In Egyptian mythology there are approximately 2,000 gods or goddesses that were worshiped by the ancient
Egyptians. Some were major gods, (known to many, well represented and depicted throughout Egypt). Some
were minor gods, (less is known, specific roles). Below is a list of some common major and minor gods of
ancient Egypt.
See the Library Databases on the Nock webpage for more Gods and Goddesses of ancient Egypt
MAJOR GODS/ GODDESSES
Amaunet - A female counterpart to Amon and one of the primordial gods of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad (group
of eight gods). She was also worshipped at Thebes along with Amon and Mut.
Amon - Usually associated with the wind, or things hidden, and was also of the Hermopolitian Ogdoad. At
Thebes he became Amon-Re, king of the gods. He was part of the Theban Triad, along with Mut and Khonsu.
Antaios - He was originally a double god, "the two falcons", that was later joined to create one, probably that
of Horus.
Anuket - Worshipped at Elephantine, she was associated with the gazelle.
Apis - Seen as the bull with a solar disk between its horns, Apis was associated with Osiris and Ptah. Aton - Also
known as Aten, he was worshipped at Tell 'Amarna.
Atum - A primordial god that was represented in the form of a human and a serpent. He was the supreme god
in the Heliopolitan Ennead (group of nine gods) and formed with Re to create Re-Atum.
Hathor - The goddess of love, dance and alcohol was depicted as a cow. At Thebes she was also the goddess of
the dead. She was worshipped at Dendera as the consort of Horus and Edfu, and was associated with Isis at
Byblos.
Horus - The earliest royal god was the shape of a falcon, with the sun and moon as his eyes. The sky-god was
the ruler of the day. The many forms of Horus are; Re-Harakhti, Harsiesis, Haroeris, Harendotes, Khenti-irti,
Khentekhtay (the crocodile-god), and Harmakhis, which is Horus on the horizons, in which the Sphinx of Giza is
considered to be his aspect.
Isis - The mother of Horus and sister and consort of Osiris was worshipped at Philae. Associated with Astarte,
Hathor, Nut and Sothis, she was later worshipped over the entire Roman Empire.
Khnum - Resembling a human with a rams head, he was worshipped in Hypselis, Esna, Antinoe and
Elephantine.
Khonsu - the moon god was the son of Amon and Mut. The main temple at Karnak is dedicated to him.
Min - God of fertility coalesced with Amon and Horus. Min was mainly worshipped at Coptos and Akhmim.
Mut - Worshipped at Thebes, she was a consort of Amon and part of the Theban Triad (group of three gods).
Nut - Mother of the sun, moon and heavenly bodies.
Osiris - He is regarded as the dead king that watches over the nether world and is rejuvenated in his son
Horus. As the symbol of eternal life he was worshipped at Abydos and Philae.
Ptah - Worshipped in Memphis, he coalesced with Sokaris and Osiris.
Re - He was the sun god of Heliopolis. From the fifth Dynasty onwards he becomes a national god and is
combined with the supreme deity Amon.
Serapis - He was mainly worshipped in Alexandria and was later worshipped by the Greeks as Zeus. He was
never fully accepted by the Egyptians in the Ptolemaic period.
Sekhmet - She was part of the Memphite Triad with Ptah and Nefertem. She was the mistress of war and
sickness.
Seth - The son of Geb and Nut in the Heliopolitan Ennead was in the form of an animal that has no zoological
equivalent. This powerful god was regarded as god of the desert, making him a god of foreign lands.
Shu - He was an ancient cosmic power and was regarded as the god of the air and the bearer of heaven.
Sobek - He was a crocodile god and was worshipped at the Faiyum and Ombos. During the middle Kingdom he
coalesced with Re, Sobek-Re, and was worshipped as primordial deity and creator-god. Thoth - He was
worshipped as a baboon in Hermopolis. He was the god of sacred writings and wisdom.
Taweret- Taweret was called “The Great One.” She was a fierce demon goddess as well as a protective and
nurturing deity
Tefnut- Tefnut was the goddess of moisture, including clouds and dew
Thoth- Thoth was the ibis-headed god of ancient Egypt. He had many roles in the Egyptian pantheon of gods.
He was called “the heart and tongue of Re,”
Wadjet- Wadjet was the goddess of Lower Egypt (the northern region)
MINOR GODS/ GODDESSES
Aken
Ferryman of the Underworld
Ament
Greeter of the Dead
Anhur
Champion of Ra
Anuke
Goddess of War
As
Kindly God of the Desert
Banebdjetet God of Lower Egypt
Bes
Protector of Childbirth
Heset
Goddess of Plenty
Hike
God of Magic and Medicine
Imhotep
Lord of Science and Thought
Kabechet
Helper of Anubis
Mafdet
Goddess of Scorpions and Snakes
Mahes
The Lord of the Massacre
Mehen
Defender of the Sun Boat
Menhit
Lion-headed War Goddess
Mertseger
Guardian of the Valley of the Kings
Min
God of Fertility
Nefertem
Lord of the Sunrise
Pakhet
The Strength of Woman
Renenutet
Goddess of the Harvest
Satet
Goddess of the Inundation
Sons of Horus Gods of the Viscera and the Canopic Jars
Upuaut
The Opener of the Ways