Egyptian Gods and Goddesses | ancient-egypt-portal

The Pantheon

The Egyptians worshipped a large pantheon (group of gods). Each of these gods had an important role in the creation of the world as we know it. The most important thing to Egyptians was for the world to maintain balance by sustaining maat, which meant order and justice. Everything was about balance in Egyptian mythology.

All the gods of Ancient Egypt represented something. Each god was devoted to some part of the universe, like the sun or sky. They were often shown as half-human, half-animal beings, to show a part of their personality. Sometimes they were instead devoted to aspect of daily life, like farming or animal herding. Each god had a story to explain their purpose.

Many of the gods we now see as supreme started out as small local gods, watching over certain cities, villages or families. Some local gods had an incredible rise in popularity and became worshipped throughout Egypt.

The Gods of Ancient Egypt

Amun, God of Creation Amun began as a city god, presiding over Thebes. Over time, as the city of Thebes became more politically important, their god rose to become one of the most powerful gods in Egyptian mythology. The Egyptians believed that when the sun rose every morning, it was Amun riding his great chariot across the sky, spreading his light over the world.	Amun Ra Amun was combined with Ra, the god of the sun, to become Amun-Ra in 2000 BCE, and was then regarded as the King of the Gods. He was entrusted with keeping the universe in order. Because he created all of the other gods, Amun was believed to be the most powerful, and other gods were only an extension of him. Like the other gods, Amun was connected with animals. His animals were the ram, the goose, and the lion.	Shu and Tefnut Shu was the god of the air, and Tefnut (shown here) was his wife. Shu was the god who separated the earth from the sky, because he decided that they should not be together. After he lifted the sky, the gods went to live among the stars, while the people kept living on the earth. Shu and Tefnut were often shown as lions.
Geb and Nut Geb was the god of the earth, an angry and bitter god who was not kind to humans. He created the harsh deserts which surround the Nile Valley, but he also provided the lush and fertile Nile Valley, with all of its plants and trees, and food for the people and the animals. Geb helped the sun rise every morning as he rode in the great sun-chariot.	The Separation of Earth and Sky Nut was the goddess of the sky. Her laughter was the roaring thunder, and her tears were gentle rains. She was the being who separated order from chao by holding the sky with her back. She also helped in guiding souls to the afterlife. Geb and Nut loved each other dearly. When Shu tore apart Geb and Nut, the earth and sky, Geb was devastated. His tears gathered in a great pool to form the oceans.	Osiris Osiris was the god of the underworld. He reigned over all of the souls who had died, and presided over the judgment of the dead. He also helped plants grow from the earth into full life. Osiris was usually shown as a mummy. He held a shepherd’s crook to symbolize his kingship. His skin was often green because of his association with plants and growth.
Isis Osiris's wife was Isis, the goddess of mothers. Isis was the wisest goddess, with proficient knowledge and skills in magic. Her main role was to protect the women of ancient Egypt. She was the role model for every wife and mother. Called the “Queen of Heaven,” Isis is usually depicted with immense unfolded wings, and sometimes with the horns of a cow.	The Death of Osiris Before he became the king of the dead, Osiris was the king of the world. As firstborn, Osiris was first in line for the coveted kingship. Out of jealousy, his brother Seth chopped him apart and scattered the pieces around Egypt. Isis travelled far and wide to gather each piece of her husband and put him back together. Isis brought Osiris back to life, using her magic. Isis and Osiris had a son named Horus. Descending into the underworld, Osiris took his rightful place as king of the dead.	Seth Being the younger son, Seth was always jealous of his brother Osiris, who had inherited the throne while Seth inherited nothing. When Osiris died and became the king of the underworld, Seth took the throne as king of the living world. His reign was not a peaceful time. A terrible soul-devouring serpent named Apophi roamed the earth while he ruled, and he was a very violent god. He lost the throne to the rightful heir, Horus, and descended into the underworld to make mischief there.
Nephthys Nephthys, the wife of Seth, helped Isis find the scattered pieces of Osiris, to restore him to life despite what her husband had done.	Horus Horus was one of the most powerful gods in Egypt. The pharaoh was believed to have been his representative on earth. Because Isis was the mother of Horus, she also acted as the mother of the Pharaoh, offering magical protection for him. When he came of age, Horus went to the council of gods and demanded to take his rightful place on the throne. The older gods were worried about giving so much power to someone so young. But Horus finished the contests and won the throne from Seth.	Thoth Thoth was the god of knowledge and writing. In addition to this, he was the god of the moon, since the Egyptians measured their days by a lunar calendar. Thoth was the guardian of Osiris in the underworld, standing nearby when he pronounced the judgment of the dead to write down all that happened. He was shown with the head of an ibis bird.
Anubis During the third millennium BCE, Anubis was the primary god of the dead. When Osiris claimed the underworld, Anubis became the guide who leads the souls to their judgment, as detailed in The Book of the Dead. Anubis created the first mummy. When he prepared Osiris for the land of the dead, Anubis performed the mummification process for the very first time. Egyptians tell this story as the beginning of mummification. Anubis had the head of a jackal, a wild dog found in Egypt.	Bastet Bastet was a cat goddess, with the head of a cat and the body of a woman. She served as another guide for the dead, and in the world of the living she watched over mothers. At her temples, worshippers mummified cats in her honor.