Egyptian Creation myths
There were four theories; however, each theory holds that in the
beginning, only a primordial, stagnant ocean called Nu existed. In
addition, the four theories agree that out of Nu, rose the primeval hill.
Each cosmology believed it was their temple that stood on this hill. The
first step-pyramids are no doubt symbolic of this mound. All
cosmologies share the belief that creation was a slow process, not
catastrophic. Finally, they also all agree that there was a "First Time,“
or a time period when the gods actually lived on earth.
Heliopolitan cosmogony
the Heliopolitan cosmogony develops the myth further. The first event
was the creation of Amun, the god of Heliopolis. There is dispute over
whether he created himself, or was the son of Nu. Some texts say he first
appeared over the hill, others say he was, himself, the hill. Eventually,
Atum became associated with Ra, the sun-god. Ra-Atum at this point is
said to be the coming of the light to disperse the darkness of Nu.
His next task was to create other gods. He did this by masturbation, not
having a mate. This was not offensive to ancient Egyptians, but in fact
intensified his power in their minds. Ra-Amun gave birth by spitting out
twins: Shu,the god of the air and Tefnut, goddess of world order. Shu
and Tefnut gave birth to Geb, god of the earth, and his wife and sister,
Nut, goddess of the sky. Geb and Nut, in turn, were the parents of Isis,
Osiris, Nephthys, and Set. Horus, another god was the son of Isis and
Osiris.
Creator gods--Amun
King of gods, primeval, hidden power
Thebes, Hemopolis Magna
Creator gods—Ra or Re
Creator, solar
Heliopolis
Creator god--Ptah
Creator, craftsman
Memphis
Creator god--Aten
Solar God worshiped by Akhenaten
Nut, Geb and Shu
Children of Nut and Geb
Isis and Nepthys
Osiris
Seth
Death of Osiris
Osiris is the focus of a famous legend in which he was killed by the
rival god Seth. At a banquet of the gods, Seth fooled Osiris into
stepping into a coffin, which he promptly slammed shut and cast into
the Nile. The coffin was born by the Nile to the delta town of Byblos,
where it became enclosed in a tamarisk tree. Isis, the wife of Osiris,
discovered the coffin and brought it back. (The story to this point is
attested only by the Greek writer Plutarch, although Seth was identified
as his murderer as early as the Pyramid era of the Old Kingdom.)
Seth took advantage of Isis's temporary absence on one occasion, cut
the body to pieces, and cast them into the Nile.
Rescue of Osiris by Isis
Isis searched the land for the body parts of Osiris, and was
eventually able to piece together his body, whole save for the penis,
which had been swallowed by a crocodile (according to Plutarch)
or a fish (according to Egyptian texts). In some Egyptian texts, the
penis is buried at Memphis. Isis replaced the penis with a reasonable
facsimile, and she was often portrayed in the form of a kite being
impregnated by the corpse of Osiris. In some Egyptian texts, the
scattering of the body parts is likened to the scattering of
grain in the fields, a reference to Osiris's role as a vegetation god.
Osiris
Isis
Seth
God of chaos, infertility, desert, storm
Horus—son of Osiris and Isis
God of the sky, kingship, divine utterance and authority
Hathor
Goddess of love, fertility, sexuality,
music, dance, alcohol
Hathor continued
Anubis: jackal-headed god of
cemeteries and embalming
Bastet
Daughter of Ra,
protective goddess
Bes
Leonine dwarf
who helped women
in childbirth
Sekhmet:Lioness-headed
goddess of healing
Tawaret: goddess of mothers &
pregnant women
Maat: goddess of order, truth,
justice
Thoth: god of wisdom,
protector of scribes
Animal mummies
Akh, Ba, and Ka
Ibis symbolizing
akh—transfigured
spirit
Ba—a bird symbolizing
our concept of personality
Ka: intimately linked
with physical body