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Egyptian Gods

 

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - Religion and the Egyptians

The religion of the Ancient Egyptians was extremely important to them and touched every aspect of their life.

The Egyptian Gods numbered nearly 2000. The Ancient Egyptians lived in terror of evil spirits and the  displeasure of the gods.

Some of the gods of Ancient Egypt were state gods, some were gods who looked after matters of daily importance and some Egyptian gods governed the realms of the dead.

The main Egyptian Gods were worshipped throughout the whole of Egypt but many minor Gods had just a local following.

In difficult times these minor Egyptian Gods were offered various gifts, which were accepted by the priests who offered prayers on behalf of the donor.

 

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses pages

For additional information about the most important Gods and Goddesses of Egypt click the appropriate link:
Isis
Osiris
Seth
Nephthys
Atum
Tefnut
Geb
Nut
Shu
Sun God Ra
Anubis
Thoth
Aten
Horus
Min
Cosmogony
Creation Myth
The Ennead

Depictions and Names of Egyptian Gods & Goddesses
The descriptions, depictions and names of some of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses are as follows:

Name of Gods or Goddesses
 Depiction / Description
 Jurisdiction of Gods
Amun, Amon, Atum
 Man with head of a Ram
 Life and Reproduction
Amun-Ra, Amon-Ra, Atum-Ra
 Scarab, Falcon's head & Sun Disk
 Sun God, God of the Universe
Anubis
 Head of a Jackal
 God of Tombs
Bast or Bastet
 Head of a Cat
 Life giving, cats, fire, pregnant women
Bes
 Dwarf
 Protection against evil
Geb
 Black Goose
 Vegetation and the Underworld
Hathor
 Head of a cow
 Goddess of Love
Horus
 Head of a Hawk
 Sky & Sun God
Isis
 With the Horns of a Cow
 Fertility, Healing & Love Goddess
Khepri / Khepera / Khephri - alternative name for the Sun God Ra
 Beetle on his head
 Morning Sun & Creator
Khunsu / Khensu
 Falcon's head & Lunar Disk
 Moon God
Khnum
 Head of a Ram
 Procreativity
Min
 Head of a Bull
 Fertility and Sexuality
Nephthys
 Symbol of her name on top of horns
 Divine Assistance Goddess
Nut
 Head of a cow
 Goddess of the Sky
Opet / Ipet / Ipy
 Hippopotamus goddess
 Goddess of childbirth
Osiris
 Pharaoh wearing a crown
 God of Death, the Dead, Underworld
Ptah (Tathenen)
 Bull or bearded man with skull cap
 Creator
Shu
 Wearing an ostrich feather or Lion
 Embodiment of the dry air and the wind
Sekhet aka Eye of Ra
 Head of a Lioness
 Life-destroying power of the sun
Seth aka Set
 Beast-headed
 God of Evil, Chaos, Desert & Storms
Sobek
 Head of a Crocodile
 Creator
Sun God Ra
 Solar Disk / Scarab Beetle/ Falcon
 Creator of the Universe
Tefnut
 Head of a lioness
 Goddess of Rain
Thoth
 Head of an Ibis
 Wisdom, learning and the arts

Egyptian Gods - The Family Tree of Gods & Goddesses
The Priests evolved a Family tree of the main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses were related. 

Egyptian Gods - The Creation Myth or Cosmogony
The Priests also evolved a creation myth, or cosmogny, to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses came into being and the the nature and genesis of the universe. A summary of the creation myth, or cosmology, is that there was darkness and a primeval ocean called Nun. The Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation rose and spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu). The twins, Shu and Tefnut gave birth to the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. The God and Goddess Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. Incest was seen as an acceptable element in the lives of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, retaining the sacred bloodline.

Egyptian Sun Gods - The Ennead of Heliopolis
The Ennead is the collective name given to the nine deities of the cosmogony of Heliopolis. Heliopolis was also one of the most ancient cities of Egypt particularly associated with worship of sun-deities and Heliopolis and was believed to be the birthplace of the company of the gods, called the Ennead and where creation began.  The nine deities, or gods of the Ennead were:

  • Atum - The Sun God Ra
  • Geb
  • Isis
  • Nephthys
  • Nut
  • Osiris
  • Seth
  • Shu
  • Tefnut

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - Part Human & Part Animal
The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were often shown as part human and part animal. Egyptian Gods and Goddesses were most frequently depicted with the body of a human with the head of an animal.

Sacred Egyptian Animals - Animal Cults
The Egyptians believed that the Spirit of a God resided in specific animals leading to various animal cults in which these animals would be revered and worshipped as reincarnated Gods during their lifetimes. Examples of these are as follows:

  • The God Anubis: worshipped as a Jackal or Dog
  • The Goddess Bastet or Bast: worshipped as a Cat
  • The God Horus: worshipped as a Hawk or Falcon

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Each section of the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of Pharaohs and of Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of life in Egypt.

Life of King Tut
Tomb of King Tut
Who Killed King Tut?
Curse of King Tut
King Tut Treasures & Exhibits
Egypt Travel Guide
Egyptian Pharaohs
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptians
Egyptian Tombs
Egyptian Mummies
Ancient Egypt History
King Tut Sitemap
King Tut Index

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