Egyptian mythology for kids: Ancient Egypt for Kids — Myths and Legends

Ancient Egyptian Mythology — History for kids

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There are many gods that the Ancient Egyptians worshipped and there were so many that it would be almost impossible for someone to count them.

Goddesses

There were not only male gods but there were female gods that were called goddesses.  These Egyptian goddesses most of the time looked like humans but sometimes they would have part human features and then look part like animals.

Some of the animals were jackals, cats, birds and more.  Most of the bodies were always human and it was the heads that would sometimes look like different animals.

Other Religions

There are many religions and some of them only worship one god but in Ancient Egypt, they worshipped many different gods.

Symbols

During the Ancient Egyptian culture, there were symbols that were used to represent things.   Some of these symbols were in the form of hieroglyphics.  These hieroglyphics sometimes were pictures of the Egyptian gods.

• Djed-this was a hieroglyphic which mean stability. This looked like a pillar.
• Scepter-the scepter in Ancient Egypt was meant to have powers that were magical. When this was written down or drawn, it meant that there was a lot of power and authority.
• Ankh-this symbol means that someone will live forever or have eternal life.
• Ka and Ba-this is a picture of a human head that is on the body of a bird. This is a symbol that means the soul.
• Scarab Beetle-This symbol means the creation of a god and it means that they will transform or come back.
• Tree of life-The tree of life symbol means someone that has knowledge or is divine. This is the path of life that the Egyptians should be taking.
• Amun Crown-this symbol was a ram that had the head of a sphinx. This was the symbol that means light and creation.

Famous Goddesses

There are many famous goddesses in Ancient Egypt.   Here are a few that are pretty popular:

• Goddess Isis-Goddess Isis is considered the mother of the gods and goddesses. She is the wife of Osiris and Horus’ mother.
• Goddess Sekhmet-Goddess Sekhmet is called the “Great Lady, beloved of Ptah, holy one, powerful one.” She is the wife of Ptah.  She is the oldest Egyptian Goddess that is recorded.  He was the mother of Nefertum, the God of Sunrise.
• Hathor-She was also known as Athor. Hathor is the Goddess of love.  She was seen as a cow or as a woman and her name means “House of Horus.”  People think that she is the mother of Horus but that is not true.  Hathor had a son named Harsomtus.
• Goddess Nephthys-Goddess Nephthys is the goddess of mourning. She also was the goddess of the rivers, sleeping, nature and the night.  She is known to protect the dead.  Nephthys was the sister of Osiris and Isis and was the wife of Seth.

Famous Gods

There were more gods in Ancient Egyptian culture than there were goddesses.   Some of the famous gods included:

• Amun-the god of air, sky and the sun. He was one of the three gods called “Triad of Thebes.”  He worked with the fertility god, Min and they became Amun-Min when they worked together.
• Amaunet-the god of the air.
• Hehet-the god of eternity.
• Keket-god of darkness.
• Naunet-god of water.
• Aten- was a very famous god. He merged with Ra and they became Amun-Ra.  Amun was a national god of Egypt and people did not like that and wanted to get rid of him as the only god they worshipped.
• Anubis-the god of mummification.
• Horus-Horus was the god of the sky. He was the son of Osiris and Isis.  He was the nephew of Seth.
• Ra-Ra was the god of the sun.
• Thoth-the god of knowledge.
• Osiris-The god of death and the brother of Seth.
• Seth-Seth is the god of chaos.
• Ptah-god of creation and crafting.

 

More Facts About Ancient Egyptian Mythology:

• Atun had the head of a ram and a frog or he was seen as a guy with a double crown.
• Anubis had the body of a person and the head of a jackal. He was found where bodies were buried and carried them to the afterlife, according to legend.
• Horus lost his eye when fighting his uncle, Seth. The “Eye of Horus” became a symbol and it was a powerful amulet or piece of jewelry, that was used to fight off sickness and evil.
• Horus was shown as the body of a man and the head of a falcon.
• Ra was seen as a human with the head of a falcon.
• Thoth is one of the most important gods, he was the god that would keep the universe protected and he would judge people after they died.
• Thoth had the body of a person and the head of an ibis or a bird that is small with a curved beak.
• Osiris was killed by his brother, Seth. He also helps his sister Isis.
• Seth is the god of chaos and was considered an enemy of the Egyptians because he had so many gods that were his enemies. He was colored red and people of Egypt hated people with red skin, and they would kill animals that had red fir.

What Did You Learn?

1. What was important about the religion of Ancient Egypt?  The importance of religion of the Ancient Egyptians was that they worshipped many gods instead of one god like other religions.
2. Who was the god that was the enemy of the people? Seth was the god that was the enemy of the Ancient Egyptians.  People did not like him because he was enemy to so many other gods.
3. Who was the god of the air, sky and sun? The god of the air, sky and sun was the god Amun.
4. Who was the mother goddess? The mother goddess was Isis.
5. Can anyone count how many gods and goddesses there are in Ancient Egyptians history?   They cannot count how many gods and goddess there are because there were too many to count.

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8 Egyptian Myths Every Student Should Know

When it comes to mythology, we often spend the bulk of our time reading and teaching about the Greek pantheon. But if we stop there, we miss out on amazing opportunities to share the rich and storied mythology of cultures from around the world. The gods and goddesses in ancient Egyptian myths, for example, are just as fierce, fascinating, and fun to share with students.

(WeAreTeachers note: Because these myths were shared via oral tradition for hundreds, if not thousands, of years prior to being written down, many variations of the same story exist. We have shared one popular version of each of the myths below, but you may have heard it with slight variations. Please feel free to share whichever version best suits your purpose.)

1. The Egyptian Creation Myth

Summary:

Before there was anything, there was Nun. Nothingness. Water in every direction as far as the eye could see. From Nun, a single thought emerged and became the god Ra. Ra began speaking and everything he said came into being. He spoke and his two children were born. One night, while Ra slept, his children wandered into the darkness and became lost. Ra was devastated when he woke, so he plucked out his own eye (he only had one) and sent it searching for his lost children. As he waited for their return, he created a new eye to replace the one he had sent out to search. Ra’s original eye eventually found Shu and Tefnut and returned them to Ra, who was so overjoyed he wept and wept. His tears became the first human beings.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• English/Language Arts: The study of creation myths from around the world can be an incredibly engaging and meaningful activity. Gather a variety of cultures’ creation myths and create a jigsaw activity where each student reads one and then shares key points about it with a small group. Ask students to focus on the differences and similarities. Be prepared for some very deep conversation about how much similarity exists between very different cultures.
• History: I love the idea of starting a unit on a specific culture or part of the world with a look at their earliest creation myths. You can ask students to make educated guesses about what the culture cared about and valued, what animals and industries were common in their region, and more.

2. The Death(s) of Osiris

Summary:

The god Osiris rules over Egypt and is well-loved by all. His brother, the god Set, is jealous of Osiris’s good fortune. He traps Osiris in a box and throws him into the Nile. By the time Isis, Osiris’s wife, finds the box, Osiris has died. She brings his body back to Egypt for burial, but Set cuts his brother’s corpse into 14 pieces and scatters them throughout Egypt. Isis is so devastated she weeps for weeks. This causes the flooding of the Nile. She searches the land and eventually finds all but one of the pieces.

With the help of the funeral god, Anubis, Isis brings her husband back to life. Unfortunately, because he is not whole, Osiris can only remain in the land of the living for one night. The next morning, Isis wakes up alone. Osiris has taken his place as the god of the Underworld. Set takes the throne of Egypt. He doesn’t know, however, that Isis is now pregnant with Osiris’s child, Horus, who will eventually avenge his father.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• Science: For many cultures, myth was not only religion, it was science too. The Nile River valley flooded annually in Egypt for centuries (until dams were built beginning in 1902 and ending with the Aswan High Dam in 1970). This natural phenomenon provided fertile soil for the farmers living alongside the river for thousands of years. They gave thanks to Isis for the flood because of this. People continue to debate the benefits of the dams versus their negative effects. Supporters cite reduced flood damage, hydroelectric power generation, and the like. Those who think the dams should be removed point to soil erosion and the need to use powerful chemical fertilizers in farming because the soil is no longer being refreshed by the flood process. This myth would work as a fascinating window into debates over scientific “improvements” on nature.
• History: When studying male primogeniture throughout history, one can see numerous times when families turned to violence in an attempt to seize power. Looking at how early cultures represented this in their myths is a fascinating window into human behavior.
• Social-Emotional Learning: Like so many other cultures’ myths, Egyptian myth is no stranger to family drama. I love the idea of looking at some of the more outrageous stories of gods and goddesses behaving badly and asking students to rewrite them with more socially and emotionally healthy behaviors. How might this story have turned out differently if Set had used his words to express his jealousy to Osiris? How could their parents have helped?

3. Isis and the Seven Scorpions

Summary:

Isis hides her pregnancy and the birth of Horus from Set. She plans to raise Horus to be strong and good and to prepare him to overthrow his uncle. Serket, the goddess of venomous creatures, arranges to have seven of her most powerful warriors, disguised as scorpions, stay with Isis and Horus as their bodyguards. Pretending to be mortal, Isis roams from village to village, relying on the charity of the people she encounters.

In one village, a wealthy woman slams her door in Isis’s face, refusing to give her and her baby food or shelter. In retaliation, the scorpion bodyguards give all their venom to the strongest among them. That night, the scorpion stings the son of the wealthy woman. When Isis realizes what has happened, she recites a powerful incantation to nullify the poison and bring the boy back to life. When the wealthy woman realizes who Isis really is, she apologizes and offers her all of her riches.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• English/Language Arts: Disguises are a huge part of so many of the most famous stories throughout history. Challenge your students to find another myth from a different culture that involves gods disguising themselves as mortals. Work with them to discover the commonly shared elements of these stories and what they reveal about the humans who told them.
• Science: This myth was used by the ancient Egyptians as an explanation for how they learned to treat scorpion stings. It also explained the presence of the Deathstalker scorpion, whose sting can kill human beings. Humans have often come up with unusual remedies for illnesses and poisons. See if other cures for stings, bites, and other afflictions have unusual myths behind them. This would be a fascinating launch when discussing herbal remedies or medical treatments from the past.

4. Battle for the Throne

Summary:

When Horus comes of age, he appears before the council of the gods and asks them to remove Set from power and grant him the throne. The gods and goddesses are unsure of what to do. While Set’s actions were terrible, he has kept Egypt safe from its enemies. They fear that without Set as pharaoh, Egypt could fall into chaos. For over 80 years, Set and Horus battle viciously for the throne with neither emerging as the obvious victor.

In one fight, Set plucks out Horus’s eyes. (The goddess Hathor gives them back to him.) Horus nearly drowns Set in a boat race, but Set transforms into a hippopotamus and sinks Horus’s boat. Eventually, Ra himself sends word to the Underworld asking for Osiris’s opinion. Not surprisingly, Osiris says his son should rule Egypt. With that, the council rules for Horus, and Set gives up the throne. Horus takes his place as the ruler god of Egypt.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• History: Comparing the actions/behaviors of the gods to the actions/behaviors of men and women fighting for power throughout history could be a fascinating activity. Since cultures often made sense of their own behaviors by creating similar stories for their gods and goddesses, we can get an interesting peek into how power and leadership worked in ancient societies (as well as not so ancient ones!).
• English/Language Arts: While we often talk about myth as the religious stories, historical documents, or even the scientific explanations of ancient cultures, it’s important to remember that they were also often used as entertainment. A closer look at the battles of Horus and Set reveals events that would rival some of our action/adventure, comedy, and even horror films today. Asking students to identify the entertainment aspects of these stories is a great lesson in writer’s purpose. It could also be a fun narrative-writing exercise to ask students to modernize these myths. Can they find any common threads between the gods’ battle for power and the political machinations of today?

5. The God of Mummies

Summary:

Anubis is the son of Set and the goddess Nephthys. His mother doted on him and loved him dearly, but his father was cold and never seemed to care for him much. (In some versions of this myth, Set suspects that Anubis is not really his son but Osiris’s or, in some versions, Ra’s son). Because of this, he learns to stay out of sight. He becomes stealthy, like the jackals that he loves to watch. He watches them hunt and kill, but also watches them scavenge the bodies of the dead. It gives him lots of time to consider the nature of life and death and how the two are intertwined. Eventually, he decides to become the ruler of the Underworld. Neither of his parents are surprised.

Anubis enjoys his position in the Underworld and would have gladly done it for eternity, but when his father kills his beloved uncle, Anubis journeys back to earth to help his aunt, Isis, prepare Osiris’s body. In doing so, he creates the first mummy, setting the standard for how humans should treat the bodies of their loved ones after death. When Osiris returns to the Underworld, Anubis happily steps aside, allowing Osiris to take the throne. From that day onward, Osiris rules the Underworld, and Anubis becomes the god of funeral rites and mummification. He is happy to be able to work so closely with his uncle (father?).

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• Science: Mummification is a fascinating topic. Any study of how the ancient Egyptians preserved their loved ones after death should begin with some background knowledge of how they believed this important rite came to be. This can also be part of a discussion of the great pyramids of Egypt, so often built as tombs for pharaohs.
• English/Language Arts: Anubis is a great character to study when talking about antiheroes. He does not meet many of the standard requirements of a hero. His cousin Horus seems a much better fit for that distinction, yet he does have many heroic qualities. He does the right thing when the time comes and treats people fairly. He cares deeply for his family.
• History: How cultures treat their dead is a fascinating subject of study for older students to explore.

6. The Goddess of the Waters

Summary:

Tefnut, Ra’s only daughter and one of the first goddesses ever created, was annoyed. Ra spends all of his time worrying about his great-grandchildren, who were constantly causing trouble with their petty squabbles. Adding insult to injury, Isis was by far the most beloved goddess in Egypt. Even though Tefnut is the goddess who brings them the rain and the waters of the Nile, they praise Isis for flooding it each year. Having had enough, Tefnut decides to run away. Ra ignores his pouty daughter, but Thoth, god of wisdom and the tongue of Ra, isn’t so sure.

As Egypt becomes drier and drier, Thoth realizes it’s getting increasingly difficult to speak Ra’s words into being. He pleads to Ra to send for Tefnut and bring her home. Eventually, Ra relents, sending both Thoth and Tefnut’s brother-husband Shu to convince Tefnut it’s time to come home. When they finally find her, Tefnut does not want to return. It is only after Thoth proclaims her “the most honorable” of the gods that Tefnut relents. From that day onward, the Egyptians (and the gods) recognized that the goddess of the waters was indeed “most honorable” in such a dry land.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• English/Language Arts: This myth is perfect for a mini-lesson on theme. There are multiple thematic statements that could emerge from this short myth, dealing with ideas like arrogance, appreciation, flattery, and more.
• Science: Once again, this myth gives us a glimpse into how ancient cultures used their myths as science. This story could introduce a unit on the geography of Egypt or deserts in general. It could also be compared to other cultures’ myths that explain natural phenomena, like the ancient Greek myth of Persephone.

7. The Goddess of Happiness Gets Angry

Summary:

Hathor, the eye of Ra, is beloved by humans and gods alike. She loves to dance among the mortals and bring them pleasure and joy. She gives people beer to lift their spirits and releases them from worry or care. When Ra comes to her and demands she be the one to take vengeance on the humans for disrespecting him, Hathor doesn’t know if she can do it. She loves mortals! But once she starts listening to their ugly taunts, she finds herself flying into a rage. So Hathor transforms herself into a mighty lioness and kills every mortal she encounters. She kills so many that they begin to call her Sekhmet, the goddess of war. Ra is impressed but also fearful. If Sekhmet keeps this up, there will be no one left to worship him!

He enlists the other gods to help him control Sekhmet. While she sleeps, the gods brew the most potent beer that has ever been made. They make oceans of it. Ra has them dye it red so it looks like blood and they spread it all around Sekhmet while she sleeps. When she wakes up, she begins to drink, believing it to be the blood of all the mortals she killed the day before. As she drinks, her rage slips away and Sekhmet goes to sleep. Hathor, the peaceful goddess of love, has returned. Sekhmet still exists, however, and makes a ferocious appearance from time to time.

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• English/Language Arts: Obviously a myth for older students, this tale deals with the powerful thematic concept of duality. There are some great extended thinking questions to be asked with this myth that could also work for a fascinating Socratic seminar. Imagine listening to your students discuss why the ancient Egyptians imagined a goddess as the bloodthirsty deity in charge of war instead of a god. Or how the goddess of love could transform into the bringer of vengeance.
• History: Sekhmet is also known as the goddess of plagues (and a healer as well!). Looking over historical documents describing plagues, it might be interesting to ask students to consider why the ancient Egyptians felt the need to personify the onslaught of a plague. What purpose does believing a god/goddess could bring a plague, or save you from one, serve mankind?

8. Rhodopis, the Egyptian Cinderella

Summary:

Rhodopis was a Greek girl who had been kidnapped by pirates and sold into slavery. Although she is teased by the other slaves for her light hair and pale skin, she kindhearted. She is also a beautiful dancer. The Egyptian who purchased Rhodopis buys her a pair of rose-red slippers to wear when she dances. One day, the Pharaoh announces he will hold a large festival for all to attend. The other slaves give Rhodopis extra work so that she is unable to attend. While washing clothes in the river, she takes off her slippers. Just then, an enormous falcon swoops down, snatches one of the slippers, and flies away. Rhodopis knows that this falcon is the god Horus and that he must have some need for her slipper, so she simply tucks its mate into her robes and continues her work.

Horus takes the slipper to the Pharaoh and drops it into his lap. The Pharaoh, aware that Horus is sending him a message, informs everyone that he will marry the woman who fits into the slipper. He travels up and down the Nile, searching for the owner of the slipper. Rhodopis is frightened by the barge and the Pharaoh’s soldiers and hides in the rushes as the other slaves try on the slipper. The barge is just about to leave when the Pharaoh spies Rhodopis in her hiding spot. She tries on the slipper, which fits perfectly, and then removes its mate from her robes, proving that they are hers. The Pharaoh tells everyone within earshot that she will be his queen.

(WeAreTeachers note: The oldest known version of this story is not nearly as close to the Cinderella story we know today as this version. There are some non-school appropriate elements to it, and many dispute if it even was a story told in ancient Egypt. This, however, is one of the joys — and frustrations — of myth. As stories are passed along, they are changed, added to, and made to fit more with the culture of the person telling the story.)

Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:

• Elementary/English/Language Arts: Many versions of the Cinderella myth exist in cultures all over the world. A compare/contrast activity is one that can be done with students of varying ages since the level of complexity can be changed to suit the students. Elementary students may just look for shared events and characters like the kindhearted main character or the special shoes. Older students can examine what they can learn by examining the shared theme of these stories. What happens when young girls grow up reading a story that seems to tell them that if they accept mistreatment and cruelty and remain kind and sweet, they will eventually be rewarded with a husband who will “save them”?
• History: The concept of how ideas spread from one culture to another is a fascinating and complex one. Tracing Cinderella myths, when they emerged in each culture, and if that emergence can be traced back to a trade route or immigration of some sort would be an incredible way to illustrate this idea for your students.

 

Which Egyptian myth will you be sharing with your students? Let us know in the comments.

Plus, for more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

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Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she’s seen her fair share of them, and she’s excellent at dealing with other people’s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it’s an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated. The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie’s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren’t exactly thrilled to have a «lady» on the crew.

• 2 out of 5 stars

• No Blaze Here
  

• By

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• Contraband

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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins

• Unabridged

Stone Barrington is getting some much-needed rest and relaxation in the Florida sun when trouble falls from the sky — literally. Intrigued by the suspicious circumstances surrounding this event, Stone joins forces with a sharp-witted and alluring local detective to investigate. But they run into a problem: The evidence keeps disappearing.

• Chances Are…

• A Novel

• By:
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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

• Unabridged

One beautiful September day, three men convene on Martha’s Vineyard, friends ever since meeting in college circa the 60s. They couldn’t have been more different then, or even today — Lincoln’s a commercial real estate broker, Teddy a tiny-press publisher, and Mickey a musician beyond his rockin’ age. But each man holds his own secrets, in addition to the monumental mystery that none of them has ever stopped puzzling over since a Memorial Day weekend right here on the Vineyard in 1971: the disappearance of the woman each of them loved — Jacy Calloway.  

• Outfox

• By:
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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 13 hrs and 59 mins

• Unabridged

FBI agent Drex Easton is relentlessly driven by a single goal: to outmaneuver the con man once known as Weston Graham. Over the past 30 years, Weston has assumed many names and countless disguises, enabling him to lure eight wealthy women out of their fortunes before they disappeared without a trace, their families left without answers and the authorities without clues. The only common trait among the victims: a new man in their life who also vanished, leaving behind no evidence of his existence…except for one signature custom.

• The New Girl

• A Novel

• By:
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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins

• Unabridged

She was covered from head to toe in expensive wool and plaid, the sort of stuff one saw at the Burberry boutique in Harrods. She carried a leather bookbag rather than a nylon backpack. Her patent leather ballet slippers were glossy and bright. She was proper, the new girl, modest. But there was something else about her…. At an exclusive private school in Switzerland, mystery surrounds the identity of the beautiful raven-haired girl who arrives each morning in a motorcade fit for a head of state. She is said to be the daughter of a wealthy international businessman. 

When Elwood Curtis, a Black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow “delinquent” Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble.

• One Good Deed

• By:
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• Narrated by:
  Edoardo Ballerini

• Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

• Unabridged

It’s 1949. When war veteran Aloysius Archer is released from Carderock Prison, he is sent to Poca City on parole with a short list of dos and a much longer list of don’ts: do report regularly to his parole officer, don’t go to bars, certainly don’t drink alcohol, do get a job — and don’t ever associate with loose women. The small town quickly proves more complicated and dangerous than Archer’s years serving in the war or his time in jail. 

• The Bitterroots

• A Cassie Dewell Novel

• By:
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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

• Unabridged

Former police officer Cassie Dewell is trying to start over with her own private investigation firm. Guilty about not seeing her son and exhausted by the nights on stakeout, Cassie is nonetheless managing…until an old friend calls in a favor: She wants Cassie to help exonerate a man accused of assaulting a young girl from an influential family. Against her own better judgment, Cassie agrees. But out in the Big Sky Country of Montana, twisted family loyalty runs as deep as the ties to the land, and there’s always something more to the story. 

• The Inn

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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

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The Inn at Gloucester stands alone on the rocky shoreline. Its seclusion suits former Boston police detective Bill Robinson, novice owner and innkeeper. As long as the dozen residents pay their rent, Robinson doesn’t ask any questions. Neither does Sheriff Clayton Spears, who lives on the second floor. Then Mitchell Cline arrives, with a deadly new way of doing business. His crew of local killers break laws, deal drugs, and bring violence to the doors of the Inn. 

• 5 out of 5 stars

• Great Book!!!!
  

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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins

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When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely.  But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss — a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten — by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare — one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

For years, rumors of the «Marsh Girl» have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand.

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• A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator

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• Narrated by:
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• Length: 19 hrs and 7 mins

• Unabridged

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Arguably the most celebrated and revered writer of our time now gives us a new nonfiction collection — a rich gathering of her essays, speeches, and meditations on society, culture, and art, spanning four decades. 

• 5 out of 5 stars

• Refreshing thoughts
  

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One day, Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who helps patients in her Los Angeles practice. The next, a crisis causes her world to come crashing down. Enter Wendell, the quirky but seasoned therapist in whose of­fice she suddenly lands. With his balding head, cardigan, and khakis, he seems to have come straight from Therapist Central Casting. Yet he will turn out to be anything but.

• Kochland

• The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America

• By:
  Christopher Leonard

• Narrated by:
  Jacques Roy

• Length: 23 hrs and 15 mins

• Unabridged

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Unfreedom of the Press is not just another book about the press. [Levin] shows how those entrusted with news reporting today are destroying freedom of the press from within — not through actions of government officials, but with its own abandonment of reportorial integrity and objective journalism. With the depth of historical background for which his books are renowned, Levin takes you on a journey through the early American patriot press, which proudly promoted the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  

• Range

• Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World

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• Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

• Unabridged

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• Trick Mirror

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• Narrated by:
  Jia Tolentino

• Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

• Unabridged

 

Jia Tolentino is a peerless voice of her generation, tackling the conflicts, contradictions, and sea changes that define us and our time. Now, in this dazzling collection of nine entirely original essays, written with a rare combination of give and sharpness, wit and fearlessness, she delves into the forces that warp our vision, demonstrating an unparalleled stylistic potency and critical dexterity.

• Texas Flood

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• Narrated by:
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• Unabridged

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In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes listeners through a widening circle of antiracist ideas — from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilites — that will help listeners see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves. 

interesting myths and legends of ancient Egypt

Egyptian mythology has been considered a belief structure and the main form of ancient Egyptian culture since at least 4000 BC. (as evidenced by funerary practices, tomb paintings) until 30 BC. since the death of Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt. Every aspect of the life of Ancient Egypt is filled with interesting myths, legends of ancient Egypt, all sorts of stories that tell about the creation of the world, the maintenance of this world by the gods. Read more on our website anonssmi.ru

Contents of the page

• 1 How did the myths and legends of ancient Egypt begin?
  • 1.1 MIF CREATION of the World
  • 1.2 Osiris and Set
  • 1.3 importance Maat
• 2 In the end
• 3 Interesting myths and gods of ancient Egypt

What did the myths and legends of the ancient Egipte begin?

The Egyptian religion, influenced by other cultures through transmission through trade, became especially widespread after the opening of the Silk Road (130 BC), when the Egyptian port city of Alexandria was considered an important trading center. The significance of Egyptian mythology for other cultures was the development of the concept of eternal life after death, benevolent deities, as well as reincarnation. Pythagoras, Plato (Greek priests) were said to have been influenced by Egyptian beliefs in reincarnation, and Roman religious culture was borrowed from Egypt as extensively as from other civilizations.

Human existence was understood by the Egyptians as only a small part of an eternal journey, led and organized by supernatural forces in the form of many deities that made up the Egyptian pantheon. According to the historian Bunson, He (Ha) was considered one of the original gods of the Ogdoad [eight deities worshiped in the Old Kingdom, 2575-2134 BC]. BC] in Hermopolis, representing eternity — the goal, as well as the fate of all human life of Egyptian religious beliefs, a kind of stage of existence where mortals can achieve eternal bliss.

However, man’s earthly life meant not just a prologue to something more, but was part of the whole journey. The Egyptian concept of the afterlife was the mirror world of a person’s earthly life (for example, life in Egypt), and a person needed to live this life well if he hopes to enjoy the rest of his eternal journey.

The myth of the creation of the world

For the Egyptians, the journey began from the time of the creation of the world, the entire universe from darkness, some kind of swirling chaos. Once there was nothing but endless dark water with no form, no purpose. In the midst of this void, Heka (the god of magic) existed, waiting for the moment of creation. Out of this watery silence (Nu) rose the primordial hill, known as ben-ben, on which stood the great god Atum (or, among some versions of the myth, Ptah). Atum looked at nothingness, realized his loneliness, so with the help of magic he united with his own shadow to give birth to two children, Shu (the god of air, which Atum spat out) and Tefnut (the goddess of moisture, which Atum vomited). Shu gave the first world the principles of life, and Tefnut the principles of order.

Leaving their father on ben ben, they decided to make peace. Over time, Atum became worried, because his children had been gone for so long, so removing the eye, he sent him in search of them. While his eyes traveled, Atum sat alone on a hill in the midst of chaos, contemplating eternity. Shu and Tefnut returned with the Eye of Atum (later called the Eye of Ujat, the Eye of Ra, or the All-Seeing Eye), and their father, grateful for their safe return, shed tears of joy. These tears, dripping on the dark fertile land of ben-ben, gave birth to men and women.

However, these ancient creatures had nowhere to live, so Shu and Tefnut mated, giving birth to Geb (earth) and Nut (sky). Geb and Nut, being brother and sister, fell in love with each other, remaining inseparable. Atum found their behavior unacceptable, pushing Nut away from Geb high into the sky. The two lovers could always see each other, but could no longer touch each other. However, Nut was already pregnant by Geb, later giving birth to Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys, Horus — five Egyptian gods, most often considered the earliest or at least the most famous images of ancient divine figures.

Osiris showed himself to be a thoughtful, judicious god. Atum gave him the rule of the world, and then went about his business.

Osiris and Seth

Osiris ruled the world effectively, ruling with his sister-wife Isis, deciding where the trees would best grow, where the water would flow most sweetly. He created the land of Egypt in perfection with the river Nile providing for the needs of the people.

Osiris, in Egyptian mythology, the god of the productive forces of nature, the lord of the underworld, the judge of the realm of the dead. Osiris is the eldest son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, brother and husband of Isis. The resurrected Osiris handed over his throne of Egypt to Horus, and he himself became the king of the underworld. Isis or Isis, in Egyptian mythology, the goddess of fertility, water, wind, a symbol of femininity, marital fidelity, the goddess of navigation. Isis helped Osiris to civilize Egypt, teaching women to reap, spin, weave, heal diseases, and established the institution of marriage. When Osiris went to wander the world, Isis replaced him, wisely ruling the country.

In everything, Osiris acted in accordance with the principle of maat (harmony), respected his father, brothers, sisters, maintaining a harmonious balance in everything. However, his brother Seth was jealous of the creation, as well as the power, the great glory of Osiris. Having secretly taken the exact dimensions of his brother, he ordered a complex chest created according to these characteristics. When the chest was ready, Set gave a great feast, inviting Osiris, as well as seventy-two other people. At the end of the party, he gave a large chest to whoever could best fit in it. Osiris, of course, fit perfectly, but as soon as he was inside the coffin, Seth slammed the lid tightly, throwing him into the Nile River. Set then told everyone that Osiris was dead, assuming dominion over the world.

Seth is the god of evil, war, darkness, barren deserts. He was the youngest son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut. At the same time, he was the brother of Osiris (the god of rebirth, the king of the underworld), Isis (the goddess of fertility) and Nephthys (the goddess of death and birth).

Isis refused to believe that her husband was dead. Went looking for him, finding a coffin inside a tree in Byblos. The inhabitants of the country were happy to help her take the coffin from the tree — for this Isis blessed them (since they later became the main exporters of papyrus in Egypt. It is believed that this detail was added by a scribe to mark the city, so important for writing). Isis brought the body back to Egypt, set about gathering herbs and making potions, bringing Osiris back to life; leaving her sister Nephthys to guard the place where she hid the body.

Set began to worry that Isis might find the body of Osiris by finding a way to bring him back to life, as Isis was considered a very powerful goddess who knew such matters. Finding her departure, Set asked Nephthys where she was, and when the goddess answered, he realized that she was lying. Set was able to get to the body of Osiris before Isis, tearing open the coffin, then cutting the body into forty-two pieces (although some sources claim only fourteen). Set then scattered the fragments of Osiris throughout the land of Egypt so that Isis could never find them, only after that he returned to his palace to rule.

Returning, Isis found the coffin destroyed, and the body disappeared, then in despair, she fell to her knees and wept. Nephthys, feeling guilty for revealing her secret, told Isis what had happened, offering to help her find the pieces of Osiris. The two sisters then began to search the ground, looking for pieces of Osiris. Finding a body part, the sisters buried it there, building a shrine to protect it from Set. Thus, the two goddesses founded the 42 provinces of Egypt.

But the sisters collected the whole body, except for the penis, which had been eaten by the fish. Isis then created a replacement part of the phallus, then joined with her husband, becoming pregnant with her son Horus. Osiris was successfully brought back to life by Isis, but because he was imperfect, he could not rule the world as before. Instead, he descended into the underworld to become a righteous judge, the ruler of the land of the dead.

Horus (sometimes known as Horus the Younger to distinguish him from Horus, brother of Osiris) was secretly raised to protect himself from Set. As an adult, he challenged his uncle for the rule of his father’s former kingdom. The battle raged for eighty years until Horus defeated Set, driving him out of Egypt and leaving him in arid deserts (although there are many variations of this story: where Horus and Set agree to divide the kingdom). Then Horus ruled with his mother Isis and aunt Nephthys, thanks to the advisers, as well as harmony, to restore order to the earth again.

Importance of Maat

Although there are many different versions of this myth, one element that remains standard for all is the concept of harmony, which is broken but must be restored. The principle of maat was the basis of all Egyptian mythology; each myth, one way or another, relies on this meaning, informing it. Historian Jill Kamil writes: “Storytelling played an important role in the lives of the ancient Egyptians. The Acts of the gods and kings were not written during the early period, but only through oral traditions entered the literature of a later time” (Nardo, 52).

It is interesting to note that no matter what era fairy tales were first composed, the principle of harmonious balance of maat holds the basis of all of them.

The reflection of Apep [Apophis], an evil dragon-like creature lurking beyond the horizon, has become a popular tale. Every evening during sunset, this creature tried to stop the setting sun from setting through the underworld. If the sky remained clear, this indicated an easy passage; the blood-red sunset showed a desperate battle between the forces of good and evil; but the sun was victorious, then there was always a new dawn. [The Egyptians] told tales about how vegetation that died with the harvest was revived when the grain sprouted, just as the sun god «died» every evening but was reborn the next morning (Nardo, 53-54).

Everything in the universe was thought to be in constant equilibrium with no end point, but since humans were a part of this universe, they also participated in this eternal cycle of balance. Maat is made possible by a deep power that existed before creation but makes all aspects of life possible: heka. Heka was considered a magical power that allowed the gods to fulfill their duties, supporting all life, being personified in the god Heka, which also allowed the soul to pass from earthly existence to the afterlife.

When the soul left the body at death, it was believed that it appeared in the Hall of Truth to appear before Osiris for judgment. The heart of the deceased was weighed with golden scales against the background of the white feather of Maat. If the heart was found to be lighter than a feather, the soul was allowed to pass into the Field of Reeds, a place of purification, eternal bliss. If the heart was heavier than a feather, it was thrown on the floor, where the monster Ammut (sip) ate it, but then the soul would cease to exist.

Finally

Although there was an idea of ​​the underworld, there was no «hell» as understood by modern monotheistic religions. As Bunson writes, «The Egyptians feared eternal darkness, the unconsciousness of the afterlife, because both conditions were contrary to the orderly transmission of light, perpetual motion, evident in the universe.» Being part of the cosmic journey that began with Atum and Ben-Ben was the natural state of the soul, and the thought of eternal separation from this journey, of non-existence, became more terrifying to the ancient Egyptian than any underworld of torment could ever become; even in the land of eternal pain, he still existed.

The concept of the underworld, similar to the Christian hell, did develop throughout the entire period of the formation of Egypt, but was by no means generally accepted. Bunson writes: “Eternity was considered the common destination of every man, woman, even child of Egypt. Such a belief filled the vision of people … giving them a certain vital energy that has no analogues in the ancient world. The mythology of the ancient Egyptians reflected this joy of life, inspiring the creation of the great temples, the thousand-year-old monuments that are such a part of Egypt’s heritage today. The enduring admiration for Egyptian mythology, the ancient culture it shaped, testifies to the power of the life-affirming message inherent in these ancient tales.

Interesting myths and gods of ancient Egypt

Osiris is the ancient God of Egypt. It was thanks to him that the first pharaoh was born. In general, this story is unusual.

Popular Ancient Egyptian Myths

Ancient Egypt is a great civilization of bygone eras that originated on the banks of the Nile River. This country still excites the minds of many researchers of antiquity with its riddles and secrets, many of which remain unsolved.

Mythology of Ancient Egypt

The mythology of the ancient Egyptians was created under the influence of religion. The worship of the gods was the basis for the emergence of myths, and the afterlife was assigned a key role. The citizens of the ancient country paid even more attention to life after death than to earthly existence. All this was reflected in the grandiose architecture of Egypt — the famous pyramids, which were not just the tombs of the kings, but carried a deeper religious and sacred meaning.
Scientists have managed to decipher the ancient Egyptian writings written on papyrus, temple stones and tomb walls. Thanks to this, it was possible to recreate the beliefs, legends and myths of Ancient Egypt, which describe the deeds of evil and good deities.

Gods of Ancient Egypt: myths

Some deities caused fear among the ancient Egyptians, as they were evil and cruel to people. Other good deities, on the contrary, granted protection and help. The gods were depicted by the Egyptians as animals or people having a head or another part of the body from an animal. For example, Anubis, the god of the underworld, was depicted as a man with the head of a jackal or a dog.
A feature of the mythological beliefs of Ancient Egypt is that in different cult centers of the country various figures were recognized as supreme deities. In particular, in the temples of Heliopolis, Ra, the god of the rising sun, was proclaimed the main one, he had two more hypostases, namely Atum, the god of the setting sun, and Khepri, the creator in the form of a scarab. From Ra descended the wind god Shu and the goddess of moisture Tefnut, from whom the deities of earth and sky, Geb and Nut, were born. Osiris, the son of Ra and Nut, became the earthly ruler; he had a wife, Isis, the goddess of love and family. The main rival of Osiris was the evil god of the deserts, Seth.
In the temples of Memphis, it was believed that the main creator of this world was the god Ptah. He had a wife Sekhmet — the goddess of war and healing, she was depicted as a woman with the head of a lioness. Horus with the head of a falcon was considered the solar god — the patron and protector of the pharaohs. The moon god Thoth personified wisdom and writing, he was a judge in conflicts between deities.

Tomb TT2 Valley of the Kings. Egypt

Legends — myths of Ancient Egypt

The myth of the creation of the world
Once upon a time there was nothing but the vast ocean of Chaos — Nun. But a miracle happened and the first god Atum appeared from the water. He makes a hill and sits on it, thinking about the creation of the world. Atum creates the god of the wind — Shu and the goddess of rain and water — Tefnut, who could control the ocean. But in the darkness that then dominated the universe, he loses his children. In the hope of finding the loss, Atum rips out his eye and sends it to the depths of Nun. Without waiting for the return of his eye, God does something else for himself.

After a while, the eye of Atum returns with the missing children, but when he sees what happened, he became angry with his master and turned into a cobra, wanting revenge. But Atum simply took a poisonous snake and placed it in his forehead so that she contemplates the beauty of the world he created. From that moment on, all pharaohs wear the uraeus snake on their crown. Then a white lotus appeared from the water, and Ra emerged from the flower. The sun god lit up the dark world, and when he saw Atum, Shu and Tefnut, tears of joy rolled down from him. After falling to the ground, the teardrops turned into people.

Tombs of Ancient Egypt. The cult of Nut

The reign of Osiris and the conspiracy of Seth
Nut gives birth to five children in the five days won by Thoth from the Moon. The very first was Osiris, the main ruler, and after him his brother Horus is born. The third, ahead of schedule, from the side of the goddess of the sky, the evil Set appears — the god of wars, natural disasters and the desert. He had an animal head and scary reddish eyes and hair. The fourth Nut gave birth to Isis, the goddess of love and family, who fell in love with her husband and brother Osiris even before birth. The last to be born to her mother was Nephthys, the patroness of the souls of the underworld, who became the wife of Seth.
Osiris sat on the earthly throne. At that time, the inhabitants of Egypt were barbarians, but Osiris, together with Thoth, taught people writing, languages, construction, art and various crafts. Under the rule of the wise god, the Golden Age began. And then Osiris went to enlighten the population of other lands, leaving his wife Isis on the throne instead. The goddess, with the help of Thoth, gave people magic, medicine and healing, passing on women the knowledge of family care and housekeeping.
Later, Osiris returned, during which time Seth secretly fell in love with his wife Isis and wanted to kill his brother in order to sit on the throne. The god of the desert organizes a conspiracy against Osiris, and takes 72 demons as his assistants, showing hostility to the king. They arrange a feast at which they fraudulently lock Osiris in a specially made box and throw him into the fast waters of the river.

Tomb of Nefertari. Valley of the Kings

How Anubis appeared
Before the murder of her brother by the evil Seth, Nephthys was inflamed with love for Osiris. She, wishing to share a bed with a powerful god, came to him at night in the form of the wife of Isis. Later, from this couple, the god Anubis, the protector of the souls of the dead, is born.
Having betrayed Set, Nephthys fears his revenge and the murder of little Anubis. Then the goddess deceives her husband and assures that this is his child.
In another version of this myth, Nephthys abandons the baby immediately after birth. Anubis was raised by Isis with the help of dogs.

Legends and myths of Ancient Egypt

There are still quite a few legends and myths of Ancient Egypt:

1. Solar and lunar year
2. Boat of Eternity and celestial sailing
3. The battle of Ra with dark forces
4. Myth of the Solar Eye
5. Journey of Isis
6. Resurrection of Osiris
7. Wrestling Set and Horus


The myths of Ancient Egypt can be read in the following books:

• I.V. Rak «Myths of Ancient Egypt»
• Mathieu Militz «Myths of Ancient Egypt»
• Budge E. A. «Egyptian tales, stories and legends»
• R. Steiner «Egyptian Myths and Mysteries»

Myths and legends of ancient Egypt for children briefly

Among other myths and legends of ancient Egypt about the creation of the world, Egypt is a complex option, offering several versions of how the world unfolded. The ancient Egyptians believed that the basic principles of life, nature and society were determined by the gods when the world was created. It all started with the first movement of the Supreme God among the primeval waters. Let’s try to parse with bungary.ru

Contents

• 1 Cosmogonic gods, myths and legends of Ancient Egypt for children about the creation of the world briefly
• 2 First gods
• 3 Office of the Crembus God
• 4 Eye of the Sun Bureau

9000 5 $

• 7 Finally
• 8 Egyptian mythology: Creation of the world
• 9 Egypt on the map

Cosmogonic Gods, myths and legends of Ancient Egypt for children about the creation of the world in brief

Myth-making is recounted by sacred hieroglyphic writings found among pyramids, temples, tombs and papyrus sheets. These manuscripts describe how the earth was created from chaos by the god Atum. The earth was seen as a sacred landscape, a reflection of the heavenly world where the gods lived.

The creation of the universe took place over a long period of time, when the gods lived on earth, creating kingdoms based on the principles of justice. When the gods left the earth, settling among the expanses of the heavenly world, the pharaohs inherited the right to rule.

The first gods

The Book of the Dead, dating from the Second Intermediate Period, describes how the world came to be created by Atum, the god of Heliopolis, the center of the sun god of the cult of Lower Egypt. In the beginning, the world was an endless expanse of dark, aimless waters, called Nun. The nun personified four pairs of male and female deities. Each pair represented one of the four principles that characterized Nun: stealth or invisibility, endless water, deviation or lack of direction, and darkness or lack of light.

Atum created himself from Nun by an effort of will, pronouncing his name. As the creator of gods and men, he was responsible for bringing order to the heavens as well as the earth. As the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Atum wears the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, carries the ankh — a symbol of life, a scepter, a symbol of royal power.

According to the Texts written on the walls of the pyramids, the creator god emerged from the chaotic darkness Nun in the form of the mythical bird Bennu (similar to a heron or a phoenix). He visited Heliopolis, an ancient city near Cairo, where at dawn he descended on Ben-ben, an obelisk representing a ray of the sun. Having fashioned a nest from fragrant branches and spices, he was burned in the fire, but miraculously came to life. A capstone placed on top of an obelisk or pyramid is associated with Bennu. Called a pyramidion or Bennu, it is a symbol of rebirth, immortality.

Offspring of God the Creator

When the Egyptians called Zep Tepi (First Time), Atum produced two offspring. His son Shu represented dry air, and his daughter Tefnut represented aggressive moist air. Gemini symbolizes two universal principles of human existence: life and law (justice).

Gemini separated the sky from the water. His descendants produced children named Geb — dry land and Nut — sky. As the primeval waters receded, a mound of earth (Geb) emerged, providing the first solid dry land for the sun god, Ra, to rest. During the dynastic period, Atum was also known as Ra, meaning the sun at its first rising.

Shu, the god of air, separates the sky goddess Nut from the earth god Geb. Next to Shu are two ram-headed gods.

Geb and Nut produced four offspring: Set, the god of disorder; Osiris — the god of order; their sisters Nephthys and Isis. This new generation completed the Heliopolitan Ennead, a group of nine deities that began with Atum, the original creator god.

Another version of the creation story, the city of Hermopolis of Middle Egypt, replaced the Ennead with a group of eight deities called the Ogdoad. It consisted of four pairs of gods and goddesses, symbolizing various aspects of the chaos that existed before the creation of the world. The goddesses were depicted as snakes, and the gods as frogs. Their names were Nun and Naunet (water), Amon and Amaunet (concealment), He and Howhet (infinity), Kek and Kauket (darkness).

Eye of the Sun God

The sun god Ra (a form of Atum) ruled over the earth where humans and divine beings coexisted. Humans were created from the Eye of Ra or Vejat (eye of wholeness). This happened when the eye separated from Ra and never returned. Shu and Tefnut followed him, but the eye resisted. In the ensuing struggle, the eyes shed tears from which humans were born.

The familiar eye is an everlasting symbol of the creator of Atum, Ra and Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis. It represents the power to see, illuminate and act. The act of returning the gaze to the creator has become equivalent to the healing of the earth — the restoration of law and order. The preservation of law and order in order to prevent the earth from falling into chaos became the central task of the pharaoh.

Another version of the creation myth says that the vedjat simply left, so Ra sent Thoth, the god of the moon, after him. When he returned, the eye found that another eye had taken its place. To calm the furious eye, Ra placed it on his forehead in the form of the uraeus (goddess of the cobra), where he could rule the whole world. The pharaohs wore the uraeus on their eyebrows as a symbol of protection and also to show that they were descended from the sun god.

The first rebellion

When Ra grew old, the deities tried to take advantage of his decrepitude. Even humans plotted against him, leading to their fall from divine grace. Responding to the rebellion, Ra sent his eye to kill the rebels, which he did by transforming himself into Sekhmet, a furious powerful goddess (depicted as a lion). Having punished his enemies, he turned into a contented goddess Hathor (depicted as a cow).

Exhausted and exhausted by these problems, Ra withdrew from the world. Taking the form of Hathor, he sat on Nut (heaven), who raised him to heaven. Other gods clung to Hathor’s belly, becoming stars. After this, Thoth, god of the moon, was given a spell to protect people from harm when the sun hid underground. From that moment on, people were separated from the gods, just as the earth was separated from heaven.

Ra’s Journey

Ra now lived in heaven where order was established. Every morning he was reborn in the east, traveling across the sky in a boat called the Kora for millions of years, accompanied by several gods who acted as his command. The god of the sun carried the scarab god Khepri, the dung beetle, across the sky. His main enemy was Apep, a huge serpent that lived in the Nile and the waters of Nun. Apep tried to interfere with the daytime passage of the solar crust, but the sun god eventually won.

The sun god was the most important deity in the Egyptian pantheon. He had many names: like the solar disk, he was called Aten; like the rising sun, Khepri, the scarab; at the zenith of the sun — Ra, the supreme god of Heliopolis; like the setting sun is Atum.

The pyramids and obelisks of Egypt, as well as the sphinx, were associated with the sun god.