The Ennead

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  • Description of the Ennead
  • Information about the Ancient Egyptian Ennead
  • The Egyptian Ennead - The Creation Myth
  • Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - The Ennead of Heliopolis
  • The God Atum
  • The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Gods Geb, Osiris, Seth, Shu
  • The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddesses Isis, Nephthys, Nut, Tefnut
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The Ennead

Information about the Ancient Egyptian Ennead
What is the Ennead? The Ennead is the collective name given to the nine original deities (Gods and Goddesses) of the cosmogony of Heliopolis (the birthplace of the Gods) in the creation myths and legends of the Ancient Egyptians.

The Egyptian Ennead - The Creation Myth
The early Egyptian priests evolved a creation myth, or Cosmogony, to explain how some of the Gods and Goddesses came into being. The early Egyptian priests then evolved a Family tree in which the relationships between the main Egyptian Gods and Goddesses of the Ennead.

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - 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 ( Sun Gods) and Heliopolis was believed to be the birthplace of the company of the gods where creation began.  The nine deities, or Gods and Goddesses of the Egyptian Ennead were as follows:

Each of these Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses who formed the Ennead played a part in the creation myth, also called the Cosmogony. Details of the Gods and Goddesses of the Ennead are detailed below.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God Atum
The God Atum the God of Life and Reproduction who was depicted by depicted with a solar, or sun, disk and a scarab beetle was his symbol. He was also sometimes depicted with the head of a falcon. Atum was the first God and spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu).

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God Geb
The God Geb God of Life beneath the Earth, Vegetation and the Underworld. Geb was depicted with the body of a man and the head of a Goose. Geb was believed to have descended from the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu). The twins, Shu and Tefnut, gave birth to Geb and his sister Nut. Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddess Isis
The Goddess Isis was the Goddess of Love, Magic, Fertility and Healing. Isis was depicted with the body of a woman and the horns of the cow. Isis was believed to be the daughter of the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. She was the sister of Osiris, Seth and Nephthys. She was also the wife of Osiris and mother of the God Horus.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddess Nephthys
The Goddess Nephthys was the Goddess of Divine Assistance. Nephthys was depicted with the symbol of her name on top of horns. In the funerary role, Nephthys was also depicted with the head of a falcon or vulture, or as a woman with the bird's wings. Nephthys was believed to be the daughter of the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. She was the sister of Osiris, Seth and Nephthys. She was also the wife of Seth and mother of the God Anubis whose father was Osiris.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddess Nut
The Goddess Nut the Goddess of Sky and a symbol of resurrection and rebirth. Nut was depicted with with blue skin and her body is covered with stars. She is also depicted with the body of a woman and the head of a Cow. Nut was believed to have descended from the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu)The twins, Shu and Tefnut, gave birth to Nut and her brother Geb who also became husband and wife. Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God Osiris
The God Osiris Osiris was the God of Death, the Dead, the Underworld and Rebirth. Osiris was depicted as a Pharaoh wearing a crown together with the other emblems of power such as a crook, flail and beard. Osiris was believed to be the eldest son of the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. He was the brother of Isis, Seth and Nephthys. He was also the husband of Isis and father of the God Horus. He was also believed to be the father of the God Anubis by his sister Nephthys.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God Seth (aka Set)
The God Seth God of Evil, Chaos, Desert & Storms. Seth was depicted with the body of a manand the head of Beast resembling an aardvark. Occasionally seen in the form of a crocodile. Seth was believed to be a younger son of the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. He was the brother of Osiris, Isis and Nephthys. He was also the husband of his sister Nephthys. Legend tells that the jealous Seth murdered his brother Osiris.

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God Shu
The God Shu was described as being God of Wind and Air and one of the 'twin lion gods' with his sister, and wife, Tefnet. Shu was depicted with the body of a man wearing an ostrich feather or occasionally with the head of a lion. Shu was believed to have been created by the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation, who 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 Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddess Tefnut
The Goddess Tefnut Tefnut was described as being Goddess of Rain and is linked to the sun and the moon. Tefnut was depicted with the body of a woman and the head of Lioness or Lion. Tefnut was believed to have been created by the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who 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 Ancient Egyptian Ennead
Each section of addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of Pharaohs and the famous Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of Egyptian Gods and the Pharaoh Tutankhamun!

The Ancient Egyptian Ennead

  • Description of the Ennead
  • Information about the Ancient Egyptian Ennead
  • The Egyptian Ennead - The Creation Myth
  • Egyptian Gods & Goddesses - The Ennead of Heliopolis
  • The God Atum
  • The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Gods Geb, Osiris, Seth, Shu
  • The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The Goddesses Isis, Nephthys, Nut, Tefnut

 

The Ennead

Ennead - Enead - Facts - History - Info - Information - Famous - Egypt - Ancient - Age - Egypt - Egyptian - Egyption - Ennead - Enead - Ennead - Enead - Facts - History - Info - Information - Famous - Egypt - Ancient - Age - Egypt - Egyptian - Egyption - Ennead - Enead - Ennead - Enead - Facts - History - Info - Information - Famous - Egypt - Ancient - Age - Egypt - Egyptian - Egyption - Ennead - Enead - Written By Linda Alchin