divine huntsman, supporter of the Heavens and a martial aspect of Ra. In the New Kingdom his title was "Saviour". By the Late Period invoked as a protective deity warding off enemies in the form of evil spirits, harmful animals and humans. Married to Mehit "Mai-hetsa" a leoform aspect of the Goddess Sekhmet.
Andjety local fertility deity of Abydos See Osiris
Anpu (Gr. Anubis) An early god of Death, sharing the predynastic title Khenti-Amentiu "First (i.e. King) in the Land of the West" with Khnum and Osiris. In the Pyramid Texts he is identified as a dog deity with a protective role guiding the Pharaoh to his final resting place amongst the stars. With the ascendancy of Ra and the redirection of the Pharaoh's spirit to Ra's Solar Boat; there was a general revision to the deities associated with the Afterlife. For a brief period he was described as a son of Ra and given a daughter, an unnamed Goddess representing 'freshness'. Anubis became associated with Wepwawet "Opener of the Way", assuming some of the roles of latter. Depicted as a black muzzled jackal headed man, the jackal being especially associated with the Western Desert. Traditionally was said to know the date and time of everyone's demise and commonly invoked by Seers. In this way becoming regarded as the patron Deity of Divination. Also invoked as a Healing Divinity when using medicines or herbal cures.
Eventually he was assimilated into the Osiris cult as the son of Nephthys by Osiris, after she failed to conceive a child by her previous husband Seth. Anubis was allegedly raised by Isis as her own son after being abandoned by his natural mother. Anubis was sent by Ra to guard the body of Osiris after Isis had recovered all his parts and was responsible for binding them all together. At the Resurrection he was one of the assistants, "The Lord of the Mummy Wrappings". Anubis is traditionally identified as the God overseeing the Embalming rites, the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony, receiving the deceased in the Tomb and all aspects of the burial.
On a spiritual plane Anubis is the guide to the Ka/Ba (Soul) of the deceased on their journey to Ament "The Land of the West" where he carries out the Weighing of the Heart in the presence of the other Gods. In many Texts is depicted 'adjusting' the balance weight of the Scales in favour of the deceased and announcing a favorable verdict to Thoth! Anubis is the chief guardian of the Tomb and is well represented by paintings and statuary. In the Amduat depicted as a warrior wielding daggers or coiled snakes.
Anukis (Anuket) a (very) exotic fertility goddess of Nubia and Southern Egypt (Sudan) originally associated with the Inundation. Married to Khnum and a sister/wife to Satis, Anukis was personified by a woman hunter of gazelles. Depicted with a crown of red parrot feathers. Latterly her cult ceremonies became orgiastic.
Apep (Apophis, Apepi, Nak the Serpent, ...) Elder God and personification of Evil in the Egyptian Mythos. Choosing to live in the watery darkness of Nun rather than live in the light of Ra with the other Gods. In the days when Ra ruled the earth in person, Apep organised an ambush at Dawn. Caught by surprise after just getting up; there followed an epic battle. Eventually Ra, in the form of a cat, lion or mongoose (accounts vary), bites Apep's head off and he is then banished to Duat or Tuat "The Underworld" where he was chained, transfixed by knives and guarded by the scorpion Goddess Selkit. Sometimes Apep escapes Duat and tries to eat Ra in one of his three aspects as Captain of the Manketet "Daytime boat of the Sun" plunging everything back into the Darkness he prefers. Knowing that eclipses were going to happen and predicting that the Sun would come back again was probably the first and only time that Astronomers had any real standing in society!
Fortunately (so far) he is defeated by the Captain and crew and returned to Tuat where he has a full time night job fighting Auf-Ra and preventing the progression of the Mesketet "Evening boat of the Sun" through the Twelve Caverns (Hours) of the Night assisted by various lesser demons. Eventually one of Auf-Ra's crew decapitates him, usually Bast and he is chained up as before. Somehow his head grows back again and he escapes for the next night's battle.
In some texts of the Amduat "The Book of what is in the Underworld" the twelve Caverns or Hours form the interior of a giant snake. Thus each night the Mesketet Boat is swallowed by Apep and Auf-Ra must fight his way through the interior of Apep to emerge triumphant at the other end!
Apet alternative name for Taweret (q.v.)
Apis Hep Hapi (Gr: Apis) The original Bull cult stretching back to the First Dynasty. Originally the Apis Bull was regarded as the living incarnation of Ptah, the calf being born of a virgin cow. An ultimate expression of the practice of theophany and the worship of animals that symbolically or practically exhibited the desired characteristic of the God or Goddess. With the prominence of the Osirian Cult the worship of the Apis Bull developed into a Mortuary Cult. Finally during the time of the Greek occupation, the Ptolemaic Dynasty combined the Apis Bull Cult with that of the Greek God Dionysus, known collectively as Serapis. The main Temple of this Cult being built on the Acropolis in Alexandria. Accompanied by Isis this cult spread widely across the Roman Empire. Two other bull cults achieved prominence Buchis (See Mont) and Mnevis (See Atum)
(Also confusingly the Hellenised form of Hapi the God of the Nile and regarded as a subterranean deity associated with minerals and gemstones.)
Aten an early term for the Solar Disc later became associated with The Aten Heresy
Atum "The Complete One" Creator God of the Heliopolitan Cosmology and the Nine Gods of Heliopolis (Ennead) with an associated Bull cult the Mnevis Bull Cult.
This principle creation mythos or "First Occasion" when the Creator God manifested had Atum declare himself to be the beginning and end of the creation cycle in the form of the God Atum "the All" or Neb-er-djer "Lord of the World" with no other Gods but himself. Atum arose out of the primeval watery chaos or Nun (q.v. Ogdoad) in the form of, or creating, the first land, the Primeval Mound that is central to all the Egyptian creation myths.
(It is a possible reference to the Great Flood. Now thought to be the inundation of the Black Sea in relatively recent prehistoric times.)
Atum then used three forces in the Creation: the first being Magical Power "Hekau" which was not enough in itself. Hekau was useless without a focus or goal which was only perceived when Atum used his Divine Vision or intelligence "Sia" (Mind) to determine what should be done. The creation itself was still down to the Divine Word "Hu" (Will) (q.v. the Memphite Ptah Creation Myth). Then the (lesser) God Shu and Goddess Tefnut being produced from his being by an "act of self creation". According to some narratives the production of Shu and Tefnut still requires some mysterious force: Iusaas "She comes and grows great" who is pictured as a female consort to Atum. The comparison between this and her other name Nebethetpet Neb(thet)hotep "Mistress of the (Sanctuary) at Heliopolis" and Isis and Nephthys more than just coincidence? Alternatively Atum produces his offspring from a union with shadows! Shu and Tefnut then reproduce in a more normal fashion and thus create the Ennead or Nine of Heliopolis (See diagram above.) These Nine Gods become the basic pantheon of the Egyptian Religion that spans three millennia. Some would say six...
Another story that comes out of this creation myth is that of the Eyes of Atum. Eyes are lesser aspects or avatars created by the Gods and Goddesses to perform tasks. In this story Shu and Tefnut become lost in the darkness so Atum creates an Eye (associated with the Goddess Wadjet) to find them. He then creates another better one (associated with the Goddess Nekhebet) . On the return of the first Eye, having successfully found Atum's erring offspring, it became jealous of the better Eye. In order to appease its anger Atum set the eye on his forehead in the form of the Uraeus (q.v.). Atum wept with joy at the return of his children and as his tears hit the earth mankind was created.
Atum also has a solar aspect: the Elderly or Evening Sun setting over the lands of the Dead (West). During the Aten heresy his name is slightly modified to be interpreted as the "Solar Disc".
Note that in the Ra creation cycle it was from the primeval (Atum) mound that Ra first manifested as a lotus bud.
The mongoose as a slayer of snakes and eater of crocodile eggs is sacred to Atum. In this aspect taking the name of Shed.
Auf-Ra Ra/Atum in his mummiform aspect of Captain of the Mesketet in the Duat "Underworld". See also Ra
Bandebdetet (Ba'eb Djet) an eponymously named ram cult worshipping a selected animal as the living incarnation of Ptah Osiris and Ra. Primarily a fertility deity, in the New Kingdom became an aspect of the Theban ram headed deity Amun. The cult centre in Greek times being translated as Mendes.
Bast: see Pakhet
Benben stone, Bennu bird see Ra
Bes Minstrel and Fool to the Gods. Imported from of Nubia and Southern Egypt (Sudan) during the Twelfth Dynasty. Bes is a lion maned, hairy faced God with a flat nose lolling tongue and projecting ears. Bes is a dwarf with short legs and long arms and the tail of a lion. Generally depicted as wearing leopard skin robes. A good luck deity, probably imported from outside Egypt and bringer of happiness and merriment to all without favour, especially in a domestic setting. Protects the family and the sanctity of marriage. Also a protector from noxious desert creatures especially snakes (which he strangles and eats!) Married to Taweret and as such a helper in childbirth dancing around the birthing chamber and slashing about with knives to frighten away demons. As a protector of women in a domestic situation he is associated with the toilet and adornment of women Often depicted with a drum/tamborine, harp or lyre. Has a female counterpart and wife, Bestet depicted as a fire breathing serpent who is also a protective deity especially useful against desert animals and snakes. Although not an official state God, being an import, Bes was nevertheless very popular with the party loving Egyptian people!
Buchis see Mont
Buto: see Wadjet
Djehuty "tehuti" Thoth God of Wisdom and Knowledge
Duamutef See Amenti
(Duat) the Underworld. An underground series of Caverns or Halls "The Twelve Hours of the Night" through which Auf-Ra and entourage travel in the Mesketet "Evening Boat of the Sun" bringing welcome light to the inhabitants. These caverns are populated with the souls of the dead that have failed in the Test of the Weighing of the Heart. Opposing and helping Auf-Ra are various demons depicted as composite animals. Some of these must be fought, others placated and some just greeted in a friendly manner!
Crew includes: Hu, Sia and Hekau the triple divinities of the Atum Creation Myth; Horus the Elder is at the helm and in the prow as "Opener of the Way" (lookout) is Thoth. In later stories to be replaced by Upuaut when Thoth is needed to personify the Moon. Mont, Min, Set and other warrior Gods and Goddesses act as Marines! The boat also fills up with various worthy souls as passengers. Thus in the Egyptian Underworld there is a nightly Harrowing of Hell!
As the Mesketet emerges from the other end of the Tunnel there is a big battle with Apep who tries to swallow the Solar boat whole. Unless there is an eclipse then one God or Goddess (usually Bast) chops off Apep's head and Khepri rolls the sun up over the Horizon and into the Manketet "Day Boat of the Sun".
Ernutet See Renenutet
Eset Isis "The Seat" other titles include Mut Netjer "Mother of the Gods" "The Merciful" and Uret (Urt) Hekau "the Great Enchantress", in this role described as deceiving Ra into revealing his True Name.
"Isis was a clever woman… more intelligent than countless Gods… she was ignorant of nothing on Heaven or on Earth…"
(Turin Papyrus No. 1993 19th Dynasty 1200 B.C.)
As Iusaas was a companion to Atum in that Creation Myth. Classically the Wife of Osiris, Mother of Horus,...
Isis is a key, sometimes central, player in all of the Egyptian Myth cycles. Originally she was a predynastic Goddess with a cult centre at Sebennytos. In common with Nut, Isis is identified with trees, especially the tamarisk or sycamore. Some scenes from the Book of the Dead have her suckling the newly reborn in the form of a tree. Associated and assimilated with most of the other Goddesses in the pantheon. The Right Eye of Osiris; the Left being her co-wife and sister Nephthys, the two Sisters being described by "The Book of the Dead" as the two Ma'ati (Goddesses of the Hall of Judgement). With Selkit and Neith one of the four Goddesses/ Kites guarding the Sarcophagus and Canopic chest. Isis being at the foot of the Sarcophagus with Selkit and linked with Imsety of the Amenti (q.v.). As an aspect of Hathor: one of the Fairy Godmothers. Identified by the Greeks with Demeter, Isis worship expanded across the Roman Empire with a cult temples built as far North as York and shrines on Hadrian's Wall in Britannia. Indeed Isis worship continues to this day! Nuff said! Amongst other things is especially associated with: marriage, corn grinding, flax spinning, weaving, medicine, fertility and a protector of children. Especially from disease. In every way she personifies the perfect woman, whose courage in adversity, humility, tenacity, ... provides an inspiration to the people. In ancient Egypt Isis had many Temples the principle one being at her original cult centre in the Delta at Chemmis (Behbeit el-Hagar). In the Late Period the Temple to Isis at Philae (re)built by the Ptolemaic Dynasties was regarded as the Pearl of Egypt. Added to under Roman occupation notably Trajan, Hadrian and Diocletian. Finally closed down as a cult centre by Emperor Justinian in AD 536. Used as a church by the Coptic faith until it was drowned by the British in 1899. Finally rescued by an UNESCO sponsored international effort. The complex being relocated over a period of eight years to the neighbouring island of Agilkia and reopened in 1980. Since 1985 a Son et Lumîère has become one of the high spots on the Tourist trail.
Universally represented as a woman with a throne on her head she was associated with the Sa and especially associated with the Tit/Tet/Thet Amulet or Girdle of Isis. Represented the East wind.
In 1791 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote "The Magic Flute". A hermetic and Masonic (!) celebration of the story of Isis and Osiris...
On her endless journeys Isis was protected by seven friendly scorpions Petet, Tjetet, Matet act as 'point' with Mesetet and Mesetetef protecting her flanks (or hiding under her litter) Finally Tefen and Befen protect her rear.
Eyes of various Gods. The Egyptian Gods had the ability to create or bestow this title or Distinction "Udjat" (Eye of....) Usually to a lesser member of the Pantheon. The Right Eye is said to be the stronger and usually associated with the Sun whereas the Left Eye is a lesser power and associated with the Moon. Famous Eyes include Sekhmet (Right) and Ma'at/Hathor (Left) who act as the Eyes of Ra and Khepri (Sun/Right) and Khons (Moon/Left) who act as the Eyes of Horus the Elder. The Eyes of Osiris are of course Isis (Right) and Nephthys (Left). Nekhebet and Wadjet are right and left eyes of Atum. Thoth's Eyes are his wives: Ma'at the Elder Goddess of Truth (Right) and Sesheta (Seshet) Goddess of the Stars and Patroness of Mathematicians (Left). It could be argued that Odin's Eyes are Hugin and Munin!
See also The Healing Eye of Wadjet or "Udjat Eye" a major Amulet used by the Egyptians and the Eyes of Atum above
Fairy Godmothers For women in ancient Egypt the time of birth and pregnancy was fraught with danger. Demons being responsible for visiting death and disease on mother and child. For this reason pregnancy and the birthing process had many protective Goddesses. Principally Hathor but in a multifaceted form being combined with seven others: Taweret, Meskhenet, Heket, Renenutet, Shai with Isis and Nephthys, collectively known as the Seven Hathors. They act as fairy godmothers in the story of the labour of the lady Rut-Tettet. Male gods were involved too. Principally Khnum the Creator to provide the Ka spirit and bestow health on the limbs of the child and Bes who dances to drive away the demons. During the Ptolemaic period these seven goddesses were identified as the Pleiades. The Seven Hathors had a secondary role in childbirth that concerned the day on which a child was born. The Egyptians did not have the practice of modern astrology or horoscopes but did believe in a calendar with lucky and unlucky days. If a child was born on an unlucky day the Seven Hathors had the responsibility for taking it away and replacing it with an identical substitute born on a more auspicious day!
Geb of the Heliopolitan Dynasty. Egyptian God of the Earth, the mountains and valleys being the contours of his prone body. Son of Shu and Tefnut and married to his sister Nut "the Heavens" Thus the nominal father of the Osirian Pantheon. The Earth was created from Chaos when his father Shu separated him from an (intimate) embrace with his sister. It is said that his tears on that day created the seas and oceans. Has a Solar aspect in the form of the Earth Bull with his Wife Nut as the Sky Cow. One rather peculiar Hermopolitan myth has Geb as a Solar Deity "The Great Cackler" a (female) Goose that lays a Golden Egg every day! Geb was the third Pharaoh succeeding his father Shu. In one narrative that parallels the story of Pandora's Box as a new Pharaoh Geb opened a box containing the Uraeus of Ra. The fiery gaze of this serpent headband reduced all his companions to ash and left Geb severely wounded. In time Geb abdicated in favour of his Son Osiris. (Set however had other plans!). Some narratives have him seizing the throne and forcibly marrying his mother Tefnut. These were probably propaganda stories put about to legitimise some Mundane Palace coup.
Gemehsu falcon and goose figurines of god found in Tutankhamun's tomb. NOD
Hapi Hopi God of the Inundation. Identified with Nun, Hapi was supposed to live in a grotto beneath the island of Bigeh on the First Cataract. The Egyptians did not deify the Nile which was simply known as "iteru" - the river. Hapi was the God of the annual floods and was portrayed as a plump or androgynous man either made of water or blue in colour. Sometimes depicted as carrying two vases representing the Blue and White Niles. His name was linked with two local mountains "Tor Hapi" and "Mut Hapi" the Cavern and Waters of Hapi. The Nile was believed to be a universal river flowing both through the Duat and through the Heavens as the Milky Way. In the Osirian cult the Nile was associated with the sweaty clasped palms of Osiris whilst the Inundation came from Isis' tears for her lost husband.
Harakhty Harakhte, Horakhty/e Horus the Elder in the Solar aspect of Hor-em-akhet "Horus of the Horizon" i.e. the Dawning or sometimes the Setting Sun. Hellenised during the Ptolemaic Dynasty to Harmachis and this name is especially linked with the oracular nature of Sphinx at Giza. Represented as a hawk headed man with a red solar disk encircled by a serpent uraeus or as the Sphinx, a human headed lion. Captain of the Morning watch on the Manketet "Day boat of the Sun". In the Osiris cult associated with Harsesis Horus the Son of Osiris. Son by Hathor: Harsomtus a human headed mummy or serpent headed man.
Haroeris Hellenised form of Harwer Horus the Elder
Harpokrates Hellenised form of Harsesis or Horus the Son of Isis and Osiris.
Harsesis Harsaiset (Gr. Harpokrates) Falcon headed Horus, the Son of Isis, is the current ruler in Heaven just as his father is Ruler in the Underworld. Associated with the Greek God Apollo and in the Osiris cult always associated with the reigning living Pharaoh; just as the recently deceased Pharaoh is associated with Osiris. The traumatic story of Horus's birth and rise to power is long and complicated and makes most televisual soap operas dull and tame in comparison. Not to be confused with Harwer or Horus the Elder although most of the deeds attributed to Horus the Son were previously documented as being those of the Elder God! Married to one of the Twelve Hathors and rules Heaven as Har-pa-neb-tauy "Horus Lord of the Two Lands"
Harshaf Horishef, (Gr. Harsaphes) "He who is on the Lake" A pre-dynastic ram headed fertility god and the Tutelary God of Nen-nesut (Gr. Herakleopolis, Modern Innasya-el-Medina). Rose to national prominence (possibly as an aspect of Horus) during the First Intermediate Period by the Pharaohs of Seventh through to Tenth Dynasties.
Harwer Har-aa (Gr. Haroeris) Horus the Elder, Horus the Son of Ra or Son of Geb in the Atum cult. The prototypical solar falcon cult of predynastic Egypt probably predating the worship of Ra as a solar deity. The "Har" or "Hor" syllable generally indicates an aspect of this Deity. Harwer was both a solar and lunar deity, these two celestial objects being identified as his eyes. Later narratives link his Eyes to other Gods: Khepri (Sun/Right) and Khons (Moon/Left). Another famous 'Eye' story is set during the Rebellion of Set against the rulership of his 'father', Horus is dispatched by Ra in the form of a winged sun disc. He first encountered Set at Behdety in the Western Delta there then followed a long drawn out battle up the Nile finally defeating him at Edfu in Upper Egypt. Thereafter Horus the Elder became the Tutelary deity to both these towns. Set escaped and in the guises of crocodiles and hippopotami ambushed Horus at Wadjet in the Nile Delta; successfully tearing out his weaker left eye. Isis (with the aid of Thoth) fashioned a magical replacement that was so powerful that it could be sent out and perform tasks at Horus' request. In other stories both Eyes are torn out. This special association of Eyes (and lack of them) led to two other Horus aspects: Hor-Merti or Mekhenti-irty "He who has two eyes on his forehead" and Mekhenti-en-irty "He who does not have... forehead". The latter aspect being the patron god of Moonless nights and the Blind.
In the Atum myth cycle it is Horus the Elder and Set who originally become co-regents of Lower and Upper Egypt respectively. Set disputes this division and battle is commenced. After many incidents both become too exhausted and Osiris is given the throne of the Two Lands. Set objects to this but that's another story. Horus the Elder is married to Hathor.
Hathor Amentet "Great Lady of the West" also "Lady of the Sycamore" (used for Coffins), "Lady of the Turquoise" (Sky). Revered as a protectress equal to Isis in stature and actually had a larger following and priesthood. There is evidence that she is quite a late addition to the Pantheon; her name deriving from the title "Mansion of Horus". Nevertheless she dates back to pre-dynastic times being the female consort to the "Bull of Ament" an early deity associated with the Afterlife. In later times she became a sky Goddess and as the daughter of Nut and Ra is depicted in a similar manner to her mother: as the heavenly star spangled Cow standing over the Earth, as a cow faced woman or woman with cows ears or latterly as a woman with a cow-horn head-dress and the solar disc.
In a lion headed aspect she represented Sekhmet the elder warrior Goddess and the early narratives of the older Goddess were reattributed to Hathor in later times. Her assimilation into the Osiris cult involves an aspect as Isis. Angry that his mother would not help in his latest scheme to defeat Set, Horus cut her head off whilst she was sleeping. When Isis awoke she could not find her head and had to use that of the first animal she encountered.
Hathor was the Divine Midwife and had a central role in childbirth and acted as a multiple protectress of the newly born. Known collectively as The Seven Hathors or seven Fairy Godmothers (q.v.) who acted somewhat like the Fates and wove protective spells around the child to safeguard it from harm in the early days of its life. She was also the principle protectress of the newly dead, 'born' again in heaven and was depicted as the Goddess of the West Amentet her arms stretched out to welcome the new arrivals. She has any number of deified male offspring including: Harsomtus with Horus the Elder (of Edfu) and Ihy God of Music with Ra or Horus the Son.
Hathor has been combined with most of the other Goddesses. This multiple syncretism finally resulting in twelve aspects:The Twelve Hathors. These twelve Goddesses of the Underworld providing Auf-Ra with the passwords required to travel between the Caverns of The Twelve Hours of the Night.
By Ptolemaic times Hathor had also become associated with a gentler domestic side of feminine nature and was be considered to be the equivalent of the Greek Aphrodite. Thus connected with seduction: dancing and music, the boudoir, cosmetics and thus the patron goddess of Astrologers! In Osiris cult, Hathor was considered as the wet-nurse of Horus the Son and to act in a similar succoring manner to the living Pharaoh. Thus the Queen (state or principle wife of the Pharaoh) was considered to be the living embodiment of Hathor. Her main temple was located at Dendera and a major cult festival involved her image being born in procession to the Temple of her Husband/Son Horus at Edfu.
Heh/Hehet (Huh/Hauhet) [Also Neh/Nehet] Male and female representations of Eternity and Infinity at the point of Creation q.v. Ogdoad. Heh had a special significance in the Afterlife as a representation of Eternal Life. Also known as the God of Millions of Years
Heket Hekat Hequet An enduring frog headed fertility goddess. The Old Kingdom tombs at Abydos have Heket as the daughter of Ra and the female version of Shu and thus an early aspect of Tefnut. Then identified as a water goddess of the Upper Nile and the original wife of Khnum giving life to mankind after he had fashioned them on his potters wheel. In the Osiris cult was one of the Goddesses assisting in the Resurrection of the deceased. A protective deity associated with childbirth and pregnancy and one of the Fairy Godmothers (q.v.) thus aspected with Hathor. Conversely a powerful contraceptive in the form of an amulet!
Hemetch Serpent Demon of the Underworld. (From the Pyramid Texts of the 5th Dynasty.)
Heneb [?] predynastic fertility deity associated with the cultivation of emmer and barley. Assimilated in early dynastic times by the Osiris cult.
Hepy Hepi See Amenti
Heraf-Hef "He who looks behind himself" Documented in the "Book of the Dead" as the celestial ferryman on the Lake of Eternity in Duat and also one of the 42 jurists in the Hall of Ma'at (Judgement). Represented as an irritable old man he required placating by various unique spells and magical ointments.
Horus the Elder Introduced in the Atum creation myth to separate the Infant Horus or Horus the Son Harsesis from all previous forms of Horus. All these were combined into one Elder God. See Harwer
Hu The Divine Word of Creation or Will uttered by Atum. Also known as the Tongue of Ptah in their respective Creation Myths and represented by a bearded man. Later a companion to Ra in the Solar Barge. With Sia shared the task of bearing the Eye of Horus.
Ihy God of Music son of Hathor and either Ra or Harwer or Harsesis.
Imhotep seer, astronomer, mathematician, doctor and writer. The architect of the Step Pyramid of the Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser-Netcherikhe. Revered down the centuries, he was deified as the living incarnation of Nefertum the Son of Ptah and Sekhmet of the Memphis Triad. In Graeco-Roman times identified as Aesculapius.
Imiut, Imy-ut "He who is in the Skin" An ancient and obscure God absorbed in the days of the Middle Kingdom by the Cult of Anubis. Was ritually identified with the eponymous Fetish of Mummification and linked with the spells concerning the Restoration of Dead Flesh. This emblem originally had a simple function: That of a container of the various purgative fluids introduced into the body through various orifices. And once their work was done their removal. The ritual inclusion of the object thus invoking the reverse process by which the Khat was reconstituted in the Afterlife.
Imsety See Amenti
Ished Tree on this enchanted tree growing in Fair Ament, the Goddess Seshet would inscribe the names of the Pharaohs reborn to Celestial existence. In later times the names of all the Justified passing the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony were recorded for Eternity too!
Isis (See Eset)
Iusaas "She comes and grows great" who is described as a mysterious
celestial concubine to Atum and referred to as "Neb-et-hetepet"
(Mistress of Hetepet: The main shrine to Atum at Heliopolis).
She is associated with the Hekau or magical power behind the self
engendering creation myth of Atum. The means by which the God
was able to 'rise to the occasion'!
Isis as the pre-eminent Mother Goddess, with powers even over
Ra himself, were too well entrenched within the theology and thus
She was the natural choice for this role and incorporated into
the 'new' creation myth.
Kek/Keket (Kuk/Kauket) Male and female representations of Darkness at the point of Creation q.v. Ogdoad.
Khepri Khepera "He who comes to life" See Ra
Khnum "The Creator" Ram headed God associated with the Pottery and the Potters wheel. One of the Lords of Destiny being associated with Atum and Ptah as having created the Cosmic Egg and at the same time fashioned the other Gods and Goddesses. Later responsible for creating man out of mud and straw on the orders of Ra. Responsible for raising Heaven onto its four pillars and prior to the Osiris Cult: Lord of the Underworld. During childbirth is the God responsible for fashioning a Ka for the newborn baby. Finally associated with the yearly inundation as pottery, man and the crops all depended upon the mud deposited by the flood. Khnum had a main temple at Elephantine, the first point within Egypt's core territory that the flood was experienced. Khnum controlling the Inundation from its Underworld sources. Originally associated with Heket, then married to Neith daughter of Ra. In later periods two local deities Saitet and Anuket were made his wives. Naturally associated with Hapi the God of the Inundation and also with Ra.
(Not to be confused with Khmun the ancient Egyptian city "per Djehuty" dedicated to Thoth later the Greek Hermopolis and the modern El Ashmunyn)
Khons (Khonsu) "The Navigator" son of Amon and Mut of the Theban Triad. Seems to have been originally associated with the Afterbirth or Placenta of the living Pharaoh. Just as the latter was identified as the living incarnation of Horus the Sun/Son so the Afterbirth was associated with the Moon. Depicted as a boy god with his scalplock intact who took over from Thoth when he became too busy with all that Knowledge and Science stuff to look after the Moon. Khons is the Left Lunar Eye of Horus the Elder. Known by some of Thoth's titles: "Lord of Truth, Maker of Destinies, Giver of Oracles, Spell Breaker, ..." In the aspect of Khons Neferhotep associated with fertility healing and exorcism with a famous statue, made by the God himself, being taken to the sick and the possessed.
Maahes a lion headed son of Bast and Ra.
Maka one of the Demons of the 12 Hours or Caverns of the Night. Was 50 feet long and had scales made of flint!
Mamu Mummiform figurine of god found in Tutankhamun's tomb. NOD
Mayet Ma'at. Elder Goddess of Truth, Divine Harmony, The Cosmic Order and Justice. Aunt, Sister and Daughter of Ra (accounts vary) and originally his Left Eye. Later on when she married Thoth she found Hathor willing to deputise and became the Right Eye of Thoth. Her symbol is a single ostrich plume "The feather of righteousness" and it is in The Hall of Ma'at that the Deceased are Justified or Judged. In the temporal world she was always invoked by the new Pharaoh whose reign was always declared to be a divine restoration of Cosmic Order and Truth after the failings of the previous incumbent! In all legal cases she was invoked by persons, both great and small, seeking Justice and as such became regarded as the Patron Goddess of the Poor and Dispossessed. (I.e. the bulk of the Fellahin population!)
Mehit Mehet, May-hetsa, Mafdet. First Dynasty lynx or lion faced Goddess, "The lady of the castle of life". A killer of serpents associated with Bast and Tefnut as the ritual beheader of Apep. Cult centre at Bubastis assimilated by that of the cult of Bast during the third intermediate period. Married to Anhur. Often associated with Isis.
Mekhenti-en-irty An abstract aspect of Harwer as the God of Moonless nights and Patron of the Blind.
Menkeret Goddess bearing the mummiform body of Tutankhamun. Found in his tomb. Meskhenet/Meretseger ?
Menu (Gr. Min) Lord of the Eastern Desert and predynastic fertility deity. The God of (male) sexual 'prowess': thunder, rain, fertility (and the harvest), hunting,... As Lord of Foreign Lands, deposing Set from this role after the Hyksos invasions, became responsible for nomads, foreigners, caravan routes and travellers. Later incorporated into aspects of other sky gods being described as the son of Ra or Shu but remaining a weather and virility god. Represented by an ipyphallic mummiform man wearing the plumed crown with a flail held aloft. Often combined with the National Male Deities Horus and Amun. Major cult centre associated with his town Akhmin (Khent Menu, Gr. Panopolis) but his main temple was at Koptos; here every spring the Pharaoh ritually hoed the ground and opened up irrigation channels. Then in autumn led an orgiastic harvest festival!
Meretseger Mertseger "Lion of the Summit", "Mistress of the West" and "She who loves Silence" or "Beloved of he who makes Silence" (Osiris.) are amongst her many titles. Meretseger is the cobra headed goddess of Necropoli and Tombs. Believed to inhabit el-Quern "The Horn" (The pyramidal mountain peak that dominates the Valley of the Queens "The Place of Beauty" and the Valley of the Kings "Ta-sekhet-aat" (The Great Field). Thought to be one of the Gates of Heaven from association with the Pyramid tombs of the early dynasties.) She is a fear inspiring deity and will pursue desecrators of tombs without mercy. Punishing those that fail to respect the sanctity of the grave with illness and death.
Meskenhet Meskhenet Her name was often carved on the birthing stool or a pair of ritual bricks (equivalent to the modern obstetric stirrups) placed in a special birthing chamber. She had influence over a child's Future and provided the main blessing. A Goddess in her own right she was sometimes combined with the Goddess Shai "Destiny" and Renenutet "Good Fortune" especially in scenes of the Hall of Truth in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony, during this Meskenhet acted as a council for the defence pleading that the Soul of the Deceased was "Ma'at Kheru" and worth of entry to Paradise. Generally portrayed as a symbolically bifurcated block with a woman's head or as four dancing maidens representing: Shai and Renenutet, joined by Isis and Nephthys in the case of a celestial rebirth or Taweret and Bestet for a normal one! One of the Seven Hathors (q.v. Fairy Godmothers).
Mehen snake a protective deity of the Underworld; sometimes depicted with wings and two heads. Performed various tasks as described in "The Book of the Dead": Guardian of the boats of Auf-Ra/Osiris in the Imy Duat by encircling passengers and crew. Bearer of the body of the Deceased to the Underworld.
Mnevis bull cult of Atum-Ra based at Heliopolis. See also Apis/Ptah and Buchis/Mont.
Mont Montu, Month "bull of the mighty arm" - Cult centre at Hermonthis (Armant). An aspect of Ra and national deity of reunification after the First Intermediate Period (ca. 2040 B.C.). In the New Kingdom became a warrior falcon faced god of the Theban Recension and depicted wielding bow and arrows, club and knife. During the Ptolemaic period worshipped in the form of the Buchis bull cult.
Mut "Lady of Asheru" vulture goddess of the Theban Triad and married to Amun. Obviously associated with Nekhebet (patron goddess of Upper Egypt) and Amunet of the Ogdoad. Sometimes depicted as a lion headed mother goddess (Sekhmet). Represented the ideal of motherhood and fertility!
Nebti combination Goddess comprising the two tutelary goddesses of Lower and Upper Egypt taking the form of a Cobra headed Vulture (q.v. Nekhebet and Wadjet)
Nefertum Nefertem "lotus bud" a predynastic youth god adsorbed into the Memphis Triad as the son of Ptah and Sekhmet A flowery translation of his name being the "life giving scent of the lotus at the moment of Creation" and hence closely associated with the birth of Ra and the creation myth of Atum. In later times identified with the deified Imhotep.
Neith Nit "The Opener of the Ways" Predynastic Warrior/Huntress known as the Great Goddess and Mother to the Gods. Described as the mother of Ra and personified as Nunet. Later a daughter of Ra and married to Khnum. In some cults notably of the Faiyum identified as the mother of Sobek and is thus sometimes depicted as suckling a crocodile! Tutelary Goddess of the town of Sais in the Delta she was also the Patron Goddess to the tribes of the West: The Libau (Libyans). Her hieroglyph was a shield and two crossed arrows later transforming into the hieroglyph of a shuttle used in weaving of cloth. Neith was thus identified in peaceful times as the Patron Goddess of Weavers! One of the four protective aviform (kite) Goddesses of the Tomb standing at the head of the Sarcophagus with Nephthys and guardian of the Canopic chest with Duamutef of the Amenti (q.v.).
Nekhebet the predynastic and enduring Vulture Goddess of Nekheb, her cult centre on the opposite bank to Nekhen or Heiraconpolis (Gr.). Patron goddess of Upper Egypt and Protector of the Pharaoh's person in the form of a Vulture headed Uraeus. Combined into most of the Myth cycles: daughter of Ra (Memphis), Right Eye of Atum (Heliopolis), aspect of Mut (Theban cult of Amun) and wife of Osiris in his cult aspect of Khenti- Amentiu. Known as the Lady of Dread and a co-wife of Hapi. Associated with Wadjet in the combination Goddess Nebti (q.v.) The image of being enfolded in her protective wings was a common decoration around the coffin, sarcophagus or canopic paraphernalia. (See also Setekh)
Nephthys Neb-het "Mistress of the Great House" her head-dress symbol is that of a courtyard house with a feminising basket symbol! Sister of Isis and originally wife of Set; Nephthys could be described as the original wild child! Abandoning her 'no-hoper' of a husband, she seduced Osiris and conceived her son Anubis. Promptly giving the baby over to her Sister for its care and upbringing. Eventually she settled down and became a co-wife of Osiris with her sister. Importantly helped in the Resurrection of Osiris and thus one of the four major aviform (kite) Goddesses protecting the Tomb. Associated with Neith standing at the head of the Sarcophagus and Hepy of the Amenti (q.v.). In attendance with Isis at the Judgement of the deceased as the two Ma'ati Goddesses. Nephthys is particularly skilled in Enchantments and is associated with the West Wind, the Desert and is the Left Eye of Osiris.
Netjerankh serpent Cobra serpent statue found in Tutankhamun's tomb. NOD
Nun/Nunet (Nan/Naunet) The Ogdoad (q.v.) extension to the Creation Mythos cannot devalue the central role of Nun (or Nu) who appears as the Primeval Waters in the creation stories of Atum and Ra. According to Hermopolitan beliefs the primordial waters were also known as the Lake of the Two Knives and would arise to cover the World once again. This would signify the Resurrection of Osiris to the land of the Living and Amun would return in the form of a serpent.
Nut a predynastic Goddess of the Sky or Heavens. Originally the mother of Ra, later his sister/wife/daughter! Nut was often invoked in the spells concerning the Afterlife and depicted in the tomb as a woman stretched out over the deceased. The stars on her belly were the souls of the dead shining in the Heavens. These were swallowed every morning to be 'born' again at dusk. Another important aspect was that of the divine cow, a godform that was later assigned to Hathor. Responsible for the nightly conception and morning (re)birth of Ra, as a Solar Calf, emerging from a dawn stained red with her blood. She is equated as the celestial womb and associated with the domestic water pot! Sometimes depicted as a woman with a small water pot balanced on her head.
After the abdication of Ra, leaving the world to mankind, it was Nut in the aspect of a cow that supported his weight on her back whilst the other gods clung to her belly in the form of stars. Unfortunately the weight was too much for her to bear and her legs began to tremble. Ra ordered Horus the Elder, Set, Thoth and Sopdu to support her legs and Shu to support her belly.
(Later still the Heavens were transported onto a great iron plate which was supported by four pillars associated with the Amenti.)
In the Heliopolitan/Atum Dynasty, Nut was the Sister/Wife of Geb the Earth. The two were very much in love but during the day her (jealous ?) father Shu kept her apart from her husband. At the end of the day the two could not be kept apart and Night 'fell' on her husband! Occasionally Nut would 'slip' bringing about overcast days and storm clouds as well as the occasional eclipse. However this started to happen too often. The amorous couple always 'getting it together' and there was nothing that Shu could do to keep them apart! Every time they met all was chaos and darkness as it was through the agency of Shu's separation of the Sky and the Earth that the ordered existence of the World had come into being. Eventually Ra became fed up with the tumult and as a punishment declared that Nut should "bear no child on any day in the month" hoping that if she was barren she would lose interest in her husband. Nut went to Thoth and in exchange for her 'favour' asked him to do something to enable her to have children. Thoth engaged Khons in a friendly game of Senet and by making side bets, won a seventy second part of each day, making five more days for the year. On these Epagomenal Days, Nut was able to give birth to her five children in the order: Osiris, Horus the Elder, Set(!), Isis and Nephthys; some gossips say that Isis is Thoth's secret daughter and that Osiris and Horus the Elder are Ra's whilst Nephthys is Geb's daughter. Naturally Set was born "not at the proper time or place" apparently forcing his way out of Nut through a wound he made - from the inside! Set is supposedly the son of Geb though he denies it.
Along with Hathor and Isis one of the principle Goddesses welcoming the Souls for the newly reborn into the Land of the West in this aspect and in common with Isis is identified with a tree usually the tamarisk or sycamore. Some scenes from the Book of the Dead have her suckling the newly reborn in this form.
Ogdoad A later addition and complication to the Atum Creation cycle promulgated from Hermopolis with four Pairs of Primordial Deities collectively known as the Souls of Thoth. All frog headed Gods and snake headed Goddesses. In this Atum/Ra created himself from Nun/Nunet, Heh/Hehet, Kek/Keket and Tenem/Tenemet representing the Primeval Waters, Eternity, Darkness and Twilight respectively. Some texts have a fifth pair Amun and Amunet the God and Goddess of things hidden. These may be later additions with the rise to prominence of the Cult of Amun-Re. In some narratives these Gods and Goddesses were solely responsible for the creation of the world before abdicating in favour of mankind. Thereafter regulating the daily and yearly cycles of the Heavens and Earth from their Underworld Kingdoms. The Priests of Hermopolis were also responsible for a creation story involving a Cosmic Egg either laid by a Goose (Geb) or an Ibis (Thoth)
Osiris originally a deity of the stellar resurrection myth associated with the constellation Orion. At the end of the Old Kingdom and with Ra myth cycle in the ascendancy as the main vehicle of the solar resurrection of the Pharaoh; Osiris supplanted the role of Andjety, the local fertility deity of Abydos. The former being a mummiform green skinned god of the Vegetative Resurrection and the latter the foremost Necropolis in the Nile valley. The syncretic amalgamation with this pre-dynastic fertility deity and the associated yearly revival of growth to the earlier stellar Resurrection Cult proved popular with the Egyptian people and Osiris, as Persephone and Hades combined in one, rose to pre-eminence as the God of the Afterlife. The myth cycle of Osiris and Isis provided: an excellent role model for family loyalty and the moral implications of a universal judgement (as described in the "Book of the Dead") reinforced the concept of mundane and celestial order as embodied in the Goddess Mayet (Ma'at).
The Khenti-Amentiu "Lord of the Land of the West" Cult based at Abydos then became one of the two centres of the Osiris Cult. The other town being Djedu "place of the Pillar" latterly Per Usire, Busiris (Gr.). Because of his famous dismemberment practically every town in Egypt claimed to have been a resting place for one part or another. Rather like churches containing pieces of the True Cross! Later Osiris was to rise to pre-eminence in the Roman empire in the Cult of Isis and Serapis. The latter being a syncretic combination of Ptah and Osiris (and Sokar) incarnated and worshipped in the form of the Serapis Bull.
Osiris was associated with the life giving breath of the North wind. The story of Osiris and his famous wife and son are covered by better authors than myself notably Plutarch. Recommended is the Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion by J.G. Frazer.
Pakhet (Pasht or Bastet, Bast) A beneficent fertility Goddess representing vitality, strength and joy. As a Solar Deity she represents the warm healing powers of the Sun but is also one of the companion Goddess to Ra who Slays Apep (q.v. Tefnut and Mehit.) According to the Amduat (Book of the Underworld) this takes place every night to ensure that the Sun will rise in the morning. During the day she is the Protectress of Cats, both domestic and wild, as well as other felines - including Sphinxes. Additionally the Goddess of Dance, Music, Processions - especially by boat and Orgies! The Sistrum is her sacred instrument, being a metal rattle usually made of silver, more valuable than gold in ancient Egypt and comprises of a metal loop with bars with jangly pieces threaded on. The ensemble attached to a wooden handle. Originally as Pakhet she was associated with the desert lion and rose to prominence as a national deity of the Libau (Libyans) during the Third Intermediate Period (XXII dynasty) and their capital at Bubastis. Bast has a lion headed son by Ra by the name of Ma'ahes. Bast is equated to the Greek Artemis and Roman Diana.
Bast is still a popular deity to this day and her image is everywhere, especially in the homes of cat lovers.
Ptah The Divine Architect and Tutelary God of the capital city of Memphis. Creator God of the Old Kingdom at the height of the pyramid building. In the Memphite creation myth Ptah created the rest of the Cosmos and the other Gods out of parts of himself eg Atum being only his heart and tongue. The others being Thoth, Khnum, Mayet, Neith Sekhmet, Selkit, Harwer... and the archetypal bad guy Apep (Apophis). These nine Gods comprising the Great Company or "paut". dwelling in Num.
In later reinterpretations Ptah creates the Heliopolitan Dynasty again using the Words given by Thoth: Shu being his Heart, Tefnut his Tongue, ...and Ra (or Atum) who arises traditionally as a lotus bud...
In other texts it is not unsurprising that Thoth is given a more important role in these proceedings. One creation myth has both Ptah and Thoth already in existence with Thoth giving the Words of Power to Ptah to create the other Elder Gods. Ptah brings the rest of the Cosmos into being by giving everything Names. Dividing Night from Day, Land from Water Heaven from Earth...
Yet another less esoteric story has him create a female companion Nanunet (= Nunet?) and their son is Atum. Sometimes he creates Nun as well and Atum is the son of Nun and Naunet. Finally responsible for creating the Ka and Ba of every living thing...
The patron God of artists, engineers and craftsmen, Ptah was especially associated with metal working and metal tools. The latter enabling the monumental stone buildings, statuary, inscriptions and reliefs. Most current European Masonic traditions still use his symbols: the plum line, right angle and dividers.
Ptah is usually represented as an upright Mummiform man with a green or blue face and skullcap. Standing on a chisel shaped Ma'at block and holding a peculiar combined 'uas' staff. The latter incorporating a djed and ankh capital. Ptah was married to Sekhmet and had a son Nefertum later to become the deified Imhotep. The Apis bull cult was dedicated to Ptah.
Qebehsnewef See the Amenti.
Quodshu possibly Asherah "The Lady of Byblos" a sea Goddess and wife of the Ugarit God El The latter being identified by the Hebrews as their God on most high (Genesis 24) An imported Goddess from the north in the New Kingdom Famous for her 70 children, deities all!
Ra, Re is the Elder God and elected ruler of the original Paut "first ones". The central Egyptian Solar deity but not necessarily the first! Generally most Egyptian Creation myths have Ra being a self created Solar Deity others have his birth brought about with the aid of various Gods usually born as a son to one of the Earlier Fertility Goddesses: Mayet, Neith, Nut, Satet.... or via mysterious primal entities:
One creation myth has Ra as either the Bennu bird or as a Falcon taking flight from the Atum the primeval mound or Island of Creation. The first land to appear out of the watery chaos or Nun. Probably a reference to the annual Nile inundation or more probably the universal Great Flood myth that has been postulated as race memory of the Inundation of the Black Sea basin in prehistoric times.
A more poetic and complex version has the Word being given by Thoth - The God of Knowledge to Ptah the Creator God who creates Ra: Initially as a cosmic lotus bud emerging from the primeval mud. The bud blossomed and the light shone for the first time revealing itself as a solar egg and then as a youth (q.v. Nefertum) coming forth from the flower. The boy god grew rapidly and having learnt to weep became a man. From his tears mankind was born. (q.v. Atum).
Later narratives have Ra being the son of Geb and Nut. Each morning being born as a Solar Calf, at midday becoming a mature bull and impregnating his mother so as to be reborn again the following morning.
Now that the Cosmos was illuminated the Elder Gods could see each other for the first time. And they all agreed that this was good; apart from Apep (Apophis) who preferred the dark. He will spend the rest of Eternity trying to extinguish Ra as the Sun Disk.
The Gods held an election and Ra was declared the first of the Great House "per aa" (Pharaoh!) at this point Ra assimilated the God Atum "the All" indicating his pre-eminence over all of the other processes of Creation.
As the state religion and the priesthood expanded the Sun was sub-divided into a number of God forms or Aspects. Indeed most Gods (with the notable exception of Ptah) had a Solar aspect either in the form of a Ra or Re prefix or suffix
"Weben" to shine gives other aspects of Ra:
Pyramids and Obelisks were often flat topped and capped with pyramidal benbenet capstones in different materials and frequently gilded.
To tell the story of Ra is to tell the story of the (Egyptian) Bible and a comprehensive treatment here would barely do it justice. To (savagely) summarise Ra was the first to rule on Earth but then decided that the Gods should ascend to a better realm i.e. Heaven. He then asked Khnum the potter god to create Humanity to make use of the old property and when the experiment went wrong ordered Sekhmet to destroy mankind - she nearly succeeded. Eventually he became jaded of the entire project and retired naming Shu as heir, in turn Shu was replaced by his son Geb and Geb eventually handed the reigns of rulership to Osiris. Set and Osiris had a big set to over this with the result that neither gained the Throne.
Ra in his various aspects of the Sun still travels across the sky during the day and must fight his way through the Twelve Hours or Caverns of the Night. Sometimes Apep gets loose and tries to consume him and we think it's an Eclipse but the ancient Egyptians knew better... Ra is associated with the hot South wind.
Renenutet Renet Renenet Ernutet cobra headed goddess of the Harvest and Good Fortune, and one of the Seven Hathors (q.v. Fairy Godmothers) and the one responsible for giving the new born child their True Name.
Reseph A New Kingdom import from Ugarit. Reseph was a destructive god/demon of war and plague. Identified by the Greeks with Apollo.
Satet Satis Sati an early fertility goddess and Tutelary Deity of Siheil Island at the first cataract. Associated with Khnum as wife and was one of the Goddesses greeting the dead Pharaoh at the time when it was believed that only the Pharaoh gained access to the Afterlife. In Lower Egypt regarded as the Queen of the Elder Gods.
Sebek Sobek Suchos The crocodile god sometimes depicted with rams horns. The son of Ra by Neith, in early narratives was a protective deity bearing the four Amenti out of Nun in a similar manner to that of a mother crocodile delivering her offspring from the nest to the Nile. Principally the Divinity of irrigation and drainage, lakes and marshland; Sebek was also associated with pregnancy and fertility. Not a personification of evil and seen as a benevolent but dangerous deity. Exceptionally in the Middle Kingdom Coffin texts Sebek was associated with the Demon Maka. Rose to become a state deity in the Twelfth Dynasty and was worshipped as an aspect of Ra and associated with Geb Cult centres at Kom Ombo and Teb-tunis (Crocodilopolis) in the Faiyum but any location where crocodiles were a hazard would have a shrine or small temple to make protective offerings or give thanks for a narrow escape.
Sekhmet Sekmet "The Mighty One" a lion headed female goddess of Strife, Battle and Warfare. Personified the divine aspect of feminine fury and the scorching destructive power of the Sun. One of the original Paut. Defender of the Divine Order. On the orders of Ra she gave life to the figures created by Khnum. She married Ptah to found the Memphis Triad with a son initially named Nefertum (Ra in his form as the Divine Child) but later identified with the deified Imhotep. Ra after a long rule on Earth had become so weak was particularly displeased with the behaviour of Man he ordered their punishment. Sending out Sekhmet as his right eye, she undertook the task with such ferocity that the lesson got out of hand and Mankind was in danger of extinction. The other Gods tried to stop her but could not get near, so great was her lust for human blood. In the end she was subdued by Thoth who poured out a huge lake of wine that looked like the blood she craved. After collapsing in a drunken stupor, the Gods bundled her back to the Heavens. In later times Hathor took her place in this story although she represents another aspect of the female psyche. Sekhmet was also the Goddess of Plagues which were known as "Years of Sekhmet". Sekhmet is the Right Eye of Ra. Associated with Mut in the Theban Recension and Hathor in the cult of Osiris.
Selket Selkit Serquet "she who causes one to breathe" depicted as either a scorpion with woman's head or woman with scorpion head-dress. One of the four protective aviform (kite) Goddesses of the Tomb standing at the foot of the Sarcophagus with Isis and guardian of the Canopic chest with Qebehsnewef of the Amenti (q.v.). Has an ambivalent role as she can hinder the dead, chaining their souls in Duat along with that of Apep. Provides magical food to sustain the Ka in the tomb. Married to Nekhebkau a serpent God with human limbs.
Sendet Mummiform and serpentine figurines found in Tutankhamun's tomb. NOD
Serapis the deified aspect of the Apis bull reborn into the Afterlife; a combination Godform of the mummified Apis Bull (q.v.) sacred to Ptah and Osiris.
Seshet (Seshat) "The Lady of Books": Daughter of Amun and Mut of the Theban Triad; married to Thoth. Responsible for recording the span of a person's life on a notched palm rib and ensuring their immortality by recording their name on a leaf of the Ished or Tree of Life. In this role being associated with Anubis. A meticulous scholarly woman, she is the Librarian to the Gods, Goddess of the Stars, Patroness of Mathematicians especially Architects and Astronomers but not Astrologers. The latter being Hathor's responsibility having more to do with flattery than charting the Stars in their courses! Depicted as a woman holding a sesh and ritually dressed as a "sem" priest. Her head-dress or symbol is a silver star cradled in a crescent moon she is associated with the menstrual cycle.
Setekh Seth Set Sethos (Sutekh) "Great of Strength" A predynastic local god of Nubt "town of Gold" later to be known as Ombos. Proximal to the archeological Naqada dig site about 20 miles north of modern Luxor in Upper Egypt; the town, as the name suggests, was prosperous. However some 50 miles to the south of Luxor were the pre-dynastic towns of Pe and Dep, flourishing opposite each other and later to be known as Nekheb (Modern day El- Kab.) on the East bank (q.v. Nekhebet) and Nekhen (Kom el-Ahmar) on the West bank, a town whose local god was Harwer (Horus) the Falcon. These two towns had something special Copper smelting technology and the ability to make copper knives. The two towns joined forces and their combined might defeated the citizens of Nubt. As with most wars the side that wins, writes the history. Thus the God Horus on the side of goodness and light defeated the evil Set who was consigned to the hereafter as a being representing the desert, desiccation, destruction, darkness, death, disaster, disorder… the devil. Personified as a wild stubborn jackass of the desert. This was later stylised into the "Typhonian animal" with a long curved snout, square erect ears and a tufted tail. In human form he had red eyes and red hair. He was associated with the two most dangerous river animals the Hippopotamus and Crocodile.
To celebrate this triumph a Great House "per aa" was built in Nekhen, the original term from which our word Pharaoh derives. This Great House was a shrine to the triumphant god Horus (Harwer). Embodied as the god of the Sun, he was now physically represented as a golden rather than copper statue. Nekhen was to become the Greek Hierakonpolis: "the city of Horus/ the city of the falcon" and the administrative and religious centre for all of Upper Egypt. Narmer the triumphant Pharaoh was to found a new capital at Ineb-hedj "white walls" later to become Men-nefer (Memphis) the original administrative and religious capital of Egypt.
Although defeated in this local battle, the worship of Set as a God of the National Pantheon continued until the latter part of the Middle Kingdom. Set being regarded as the Lord of Upper Egypt whilst Harwer was the Lord of Lower Egypt. Indeed Set was regarded as equal in power to Ra and co-opted as an important companion on the Mesketet. Thereafter Set then became the classical 'black Typhonian sheep' of the family. Either as a bad son vs Father Ra and Mother Nut emerging "before his time", bad brother vs Horus the Elder contesting the co-regency and Osiris or bad uncle vs Horus the Son
After all this upset he was held to justice and banished to the Underworld!
Set continued to receive bad press but over the years came to represent the God of (Desert) Storms and Foreigners. Needing to placate these influences a cult temple was built in the Eastern part of the Delta. Being the most common point of entry for the habiru bandits from Canaan. During the Hyksos interregnum "hekau khasut" ( = powerful people of the hill countries) these Canaanite adventurers, who had probably settled in the Eastern delta regions overthrew a weak Dynasty and reactivated the cult from their centre at Avaris renaming him in their 'barbaric' tongue Setekh or Sutekh. This was possibly for purposes of psychological warfare, impressing on the conquered Egyptian peoples that even the old order of their Gods were overthrown.
It was the ousting of the Hyksos by the Upper Nile resistance movement based around Thebes and the national worship of Amon that was to found the New Kingdom and thus set the stage for the Aten Heresy. When this period was over a new Pharaoh of the Ramesside dynasty named Seti I (Probably because he was a naughty child! ) was drawn to his namesake and subtly reinstated a temple to Set considering himself to be a reconciler of the people after the turmoil of the last Pharaohs of the previous dynasty.
At Abydos sacred to the God Osiris, Seti built a national temple with shrines of Horus the Elder, Amon, Osiris, Isis, Horus the Son and one to himself. But rather than use his name which would have been sacrilegious (a bit like having a chapel to Lucifer in the Vatican!) he substituted Osiris' hieroglyph for that of Set hieroglyph in his Royal cartouche. Later, on his cenotaph, he would claim ."... I am the victim and his murderer, I am the reconciler of all contradictions." The following narrative is probably from this time:
After being bested by Horus in fight after fight after... Seth takes on the form of a woman and tries to seduce Horus but then Isis uses her magic and tricks Seth into judging himself. Eventually they decide to settle the family squabble in court and a heavenly tribunal is convened. There is some last minute trickery by Thoth and the decision is made: Horus as the Pharaoh incarnate would rule over Egypt and Seth would have all the foreign lands. In addition the power of Seth was recognised and he was asked to fight on behalf of Ra in the Mesketet boat through the Halls of the Night.
Later narratives especially after foreign invasion or bad desert storms would have Seth firmly defeated and banished or have his head cut off. The Egyptians were quite happy to reinterpret their myths to suit the times and Seth as the traditional figure of disruption has had to be more flexible than most.
Shai Goddess of Destiny "what is ordained" one of the Seven Hathors or Fairy Godmothers. (q.v.) Originally a male god with a goat's head and husband of Meskenhet later a goddess and snake headed aspect of Meskenhet. Responsible for the span fate and fortune of a person's life.
Shed an obscure aspect of Atum in the form of a mongoose or ichneumon. Worshipped as a destroyer of crocodile eggs and snakes and a savior and helper of all mankind.
Shu of the Heliopolitan Dynasty. The life giving Breath, Air or the Atmosphere. Married to his sister Tefnut. Either jealous or hypocritically outraged of the love between his children or under the orders of his father Atum-Ra who himself had designs on Nut (accounts vary); responsible for separating his daughter Nut the Sky from his Son Geb the Earth. After the abdication of Ra was the next ruler of Earth/Egypt, being responsible for dividing up the country into Nomes, organising irrigation and building temples to himself and the other Gods. In his old age the land was invaded by the sons of Apep. After the war to restore order, Shu's sight began to fail and his hold on the throne weakened. Eventually his son Geb seized the throne and married Tefnut his mother and Queen to legitimise his rule Considered to be a preserving force of Air and Light and in the Memphite creation myth: the Heart of Ptah. Shu's symbol is a man with a single ostrich feather plume.
Sia the Divine Intelligence or Mind and aspect of Atum. Also known as the "Heart of Ptah" was deified in his own right to become a companion of Ra in the Solar Barge. Associated with Thoth and shared with Hu the task of bearing the Eye of Horus.
Sokar Sokaris, Seker a lesser (sparrow) hawk faced God representing the underground forces of decay and darkness and guardian of the Memphis necropolis of Resetjau usually invoked as a combination deity Ptah-Sokar-Osiris. In the underworld the Guardian of the Gate of Ways leading into the "Lands of the West" where the undertook the role of Ammit (q.v.).
Sopdu falcon headed god and one of the supporters of Heaven originally associated with the Star Sirius (Gr. Sothis.) (q.v. Nut)
Tata mummiform god wearing Atef crown found in Tutankhamun's Tomb NOD
Tatenen mummiform god found in Tutankhamun's Tomb Possibly an aspect of Ptah. NOD
Taweret Tauret, Taueret, Thoueris. (Also Apet!) Predynastic Hippopotamus Goddess shown frequently in full term pregnancy and, as an Egyptian constellation, with a crocodile on her back and the hind legs of a lioness. Often brandishing a knife, slashing about to frighten away evil spirits. The principle Goddess of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Protector of Infants, one of the Seven Hathors/Fairy Godmothers. Married to Bes.
Tefnut of the Heliopolitan Dynasty. Lion headed Goddess of Rain, Dew and Life giving Moisture. Also considered to be a destructive i.e. decaying force. (Rain on mud bricks, mold...) Daughter of Atum of the Heliopolitan Dynasty. Married to Shu, children Geb and Nut. Perfume bearing plants and tears are sacred to her. Sometimes combined with the Goddesses Sekhmet, Mayet and Bast.
Tenem/Tenemet Male and female representations of Twilight at the point of Creation. q.v. Ogdoad.
Thoth See Djehuti
Upuaut See Wepwawet
Uraeus - "iaret" the 'lesser' Eye of Atum representing the searing heat of the Sun. Set in his forehead to rule the Earth. Physically represented as either a circlet or ornament attached to the head-dress. Normally in the form of a coiled hooded cobra rising to strike. In this form was one of the most potent offensive magical protective charms, ready to spit venom and/or fire(!) at anyone or anything attempting to harm the wearer. The double headed cobra and vulture front adornment was reserved for the Royal head dress representing the dual powers of the protective Goddesses Wadjet and Nekhebet respectively.
Urt Hekau or more properly "Uret Hekau" (Lit. "Lady Great Lady of Power") One of Isis' Titles The Great Enchantress" as the companion of Ra. See Isis (Various Locations)
Wadjet "Lady of Spells." also "the green one" and associated with Nephthys as the co-wife of Osiris in his cult aspect of Khenti- Amentiu. Wadjet is the Cobra headed Goddess of the Nile Delta and supplier of cool water. Tutelary Goddess of the town bearing her name Wadjet (Udjat, Edjo, Buto) "Place of the Healing" she is the Patron goddess of Upper Egypt and Protector of the Pharaoh's person in the form of the Cobra Headed Uraeus. Although associated with the latter she was primarily linked to the Udjat "Healing" amulet or Eye of Horus. Thus was generally associated with healing and protection from disease and all harm. She is the Left Eye of Atum and is associated with Nekhebet in the combination Goddess Nebti (q.v.).
Wepwawet Upuaut A Warrior God of the Underworld associated with the Anubis cult. In early narratives is the "Opener of the Way" being charged with the safety of the Pharaoh outside of Egypt. With the ascendancy of the cult of Ra, Wepwawet has an increased role in the Solar Cult, replacing Thoth at the prow of the Mesketet boat before it dives into the Underworld Caverns. Depicted as a wolf headed man he is 'point God' in any battle. One of the original tribal Tutelary deities of Middle Egypt, later associated with the Nome of Assyut but dating back to Narmer (Menes) and the Sed festival where he was known as Sekhem-ta-wy "The Power of the Two Lands". Latter considered to be a son of Osiris, performing the same role in Osiris' equivalent to the Mesketet boat.
A Note on the Naming of Names
As with most Semitic languages the lack of written vowels leads to many spelling contradictions. This confusing situation is not helped by additional Greek and Latin forms! I make no apology for a best guess at separating certain Gods with similar name forms and combining others. Professional Egyptologists are welcome to contact me with revisions and there is one aspect that remains unsolved that of the resolution between a title and a name. Some of these names in the original may be false eg Sekmet could be interpreted as "Sekhem-et" "Powerful Lady" is this a title or a name?
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