List of Egyptian Characters These Egyptian gods and mythological creatures can be used in addition to any human characters you may wish to include in your comic book. Amon-Re (Re) God of the Sun • The original god of the sun. He sails his boat across the sky between heaven and earth. Amon-Re is the main god of Thebes, the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom and he eventually became the supreme state god of Egypt. Amon-Re is usually depicted with a large crown. Sometimes the crown also has a sun-disc. Many New Kingdom pharaohs started wearing a similar crown to show their devotion to Amon-Re. Nut Goddess of the Heavens and Sky • Nut (Nuht) Nut was the goddess of the sky. She is shown with her body shaped in an arch across the horizon. She wears a dress of stars. Nut is a mother to Isis, Osiris, Seth. It was believed that at days end, the sun god Ra was swallowed by her, and that he was reborn the following day. Osiris God of the Afterlife • Osiris (O-Si-Ris) was the king of the after life, and he was supposed to look like a handsome man and was wrapped in mummy cloth. He was in the mummy wrap because he was the first God/person to enter the afterlife. He judges over the Underworld, where he judges the newly dead to see if they are worthy to enter the afterlife. He holds the flail and crook, which are the symbols of power and rule in Egypt. Horus God of Sky and pharaoh • Horus – Was the son of Isis and Osiris. Horus avenged the death of his father (Osiris) by killing his murderer, the god Seth. During the battle he lost an eye which was renewed by Isis. In Egyptian art, the “Eye of Horus” represents renewal and protection. When people die, Horus leads them to the underworld where their hearts will be weighed against the feather of truth to determine if they are worthy. Seth (set) God of the desert, storms, darkness, and chaos • Seth – The evil brother of Osiris. Seth represents the lord of the desert and the god of storms, violence, and disorder. His battle the other gods, especially with the sky god Horus shows us the battle of night against day, and the conquest of good over evil. He is represented with the head of an unidentified animal. Usually considered to be one of the most power of the gods. Isis Goddess of Magic and Healing • Isis – She is sister and wife to Osiris, the goddess of magic and healing. Isis protected new mothers and she helped bring her husband Osiris back to life after he was killed by the evil god Seth. Egyptians believed that the tears of Isis (for her dead husband) cause the Nile River to flood each year. To show the power of Isis she is depicted with a royal throne on her head. Anubis God of the Dead • Anubis – The god of the dead, Anubis is shown with the head of a Jackal. Anubis is the god of the embalming process and is present during the mummification process. Priests wore an Anubis mask while they prayed over a newly created mummy. Anubis is in charge of guarding the entrance to the underworld and the scales used to determine a person’s worthiness. H’apy (Hapi) God of the Nile River • H’apy – The god of the Nile River, H’apy was responsible for the yearly flooding of this precious river. Because of the importance of the Nile River to Egypt, H’apy is also believed to have helped create the world. He is usually shown as a long haired man with papyrus and lotus flowers (two Nile plants) growing out of his head. He lives in a cave at the source of the Nile River. Hathor Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Dancing • Hathor – She was the goddess most associated with female beauty and grace. She is often depicted as a beautiful women with the head of a cow containing the sun disc. Women prayed to Hathor to help them during childbirth and Hathor also welcomed women into the afterlife. Hathor was linked to joy and happiness and was one of the most popular gods. Ammit Little Monster • Ammit – Not really a god, Ammit was a little creature/monster. He is part crocodile, part hippo, and part lion. Ammit devours (eats) the souls of anyone who is judged unworthy of entering the afterlife. A soul that was eaten by Ammit “died a second time” and had to wander the earth forever. Ammit was the creature responsible for punishing people for all of the wrongs they had committed during their lives. The Sphinx • Imaginary creatures with the head of a human and the body of a lion, Sphinxes were used to guard the entrance to tombs and temples. The largest sphinx is 241 feet long and guards the Great Pyramids at Giza. The origin of the Sphinx is a mystery but some people think the Sphinx is meant to represent the pharaoh’s role as protector of the Egyptian people.