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EGYPT LIST of GODS PDF

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This document provides an overview of many important Egyptian gods and deities, their roles and symbolic representations.

Some of the main Egyptian creator gods mentioned include Atum, Nun, Tatenen, and Shu and Tefnut who were born from Atum.

Some of the main Egyptian underworld gods include Osiris who rules the underworld, Anubis who guards the entrance, and the four sons of Horus who each protect a different organ in the Canopic jars.

Egyptian Pantheon

summary research

November 2009

prepared by

Thomas Kummert

www.ancient-cultures.info
List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Creator Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Nun ♀ Δ personification of arch hill arising out of arch consort goddess Naunet 4 holy couples after creation of earth representing abyss on the other side of universe
ocean, more an area then a god, depicted worshipped in therefore no temples, rituals or priests
with frog head Hermopolis
Tatenen♀Δ linked to the raise of benben hill, also seen as linked to Ptah since Ramses period Memphis known from Middle Kingdom, possibly identical with earlier god Chenti-Tjenenet
responsible for the fertile Nile mud brought by to become Ptah-Tatenen, also with known in Old Kingdom, name representing raised land, initially bisexual creator
the annual inundations, shown with ram horns Geb characteristics and mentioned as mother of all gods, also seen as personification of
& sun disc & 2 feathers, shown with green the phallus of the deceased pharaoh
skin color
Atum ♀ Δ representing chaos or arch ocean nun from father of Schu & Tefnut Heliopolis first god in universe, creator of god couple Schu & Tefnet via self fertilization
Atum-Re which he created space, time, gods & daughter Bastet part of initial group of nine prime gods, father of gods & kings, master of all
humans, also could destroy them again as creator linked with sun god Re Old Kingdom equal to arch hill benben, seen as scarabaeus
Atum-Re sun creator & earth god combined through link with Re he represented evening sun
main god of Lower Egypt gaus: Wa-em-Huu- his sign was the benben stone, the arch hill coming out of arch ocean nun
ges-iabtet, Heqa-andju shown with double crown in evening sun role & with serpent in arch god role
Schu ♀ Δ god of air separating earth from sky, later also born by creator Atum together with Leontopolis, part of initial group of nine prime gods
seen as renewing cosmos with fresh air, his sister Tefnut, who also became Heliopolis also dark side as mentioned as operator of the dead block
shown in human form with feather on his his wife, parents of Geb & Nut, also helped protecting the sun god from dangerous snake god Apophis
head, some times as lion linked to falcon god Horus as well
main god of Lower Egypt gau Hesbu as moon god Thot & Chons, also
Bes
Tefnut ♂ lion goddess or humidity goddess born by creator Atum together with Heliopolis, part of initial group of nine prime gods
Δ&■ main goddess of Lower Egypt gau Hesbu her brother Schu, husband Schu, Leontopolis highly cosmic character but uncertain role
Tefnet wearing sun disc & cobra on her head parents of Geb & Nut, linked with possibly representing the atmosphere of the underworld
some times shown as lion headed snake Schu in Heliopolis
linked lion headed Bastet
Geb ♀ Δ earth & fertility god with strong link to king parents Schu & Tefnut Heliopolis deceased mentioned going to Geb, created sun with heaven goddess Nut, part of
wife Nut, children Osiris, Isis, initial group of nine prime gods
Seth, Nephthys depicted with plants growing on his back & water coming out of his body, shown with
linked to Re & underworld gods green skin, shown as goose or with goose on his head
caused earthquakes when laughing, also draughts when withholding his good deeds
Nut ♂ Δ goddess of sky & stars, important role to parents Schu & Tefnut, husband part of 9 main depicted in human form naked bowing over earth touching east & west horizon
divide chaos from earth, her laughs were Geb, children Osiris, Isis, Seth, gods of she swallows sun or Re at dusk and rebirth him at dawn, myth shows that at night
thunder, her tears were rain, part of initial Nephthys, mother of sun god Re Heliopolis, no sun traveled through her body, this myth was based on astrological observation
group of nine prime gods, shown with raised often interchanged with Hathor own temple like which shows milky way during winter solstice at early morning as band with 2 hands
water bowl on her head, symbolized as other cosmic & feet touching both ends of horizon and sun rise happened between upper legs and
heavens cow in many tombs gods nine months earlier sun set happened between arms at head position
also played important part in believe of resurrection
Amaunet creator goddess, shown with red crown & husband Amun, linked with Neith Hermopolis in Hermopolis creator god with Amun, colossal Amaunet statue in Karnak with own
♂Δ stick with papyrus top priests servicing her, later Mut as second wife of Amun became more prevelent
Chnum♀ ■ most important ram god, creator god formed in Elephantine trinity with wife Satet Elephantine & belonged to the oldest gods in Egypt, seen as god of Nile source & creator of Nile
Chnum-Re humans on potter wheel, with their soul ka, in & daughter Anuket Esna, Herwer, floods, strong sexual fertility aspect, when creating bodies on his potter wheel shown
Esna arch god, shown first as ram with in Esna with goddesses Mehit & Shas-hotep with frog headed birth helping goddess Heqat, also seen as ba of Re, Osiris & Geb
horizontal horns, later in human form with ram Neith similar to Herischef, in Elephantine mummified rams is stone sarcophagi found
head & curved horns & three parted wig, 2 wifes Heqat & Satet
sometimes with 2 pairs of horns plus 2
feathered atef crown
main god of Upper Egypt gau: Ta-Seti,
Nechen, Ma-hedj, Naret-pehtit
Heka ♀ Δ creator god, god of powerful magic master of all ka, other gods feared him because of his power
accompanied sun god on barge trips

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Main Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Amun ♀ Δ main deity, main cult Amun meaning “the wife Amaunet & Mut city god of first mentioned in pyramid texts, first local Thebes god, over time replaced Month
Amun-Re, hidden”, from 2nd century BC king of gods, son Chons Karnak since 11th dynasty state god together with Ptah & Re
Amun-Re- multiple identities: creator god, sun god, trinity with Mut & Chons in Karnak creator god in 4 kings used his name Amenhotep “Amun is pleased”
Kamutef, fertility god, war god, hidden spirit, wind during 19th & 20th dynasty empire Hermopolis since New Kingdom Amun & Mut became the “eye of Re” & parents of the king
Amun-Min- god, universal god trinity with Amun & Re as Amun-Re highest god, capacity to renew & resurrect, linked to the ba
Kamutef animal representation: ram & goose with Amaunet creator god in as Amun-Re-Kamutef arch god, shown in frozen mummy pose with errected phallus
main god of Upper Egypt gau Waset Hermopolis as Amun showns antropomorph with high feather crown or ram head & sun disk or
linked with Min to become as ram or goose
Amun-Min-Kamutef as Amun-Re shown in walking pose
Hathor ♂ main goddess shown always wearing cow father Re, mother of Horus, later Dendera temple, various roles: mother of Horus, daughter of Re (eye of Re), cow goddess, goddess
Δ&■ horns & sun disc on her head, also with Isis took that role Thebes status of fertility & motherhood, mother & wife of king, solar sky goddess, goddess of
falcon seated on stick on her head, often also linked with cow goddess death goddess, foreign regions & trading goods, goddess of life after death, goddess of happiness,
turqoise or ret dress Mehet-weret, Bastet, Isis, temples in Atfih, music & luck
main goddess of Upper Egypt gaus: Iqer, Astarte, Imentet, Thoeris Kusae, Deir el- as Horus mother & king being Horus on earth Hathor was therefore king’s mother
Nedijfit pehtit, Medenit & Lower Egypt gau Medina, at Dendera trinity with Horus and music god Ihi, like Horus her eyes symbolized sun
Imentet Gebelein & moon, protecting mothers at birth & regeneration
most important 14 day long festival at Horus temple in Edfu, Hathor statue traveled
from Dendera temple for holy marriage in 3rd summer month
Horus ♀ god of heaven & kings, god of the living & son of Hathor / Isis & Orisis, country wide, various roles: god of heaven, sun god, son of Isis, god of kings,
Δ&■ fertile land, depicted as falcon with spread wife Hathor, son Harsomptus main temple in one of the earliest gods since Pre-Dynastic Period, complex mythology, his eyes
Horus-Shed wings, symbol of winged sun disc, shown brother Seth Edfu, Kom symbolized sun & moon, as god of the 2 horizons he represented the sun rise & sun
with double crown linked to moon god Chons Ombo, also set, each pharaoh represented Horus on earth, therefore called Horus throne,
main god of Upper Egypt gaus: Wejset-Hor, also seen as Har-siese & temples in represented the order on earth, always fighting Seth the powerful god of wild nature,
Nechen & Lower Egypt gaus: Chepesch, Harpokrates (successor of father Hierakonpolis, after rivalries with his brother Seth, Horus became god of Lower Egypt & Seth god
Kem-wer, Behedet Osiris & guardian of underworld) Letopolis, Buto, of Upper Egypt, together with Seth presented king at crowing ceremony with double
Horus the Elder main god at Upper Egypt in Hierakonpolis his sun god role Behedet crown symbolizing unification of Lower & Upper Egypt, also shown together on relief
gau Ta-Seti was merged with Re-Harachte binding with knots both Upper & Lower Egypt together (Ramses statue at Luxor),
priests breeding falcons at Horus temple in Edfu, annual symbolized falcon crowning
Horus was represented by various other subgods: Horus on his papyrus plant,
Horus of the horizon, Horus with the strong arm (Month link), Horus in horizon
(Hor-em-achet or Harmachis sun god as falcon or lion), Horus the child, Horus the
elder (Harwer or Haroeris), Horus who guards both lands (Panebtaui), Horus the
red, Horus the unifier (Hor-mau or Harsomptus), Horus son of Isis, Horus bull of
heaven, Horus hidden behind papyrus
Isis ♂ Δ mother goddess, since Old Kingdom with overtime took over leading role countrywide various roles: sister & wife of Osiris, mother & guardian of Horus, symbolized
Isis-Hesat, Osiris one of the most important deities, from Hathor temples & mother of kings, goddess of cosmic union, full of magic, guardian of deceased
Isis- Kuh, around 500 BC became “the one” lead parents Geb & Nut chapels in name meaning throne, wearing this sign on her head, symbolized royal palace &
Isis- Shentait, goddess of all goddesses, combined both wife of Orisis together with Philae, Iseion in seen as symbolized king mother, protecting all children, part of initial group of nine
Isis-Sothis, worlds as mother & death goddess, Nephthys Behbeit el- prime gods, revived her husband Osiris (murdered by Seth) with magical powers to
Isis- symbolized by Sirius star, cow horn crown mother of Horus Hagar, Dendera, produced their son Horus, her attributes merged over time with those of Astarte,
Aphrodite with sun disc & throne, normally holding sister of Nephthys, Osiris, Seth Deir el-Shelwit Bastet, Nut, Renenutet & Sothis, together with Selket, Neith & Nephthys
ankh sign & papyrus stick, depicted linked to Thoeris protected mummy and intestines
kneeling, seated & standing, animals linked main goddess of Upper Egypt gau Ta-Seti
to her scorpion, red kite, cow, apis bull, also
as tree goddess

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Main Gods … continued
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Ma’at ♂ Δ goddess of truth, justice & cosmic order, daughter of Re small temple in most important personifications of over all order of all things, preventing chaos &
shown with wings, in her hieroglyph husband Thot Karnak in Month holding up justice, seen as sister of ruling king and his success dependent on him
symbolized as feather linked with Osiris temple area keeping maat in balance, at death trial heart of deceased weighted against her
wearing single feather crown importance grew in New Kingdom
Mut ♂ Δ mother & heaven goddess trinity in Thebes with husband main temple at in New Kingdom replaced Amaunet as wife of Amun
Mut-Bastet first depiction as lioness headed, later Amun & son Chrons replacing Karnak built by Mut became the wild “eye of Re” and thus parents of the king
standing or seated with red blue dress with Amaunet, daugther of Re Amenhotep III. head dress vulture hood sometimes combined with red & white double crown, vulture
feather like pattern, ofter in mother role also linked with Bastet, Sechmet, also temples in hood also became symbol worn by all queens, sun eye is the sign of the lion
breast feeding Tefnut, Ptah Heliopolis, Tanis goddesses therefore also shown as lioness
very independent goddess possessing her & Gizeh famous ceremony of splitting of ished tree together with Re in Heliopolis
own oracle also state & king protection aspect - traitors were burned to death in the pan of Mut
main goddess of Upper Egypt gau Waset during important processions her statue was transported in own barge
important role in fighting off evil Aphopis / Apep snake attacking sun god barge
Ptah ♀ Δ depicted as god, first god of artisans & Memphis trinity with wife lion city god of one of the oldest gods first mentioned already in 1st dynasty
Ptah-Naunet, creator of art and the world goddess Sechmet & son lotos god Memphis trinity with Sechmet & Nefertem represented human, fauna & flora, as well as
Ptah-Nun, main god of Lower Egypt gau Inebu-hedj Nefertem, also father of Imhotep temple at Karnak creation, protection & regeneration
Ptah-Sokar, later trinity with Sokar & Osiris, specially worshipped by workers at Der al Medina & common population
Ptah-Sokar- later linked with Apis shown in frozen mummy pose with simple cap no decoration & holding a zepter
Osiris, linked to earth god Tatenen during 19th & 20th dynasty empire trinity with Amun & Re
Ptah-Tatenen often ears were added to text, hieroglyphs and steles

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Sun Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Re ♀ Δ & ■ main sun god closely related to day hours, combined with Harachte to Re- Heliopolis where various roles: Re in heaven, Re on earth, Re in the underworld, Re as creator, Re
Re-Harachte, representing regenerating forces of nature, Harachte, the benben hill as king & father of the king
Re-Harachte- seen as father of all kings, on barge he during 19th & 20th dynasty empire rose out of nun most important ancient Egyptian god first worshipped in 2nd dynasty, main creator
Atum-Horus- made the daily sun circumvention as day & trinity with Amun & Re the arch ocean god to create world & human beings from his tears & gods Hu & Sia from his
Chepre, night trip symbolizing daily regeneration, son Month, daughters Ma’at, also Abu Simbel blood, since 4th dynasty Djedefre all kings called themselves “son of Re”, with rise
Re-Osiris shown with falcon head & sun disc Hathgor & Mut & Abusir of state god Amun both were combined to Amun-Re and shown ram headed, Re
surrounded by cobra, also with wings, linked to Atum in evening hours crossed at day the sky ocean in barge mandjet accompanied by Thot & his
sometimes with ram or scarabaeus head, no wifes daughter Ma’at symbolizing cosmic order, at night he crossed the underworld in
main god of Lower Egypt gau Chasuu barge mesketet, developed complex relationship with Osiris over time ending in
unification Re-Osiris, also influenced 3 seasons & Nile floods, during day hours
shown with falcon head as Re-Harachte, towards evening antropomorphic as
Atum, in the morning as scrabaeus god Chephren
golden caps on top of obelisks were seen as Re home
Aton ♀ Δ first sun symbol & form of Re, first depicted despite monotheism some other 3 temples at Amenophis IV. changed name to Ankhaton or Echnaton & elevated Aton to only
as human with falcon head, later during gods still existed, such were Re, Karnak, main god creating first monotheism in history, most complex & disputed god, despite
Ankhaton times as sun plate with rays Maat, Schu, Mnevis temple later at priesthood Ankhaton saw himself as the only rightful servant & guardian of the
ending each in human hands Tell el-Amarna, Aton wisdom, therefore king was placed between Aton & high priest, they were
main god of Upper Egypt gau Wenet Memphis,Sesebi called priests of Ankhaton, not worshipped any longer after Amarna period
Harachte ♀ Δ god of the morning sun closely related to Horus &
Re-Harachte combined to Re Harachte
Chepren ♀ sun god of cyclical renovation & daily sunrise Re representing day hours & Atum Heliopolis representing morning sun & linked to daily resurrection
Δ&■ shown as scarabaeus evening hours became the most common symbol for amulets
Chepre,Cheprer combined to Atum-Chepre also seen as protecting deceased, therefore posed on mummies at burial
Nefertem ♀ Δ worshiped as “lotus flower in the nose of Re” Memphis trinity with Ptah & Memphis, Buto could merge with sun god
shown with lotus flower on his head plus two Sachmet, Nefertem being the also shown as young sun god with lotos flower & feathers on his head
feathers, sometimes as child, also in various child, in Buto Nefertem was son of cobra goddess Uto
lion forms also linked to Horus son of Re,
Uto, Bastet
Mandulis ♀ Δ local Nubian sun god in Philae named as consort of Isis Kalabshah feather crown with ram horns and 3 small sun discs
merwel temple
Moon & Star Gods
Chons ♀ Δ young moon god who in Old & Middle in Karnak trinity with mother Mut & city god Thebes in Thebes he became guardian of life time, god of healing & oracle
Kingdom appreared in death texts as father Amun, in Kom Ombo son of shown with moon cresent & black moon disc on his head, either in frozen mummy
punishing god Sobek & Hathor, in Edfu son of pose with human head plus child side lock or walking with falcon head, seldomly in
only in New Kingdom rose to myth & cult Osiris, linked also to falcon god crocodile form or standing on a crocodile
to become healing & oracle god Horus, moon god Thot, air god shown typically with necklace plus moon crecent pectoral with keyhole shaped
baboon as animal depiction Schu & various child gods counter weight on his back, which differentiates him from Ptah
main god of Upper Egypt gau Waset
Thot ♀ Δ &■ first a moon god in Old Kingdom, later seen linked to falcon god Horus & Re Hermopolis by name Silver Aton, controls time and calculates years, god of scribes
as creator & wisdom god and god of scribes goddess Seschat mentioned as part of 8 gods symbolized by baboon figure
Djehuti shown with ibis head as moon god & his wife or daughter Tuna el-Gebel, with Re he traveled as one of two consorts in the sun barge across the sky
baboon head as good of scribes wife Nehemet-aui el-Baklija, at death court of Osiris he took protocol of deseased life report
main god of Upper Egypt gau Wenet & Dachla (oasis), from New Kingdom shown with moon cresent & sun disc
Lower Egypt gau Bah Serabit el- at Tuna el-Gebel thousand mummified ibis & some baboons were buried in Ibeum,
Chadim (Sinai) another necropolis of Thot ibis & baboons situated at Saqqara
responsible for calender, mathematics, creator of script, speech & laws, guardian
of divine order, all rituals & all secret knowledge
at kings crowning he inscribed his name on holy isched tree in Heliopolis
Sothis ♂ Δ goddess of Sirus star husband Orion star god Sah, son rising Sirius star announced coming Nile floods
Sopdet also united to Isis-Sothis another star god Soped or Sopdu united with Osiris to give birth to Venus star
wearing Upper Egypt white crown with linked with Osiris
upwards pointed horns & five pointed star

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Fertility Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Hapi ♀ Δ Nile god responsible for annual innundations in company of crocodile gods & creator god, harvest god, master of fish & birds, holding cosmic balance
“arrival of Hapi” frog goddesses shown with sacrifice tablet laden with food
representing fertility of fields depicted with blue skin and well fed with female breasts & papyrus plant crown
Anuket ♂ Δ goddess of the annual Nile inundations Old Kingdom daughter of Re later Elephantine, Beit shown with high papyrus crown
Anukis goddess of southern provinces Nubia in Middle Kingdom became trinity el-Wali, Sehel also played motherly role breast feeding king
symbol animal garzelle with father Chnum & mother Satet main deity Lower
main goddess of Upper Egypt gau Ta-Seti in Elephantine Egypt
Min ♀ Δ god of fertility & harvest depicted with shown in 18th dynasty linked with Amun- Koptos, one of the earliest mentioned gods in Egypt, first statues 4,000 BC in Koptos
Menu, with erected phallus in left hand & raised Kamputef “Amun bull of his Panopolis highest god of male sex & fertility
Min-Horus, right hand, always black skin mother”, also seen as father of Min rituals in Middle Kingdom at crowning ceremonies
Amun-Min- east desert god area of Wadi Hammamat Horus and husband of Isis fez type cap or long feather crown with long band
Kamutef main god of Upper Egypt gaus: Netjerui,
Wen-Menu
Satet ♂ Δ goddess of Nile source in Elephantine trinity with husband Elephantine worshipped since Old Kingdom
Satis depicted with Upper Egypt white crown & Chnum & daughter Anuket when Chnum was united with Re, Satet became “eye of Re”
antelope horns, feathers & cobra also with linked to Month also took on some characteristics of Hathor
ankh sign & was scepter linked with Sirius star representing Sothis
main goddess of Upper Egypt gau Ta-Seti
Nechbet ♂ represented by vulture & cobra with shen closely linked with Lower Egypt main temple at since Old Kingdom wearing white crown of Upper Egypt and closely linked to king,
Δ&■ sign, also shown as snake cobra goddess Uto, also linked Elkab also seen as mother of king and decicted as cow, together with cobra goddess Uto
main god of Upper Egypt gau Necheb with Hathor, Mut & Tefnut protecting king, depicted as feeding royal child
Meshenet ♂ Δ goddess of birth linked with Chnum in Esna temple also influenced live of beings & their destiny, told new born Userkaf, Sahure &
Neferikare that they will become kings, played role in Maat death trial to help with
resurrection
Thoeris ♂ ■ goddess with hippo head, shown with as mother goddess linked to Isis & worshipped since Old Kingdom, guardian of expecting & breast feeding mothers
pregnant tummy and hanging breasts Hathor, also to Reret (breast feeding over 3 years), shown as upright standing pregnant hippo with
wearing female wig holding sa & ankh husband Bes & sometimes Seth hanging breasts & lion feet
symbols, popular common house goddess based on his hippo link depicted with protective sa ribbon or burning torch to prevent evil
Heqat ♂ Δ & ■ frog headed birth helping goddess wife of Chnum Herwer, Qus from Middle Kingdom worshipped, shown with Chnum when he created bodies on
Heket his potter wheel
War Gods
Month ♀ god of war, main god of kings depicted with son of Re Medamut, as god of war his holy animal is white bull with black face, from 11th dynasty
Δ&■ falcon head, feathers, sun plate & 2 cobras, wifes unknown local goddess Karnak, Armant, replaced by Amun
Month-Re sometimes holding chepesch sword Tjeneniet & sun goddess Rait-taui Tod
main god of Upper Egypt gau Waset linked with Horus
Neith ♂ Δ mother of gods, goddess of hunting & war, in Esna with Chnum, Mehet-weret Memphis, 26th various roles: war goddess, arch creator goddess, mother goddess, goddess of
symbolized by shield with crossed arrows & & Nun, mother of Sobek, no dynasty in Sais Lower Egypt, death goddess
bow, shown with crown of Lower Egypt, husband possibly virgin goddess called “house of oldest goddesses & important in Pre-Dynastic Period, protector deity during Old
represented by bee as animal, also as also shown as wild eye of Re bee” Kingdom, later became creator goddess in Esna, also with Selket assisted Amun
crocodile or fish both linked to various roles to reunify with the queen to create the next king, was worshipped throughout
main goddess of Upper Egypt gau Nechen & Egyptian history for 3,000 years, together with Isis, Selket & Nephthys protected
Lower Egypt gaus: Neith resit, Neith mehit mummies and instestines, her name was used by many early dynasty queens
Neith festival 13th day of 3rd summer month
Astarte ♂ Δ goddess of love & fertility in New Kingdom, daughter of Re some times of Piramesse
also god of horses & battle chariots depicted Ptah, husband Seth, later linked temple, Tanis
with shield & spear, shown naked on a horse with Hathor, protecting king
with atef crown or bull horns together with Anat
Anat(h) ♂ Δ war goddess protecting king together with seen as daughter of Re Tanis, own area imported goddess from Levant Ugarit region, also named mistress of sky, ruleress
Astarte, shown with spear & shield & war linked with Astarte, Hathor, Seth, in Mut temple of gods, had a sexual side as well, became important during Ramesses period
ax, with white crown & two feathers on both Min worshiped by Hykos, one king took on her name
sides, virgin goddess without husband

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Death Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Osiris ♀ Δ highest god of death & underworld parents Geb & Nut Busiris, head of death court where the deceased heart had to testify the deceased deeds &
Osiris-Re, previously vegetation god and opponent to wife Isis, father of Anubis Heliopolis, Anubis led deceased in front of death court & Thot took protocol of deseased life
Osiris-Sepa, desert god Seth brother of Isis, Seth, Nephthys city god of inherited power of fertility, part of initial group of nine prime gods
Osiris-Apis- first fertility god later god of resurrection linked with Re counter pole to Abydos & murdered by his brother Seth & revived by his wife Isis with magical powers
Atum-Horus symbolized by Orion star underworld, later trinity with Ptah & country wide cult shown with white skin, most im mummy pose, Upper Egypt crown or with atef plant
main god of Upper Egypt gau Ta-wer & Sokar, took over names & qualities bundle & ostrich feather crown and king insignia, born at Rosetau necropolis close
Lower Egypt gau Anedjti of many other gods Chenti & Memphis, Choiak festival during 5th month & annual Osiris festival at Abydos
Anubis, fater of Anubis
Anubis ♀ 2nd most important death god, jackal trinity with father bull god Mnevis countrywide, various roles: head of deceased chenti-imentui, master of holy land neb-ta-djeser,
Δ&■ headed, also shown as black dog, & mother cow goddess Hesat Kynopolis the one on his mountain tepi-dju-ef, master of nine bows (enemies), being at place
responsible for mummification, watching Bastet also mentioned as mother of mummification imi-ut, master of mummification tent per-wabet, master of god’s
over necropoli later mentioned as son of Osiris & chamber chenti-sech-netjer
main god of Upper Egypt gaus: Nedijfit Nephthys, later adopted by Isis he guarded necropolis from the heights of the mountain cliffs, as guardian of the
chentit, Input under word he lead the deceased heart to the death court of Osiris to testify the
deceased deeds, his main task was to preserve bodies through mummification and
mouth opening ritual, therefore also called guardian of the secrets or mummifier,
also guarded the royal tomb chamber & funerary shrine, because of his guardian
qualities he also appreared at royal birth, Anubis masks were used by priests
during mummification procedures & during processions
Upuaut ♀ ■ olderst jakal god called “opener of ways” Anubis & Uquaut often mistaken Lykopolis in first worshipped in 3rd dynasty, pyramid texts mention he was born in Uto shrine in
Weq-wawet different to Anubis he was shown in grey in old text, but both were Middle Egypt Lower Egypt, opening ways related to mouth opening ceremony, as well as to
color with bow & club, when shown with independent gods, linked with Sed, opening gates of underworld for sun to travel at night & king for heavenly
Anubis he was placed north & Uquaut south also unified as Uquaut-Re ascension, also seen as opener of uterus for birth of child
Nephthys ♂ Δ death goddess often depicted with wings, parents Geb & Nut part of nine gods part of initial group of nine prime gods
nebet-hut always strong support given to more wife of Seth together with Isis of Heliopolis together with Isis, Neith & Selket protected mummy and instestines
dominant Isis sister of Isis, Orisis & Seth
mother of Anubis
Selket ♂ Δ goddess depicted as scorpion, protecting the linked to Isis, Nephthys & Neith worshipped since Old kingdom, together with Isis, Neith & Nephthys protected
Serket-he-tet deaths, seen also as mother goddess, mother of snake god Neheb-kau mummy and instestines, also with Neith assisted Amun to reunify with the queen
depicted also lion, crocodile or cobra to create the next king
headed
Sokar ♀ death god of Memphis later trinity with Orisis & Ptah Memphis Sokar festival with holy henu barge during 4th month of inundation season achet
Δ&■ depicted with falcon head whereby he helped the king with ceremonial earth hacking & channel digging
main god of Lower Egypt gau Inebu-hedj
Horus sons♀■ 4 sons of Horus are gods of canoptic jars Amset protected by Isis country wide Amset, liver jar, human head
Amset Hapi protected by Nephthys Hapi, lung jar, baboon headed
Hapi Duamutef protected by Neith Duamutef, stomch jar, jackal head
Duamutef Kebeschsenuef protected by Kebeschsenuef, intestine jar, falcon headed
Kebeschsenuef Selket
Evil Gods
Seth ♀ Δ & ■ god of desert & wild nature forces, storm & parents Geb & Nut Heliopolis, Nubt, early god from Pre-Dynastic Period, in Middle Kingdom he fights snake Apophis
weather, representing evil forces, called “big wife & sister Nephthys Piramesse from sun barge, Hykos rulers accepted Seth as equal to their main god Baal,
on power”, counter part to Maat, also god of brother of Osiris, Isis, Nephthys guardian of 19th & 20th dynasty, name of pharaoh Sethos linked to Seth, opponent
metals, part of initial group of nine prime brother also Horus to vegetation god Osiris ruler of world order & killed his brother Osiris, this started
gods, linked with Neith a fight between the Osiris son Horus, in underworld Seth shown as guardian of
main god of Upper Egypt gaus: Netjerui, Re protecting him from snake god Apophis, together with Horus presented king at
Henen, Wabui & Lower Egypt gau Chenti- crowing ceremony double crown symbolizing unification of both Lower & Upper
jabti Egypt, in symbolized fighting of Seth a red bull, desert bird or hippo was killed &
sacrificed
Apophis ♀ ■ evil big snake endangering sun god Re at compared with Seth the enemy of from New Kingdom attacked Re’s sun barge & Seth fights Apophis, representing
Apep sun rise & set, gods darkness & non existence
Isfret ♂ Δ goddess seen as counter pole to Maat representing the unbalanced, unright, untruth

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Other Deities
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Aker ♀ ■ old undefined earth god or gods akeru, opening the gate to the underword & protecting kings against evil snakes, also
shown as piece of land with lion & sphinx mentioned as locking away killed Apophis
head at both ends
Huh ♀ Δ god of eternity, symbol for 1 million wife goddess Hauhet symbolizing goddess Nut as heaven cow supported by Schu & 8 Huh gods, 2 each leg, holding
djet – time eternity 2 sun barges for front & hind legs
depicted with rolled palm leaf in each hand
Schai ♀ Δ god of destiny, fate, life span and luck goddesses Meschenet & assumed to have been seen as more abstract then personified god, therefore
Renenutet seldomly shown, but always mentioned, sometimes on death papyri of the New
Kingdom in connexion with the weighing of the deceased heart
Imhotep ♀ Δ because of his healing capacity Greek son & vizier of Djoser, seen as son built first step pyramid at Saqqara in Old Kingdom, over time worshipped & declared
compared him with Asclepios god of of Ptah god 1,000 years later in New Kingdom
medicine
Shed ♀ Δ god of wild animals & war weapons, strong link to Horus no own temple became important in New Kingdom
depicted as child or young god worshiped to protect against wild animals & bad luck during battles
Seschat ♂ Δ goddess of script, bookkeeping, census & linked with Nephthys no own temple, part of the temple lay out & founding ceremony, also goddess of builders & architects
mathematics, protector of temple libraries, various roles as Thot sister, wife, no common known since 2nd dynasty
shown with leopard skin, head band and daughter worshipping in New Kingdom Sefchet-abui had same attributes and was possibly a variation
stick with seven pointed star covered by a
hood & holding palm stick
Gods of Food & Drink
Bes ♀ Δ god of dance & happiness closely linked to goup of 10 dwaft used magical powers for healing and against evils & dangers
group of various protective dwarf gods, gods: Aha, Aman, Hajet, Ihti, protecting children, expecting & birth giving mothers, shown in Mammisis
depicted as daemons with animal ears & Mafdet, Menew, Segeb, Soqdu, known since Old Kingdom, shown on beds, chairs & other furniture
tails Tetetenu, also Hathor, Re, Horus
Schesmu ♀ Δ god of wine and oil pressing, shown with known since Old Kingdom, bipolar character both creating happiness as well as
Schesemu lion or ram head destroying, described as killing other gods and cooking them, he also catches the
damned with a lasso and decapitates them, only in New Kingdom his positive side is
described
Ihi ♀ Δ music god trinity with Hathor & Horus at
Dendera

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Bull & Cow Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Apis ♀ ■ god of kings & most important bull god, later with Ptah, at death united with Memphis, Sais, early god from Dynastic Period, Apis bull born from a virgin cow inseminated by Ptah
Serapis depicted as bull with triangular silver Osiris to become Apis-Osiris or Athribis priests roamed bulls in Memphis, in New Kingdom amalgamated with Orisis to
plated mark on his forehead, later in New Osir-Apis, further unification to become death god, therefore shown as bull on sarcophagi carrying mummy, later
Kingdom with sun disc & cobra between Osiris-Apis-Atum-Horus bulls were mummified, Apis bull also shown as ba of Osiris
horns, bull is also symbol of fertility & pharaohs shown at sed festivities with Apis bulls to demonstrate poweress
strength, also used for oracle purposes all bull in Memphis killed at age of 25 & mummified and buried at Saqqara Serapeum
main god of Lower Egypt gau Inebu-hedj
Mnevis ♀ ■ 2nd most important holy bull god after Apis trinity with wife cow goddess Hesat Heliopolis plus announced wishes & decision of sun god, as all other representations of Mnevis one
mer-wer, also used for oracle purposes & son jackal god Anubis Dendera & Edfu, bull was selected, Mnevis was black depicted with sun disc & cobra, because of his
nem-wer main god of Lower Egypt gau Heqa-andju united to Mnevis-Osiris or Mnevis- Soknopaiu relation to sun god Mnevis was only other god accepted by Ankhaton
Wennefer Nesos in Faijum like all other bulls he had his own harem of at least 2 cows, also special burial
Buchis ♀ ■ 3rd most important holy bull god after Apis associated with Month, Osiris, Re Hermonthis, own bull tomb used during new Kingdom called Bucheum, mother cows of Buchis
ba-ach, bachu & Mnevis, also used for oracle purposes Thebes, Tod, bulls were buried at Baqarijah, also had healing powers especially for eye problems,
main god of Upper Egypt gau Waset Medamud bull known for his wildness & Medamud text mentioning bull fighting in arena
Bat ♂ ■ early Pre-Dynastic cow goddess depicted goddess of 7th gau Nag Hammadi different to Hathor Bat hat human head with cow ears and upwards pointed horns
on Narmer Plaque, iflunenced Hathor cult Hathor goddess of 6th gau “house of on her side
& later replaced her later united with Hathor sistrum” shown with stars around horns to symbolize heavenly cow link
Hesat ♂ ■ wild cow goddess trinity with husband bull god Heliopolis role as midwife of living king & dead king depicted as her golden calf, also mentioned
Mnevis & son jackal god Anubis as mother cow of Apis & Mnevis bulls, mothers of Mnevis bulls buried in special
also linked to Tenemit godess of Heliopolis necropolis
beer also supplied humans with milk
Mehet-weret old cow goddess, sun disc between her close link with Neith & unification, raised from arch waters and gave birth to Re
♂■ horns, goddess of great flood, shown with later association with Hathor
decorated collar & back cover plus scepter unified to Isis-Mehet
Lion & Cat Gods
Sechmet most important lion goddess, two Memphis trinity with husband Ptah Memphis, first worshipping in 5th dynasty
♂Δ&■ personalities guarding & destroying, “the & son lotos god Nefertem Abusir, Karnak, battling Apophis & Seth, using arrows to pierce enemy hearts
Sachmet powerful” goddess of war accompanying linked with Bastet, Pachet & Mut Kom el-Hisn hot desert winds seen as her fierce breath, linked also to pests which were seen as
king in battle, healing goddess with her initially seen as daughter of Re punishment for evil deeds
priests acting as doctors, depicted as lion with Hathor first “eye of Re” Amenophis III. made this goddess his personal one by erecting 570 statues of her
or with lion head wearing red robe, later in at Mut temple in Karnak, also had destroying powers & was to punish humans who
New Kingdom shown with sun disc opposed god Re & Osiris
Bastet ♂ goddess with lion head, lated with cat mother lion goddess Miysis father Bubastis & magical powers & charcter of a cat with two faces, lovely & wild
Δ&■ head, initially protecting king, later Atum, linked lion goddess Memphis & over time became more friendly, wild character passed to lion goddess Sechmet
protecting expecting mothers, shown with Sechmet, also with Hathor, Mut, Heliopolis became very popular, many Bastet festivities is cat mummies used for burials in
sistrum, menat & udjat eye Tefnut, also seen as “eye of Re” Bubastis & Saqqara
main goddess of Lower Egypt gau Imet-
chenti
Pachet ♀ ■ angry lion goddess linked to Sachmet, Weret Hekau, Beni Hasan worshipped from middle Kingdom
depicted on many amulets as standing Isis Middle Egypt
lion

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


List of Deities (♀ god, ♂ goddess, Δ anthropomorphic, ■ zoomorphic)
Animal Gods
Name Purpose & Symbol Links Area & Temple Comments
Sobek ♀ crocodile god, depicted as human with later seen as son of Neith temples at initially worshipped at Faijum oasis since Old Kingdom, his popularity was based on
Δ&■ crocodile head & double crown or sun wife Hathor & son Chons Crocodilepolis, the fierceful crocodile & use of this power to protect humans, often positioned as
Sobek-Re disc, god of water, Nile & land fertility Kom Ombo joint temple with Horus Medinet el- crocodile on shrines & altars, his temples always had small lakes with living
wearing sun disc & horns or feathers also linked with Re, Osiris, Amun Faijum & Kom crocodiles which were mummified on death
main god of Upper Egypt gau Waset Ombo, Gebel el-
Silsile
Ipet ♂ ■ hippo goddess, depicted standing in mother of Osiris Thebes, Karnak worshipped in New Kingdom
Opet mixed apprearance half hippo half with good character feeding & protecting king
crocodile and sometimes even showing
lion attributes
Reret ♂ ■ hippo goddess, shown with pregnant linked with Nut & Hathor as linked to northern star sign Draco with old polar star Thuban
belly & hanging breasts protectors of the sun no common worshipping
Banebdjedet early ram god, shown as ram, ram wife dolphin or fish goddess Mendes also see to have sexual power Medinet Habu text unification with Tatenen to
♀Δ&■ headed man or justr ram head, in New Hatmehit, son Harpokrates become father of Ramses III.
Kingdom ofter shown with 4 heads 2 each later extended link as soul of Re, necropolis at Mendes with mummified rams
looking forward & backward Osiris, Schu & Geb
Herischef ram god seen as creator god representing association with Osiris, Re & Atum Herakleopolis Already worshipped in 1st dynasty – Palermo stone
♀Δ&■ male sex, shown with long horns & royal seen as ba of Osiris & Re
dress & atef crown, sometimes sun disc
Uto ♂ ■ cobra goddess, some times shown as lion closely linked with Upper Egypt main temple together with goddess Nechbet protecting king, also shown breast feeding king
Wadjet goddess with cobra head vulture goddess Nechbet Buto her shrine called per -nu house of flames, cobra part of pharaoh diadem
main goddess of Lower Egypt gau Imet- also linked with Isis, mother of
pehti Nefertem
Weret Hekau cobra goddess some times shown with linked with goddess Uto present in New Kingdom by crowning ceremony to protect, feeding royal child
♂■ lion head several times depicted in tomb of Tutankhamun
Uraeus ♂ ■ goddess depicted as cobra with raised symbolized royal rule therefore worn by pharaohs on diadem head dress
head ready to strike

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


Deities of Day & Night Hours
Day Gods Night Goddess
1 Maat ♂ 1 goddess splitting heads of Re enemies
2 Hu - saying 2 the wise, guardian of her master
3 Sia - realization 3 soul destroying goddess
4 Asbet 4 the great in power
5 Igaret 5 the one in her barge
6 Seth 6 skillfull leaderess
7 Horus 7 defenderess of the snake – Apophis
8 Chons 8 ruleress of the night
9 Isis ♂ 9 the worshipping
10 Heka - magic 10 decapitating rebels
11 god who receives rope of sun barge 11 the star, defending rebels
12 god who protects at dawn 12 observing beauty of Re

Deities of 12 Gates of the Underworld


Gate God & Representation Characteristics of underworld area
1 gods at entrance, 4 ermattets 4 directions of sky
2 Apophis, 2 groups of the nine gods fire lake
3 goddesses of the night hours (see list above), Osiris & Horus lake of life, lake of cobras
4 gods of space & time, Osiris throne of Osiris
5 Osiris, Apophis, 12 gods able to stop round lake of fire
6 Osiris, the sacrated & punished dead poles of Geb
7 masters of supply in the west fields for storage
8 fire spying snake, sons of Horus (Hapi, Amset, Duamutef, Kebeschsenuef), ba souls waters of the drowned
9 gods with magic nets, Apophis area leading to surfacing
10 Apophis, face of Re, goddesses of the night hours (see list above) area limiting Apophis
11 gods who carry the bright light, sun rise baboons area just before sun rise
12 Isis, Nephthys, Nun, Nut, reborn sun sun rising out of arch ocean

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


Deities of 12 Underworld Caves
Only 6 in the tombs of Valley of Kings, but some mention 12 caves with differing gods.
Cave God & Representation Punishment at cave
1 snake guardian of the underworld, Osiris tied up, decapitated
2 flame spying snake, Osiris, deieties in sarcophagi tied up, decapitated, thrown over
3 Aker, fish headed gods, forms of Osiris thrown over, women
4 big snake, on her tummy, forms of Osiris thrown over, tied up, without bau
5 Nut, Osiris, Tatenen punished in cooking pots
6 Anubis, Horus, Osiris decapitated men, tied up women, punished bau and shadows
7
8
9
10
11
12

42 Deities of Death Trial


God Name Identification Crime God Name Identification Crime
1 one making big steps Heliopolis not telling truth 22 Xois commit missdeeds
2 one embracing flames Cheraha robbery 23 one with powerful voice from the holy place hotheaded
3 you with the peek Hermopolis greed 24 child Heliopolis gau deaf for the truth
4 shadow swallower from earth ditch theft 25 one with propheting voice wensi creating unrest
5 terrifying face Rosetau murder 26 basti from the schetit deceive someone
6 lion couple from heaven destruction of food 27 one looking behind him from the closed pit sex with boys
7 eyes like knifes Letopolis not being honest 28 hotfoot from dawn negligence
8 the burning one emerging turned theft of sacrifice goods 29 deceiver from disguisement fighting
9 bone crusher Herakleopolis lying 30 one fetching his victim Sais aggression
10 flame server Memphis theft of food 31 the multi faced nedjefet impacience
11 living in a pit from the west sulleness 32 accuser utjenet damage of god image
12 white tooth Faiyum aggression 33 master of double horn Assiut chattiness
13 blood sucker from the slaughter site killing a holy bull 34 Nefertem Memphis looking at the evil
14 intestine eater 30th judical court false oath 35 one not leaving anything Busiris magic against king
15 master of truth site of both truths theft of bread 36 one excercising his will Antaiopolis walking in water
16 the turned away Bubastis eavesdropping 37 Ihi from the arch ocean loud shouting
17 the shining Heliopolis gossiping 38 one ordering people from his shrine revilement, blackening
18 terrible snake Busiris quarreling 39 Neheb-Nefret from his temple arrogance
19 wamemti snake from the slaughter site adultery 40 Neheb-kau from his pit/town superiority
20 looks at what he delivers temple of Min sexual indecency 41 raised cobra from her chapel/pit unhonest wealth
21 highest of the elders Imau terrifying 42 whose arm fetches from the underworld blasphemy

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009


Gods of Canopic Jars
Name Form Organ Orientation Protecting god
Amset human liver south Isis
Duamutef jackal stomach east Neith
Hapi baboon lung north Nephthys
Kebechsenuef falcon intestines west Selket

www.ancient-cultures.info Main Egyptian Deities November 2009

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