Ancient Egypt GODS AND GODDESES By Thomas Falzon.

AncientAncient EgyptEgypt

GODSGODS AND GODDESES AND GODDESES

Ra Ra Sun God: Sun worship and Sun God: Sun worship and

pyramids pyramids

The sun was just as important as the Nile The sun was just as important as the Nile in the Egyptian times. in the Egyptian times.

It was believed that the goddess Nut gave It was believed that the goddess Nut gave birth to the sun in the morning and birth to the sun in the morning and swallowed it at night. swallowed it at night.

The sun was so important in the Egyptian The sun was so important in the Egyptian times that it was known as a god called Ra. times that it was known as a god called Ra.

He was the most important god of all gods. He was the most important god of all gods.

Anubis Anubis God of Embalming: Mummies God of Embalming: Mummies

Anubis chief of all the dead. He looked Anubis chief of all the dead. He looked over all dead mummified Egyptians.over all dead mummified Egyptians.

He also invented the mummification He also invented the mummification process. process.

He had a human body with a black He had a human body with a black jackals head. His ears were pointed and jackals head. His ears were pointed and prickled.prickled.

Sometimes embalmers wore Anubis Sometimes embalmers wore Anubis masks when at work. masks when at work.

Osiris Osiris First pharaoh and tamer of the First pharaoh and tamer of the

land: Farming land: Farming

Egyptians believed that the God known Egyptians believed that the God known as Osiris was the first pharaoh. as Osiris was the first pharaoh.

He taught the early Egyptians to farm. He taught the early Egyptians to farm. He turned deserts into cropped lands He turned deserts into cropped lands where animals could graze. where animals could graze.

Osiris was chief god of the underworld. Osiris was chief god of the underworld. In most images he is seen on mummies In most images he is seen on mummies

bandages bandages

Bes Bes God of family and health: The God of family and health: The

Egyptian home Egyptian home

Bes protected the home and was God of Bes protected the home and was God of family life.family life.

He was favoured by pregnant woman He was favoured by pregnant woman and woman who hoped to be pregnant. and woman who hoped to be pregnant.

His image was painted on to bedroom His image was painted on to bedroom furniture to ensure a good nights rest furniture to ensure a good nights rest and to protect you from nightmares. and to protect you from nightmares.

Ma‘ at was the patron saint of judges so Ma‘ at was the patron saint of judges so they often wore her as part of their they often wore her as part of their uniform. uniform.

She was known as the woman who wore a She was known as the woman who wore a feather on here head and often wore a feather on here head and often wore a dress that was patterned with feathers. dress that was patterned with feathers.

Ma’ at was the one who made sure that Ma’ at was the one who made sure that the seasons changed, the stars moved the seasons changed, the stars moved and the gods and humans were in and the gods and humans were in harmony. harmony.

Ma‘ at Ma‘ at Goddess of truth: The weighing of Goddess of truth: The weighing of

the heart the heart

Thoth Thoth God of wisdom: Writing and God of wisdom: Writing and

scribesscribes Thoth was usually shown as a man with Thoth was usually shown as a man with

the head of a ibis bird but could be shown the head of a ibis bird but could be shown as a total ibis bird or a baboon. Both were as a total ibis bird or a baboon. Both were sacred to him. sacred to him.

In temples dedicated to him thousands of In temples dedicated to him thousands of ibis were bred in captivity and most were ibis were bred in captivity and most were mummified. mummified.

At the temple Hermopolis, there is a At the temple Hermopolis, there is a cemetery for mummified baboons buried cemetery for mummified baboons buried in tunnels. in tunnels.

Ptah Ptah The creator god: Craft The creator god: Craft

In the beginning Ptah created the world and In the beginning Ptah created the world and molded the other gods out of precious metals molded the other gods out of precious metals such as gold and silver. This is how he became such as gold and silver. This is how he became patron saint of craftsmanship. patron saint of craftsmanship.

He was worshiped in a place in northern Egypt He was worshiped in a place in northern Egypt called Memphis. There he became chief god called Memphis. There he became chief god and had a great temple named after him. and had a great temple named after him.

He then married Sekhmet a terrifying goddess He then married Sekhmet a terrifying goddess with the head of a lion. Her name means ‘the with the head of a lion. Her name means ‘the powerful one’ and she haunts those who are powerful one’ and she haunts those who are enemies to her father, Ra. enemies to her father, Ra.

Amun Amun King of the gods: Karnak temple King of the gods: Karnak temple

Amun is one of the greatest gods of the Amun is one of the greatest gods of the Egyptian era. Egyptian era.

By the time the new kingdom had been By the time the new kingdom had been built he was king of all gods. His most built he was king of all gods. His most important temple, at Karnak, made lots of important temple, at Karnak, made lots of money and soon became the richest in the money and soon became the richest in the land. land.

It was said that Ra and Amun joined forces It was said that Ra and Amun joined forces and were sometimes called Amun-Ra.and were sometimes called Amun-Ra.

His name means ‘the hidden one’. His name means ‘the hidden one’.

Hathor Hathor Goddess of festivals: Music and Goddess of festivals: Music and

feasting feasting Hathor has one of the best loved goddess of Hathor has one of the best loved goddess of

all time. This is because she was associated all time. This is because she was associated with Love, happiness, music and festivals. with Love, happiness, music and festivals.

She was described in three different ways: A She was described in three different ways: A woman wearing a head dress of a sun disk woman wearing a head dress of a sun disk with two cow horns either side of the sun with two cow horns either side of the sun disk; A woman with little cow ears sticking disk; A woman with little cow ears sticking out of a curly wig or a cow. out of a curly wig or a cow.

She was mother to pharaohs and they were She was mother to pharaohs and they were sometimes called ‘son of hathor’ sometimes called ‘son of hathor’

Seth Seth Wicked god of the sky: Crime in Wicked god of the sky: Crime in

ancient ancient

Seth was the most evil Gods of all the Egyptian Gods. Seth was the most evil Gods of all the Egyptian Gods. Seth is the god of Chaos, confusion and violent Seth is the god of Chaos, confusion and violent

weather. weather. In Egyptian times Seth murdered his brother, Osiris, In Egyptian times Seth murdered his brother, Osiris,

and then scattered the pieces all over the land. and then scattered the pieces all over the land. He appeared with a forked tail with cloven hooves He appeared with a forked tail with cloven hooves

with large pricked ears, a snout and a monstrous with large pricked ears, a snout and a monstrous head. Although he sometimes took the shape of head. Although he sometimes took the shape of frightening animals.frightening animals.

Khnum Khnum God of the river Nile: Religion and God of the river Nile: Religion and

the river the river The river Nile was essential to the Egyptians for The river Nile was essential to the Egyptians for

survival because in the Egyptian times it barely survival because in the Egyptian times it barely ever rained so it was main source of water. ever rained so it was main source of water.

Every July the Nile would overflow and both Every July the Nile would overflow and both sides would be covered in a thick black mud. sides would be covered in a thick black mud. This was called Inundation and was so vital it This was called Inundation and was so vital it had its own god. had its own god.

Khnum was in charge of the river and Khnum was in charge of the river and Inundation. Inundation.

Inundation was so important because if it did Inundation was so important because if it did not happen all crops would die.not happen all crops would die.

Horus Horus God of kingship: Government and God of kingship: Government and

administration administration Horus had a mother and father called Isis and Osiris Horus had a mother and father called Isis and Osiris

and is often shown as a child. and is often shown as a child. He became divine protector and god of every pharaoh. He became divine protector and god of every pharaoh. He was closely linked with the pharaohs in whose hands He was closely linked with the pharaohs in whose hands

the administration of the whole land of Egypt was the administration of the whole land of Egypt was placed. placed.

In a battle a between Horus and his uncle Seth, Horus’s In a battle a between Horus and his uncle Seth, Horus’s eye was torn out, shredded and thrown in the sea. eye was torn out, shredded and thrown in the sea. Thoth retrieved and fixed the eye. He then gave the Thoth retrieved and fixed the eye. He then gave the healed eye to his dead father. He then tried to heal his healed eye to his dead father. He then tried to heal his father with the eye. It was a symbol of healing and father with the eye. It was a symbol of healing and

power.power.

There are There are many amazing many amazing stories about stories about the gods but the gods but I'm just going I'm just going

to tell you to tell you about my about my

favourite. favourite.

Long ago Seth killed his Long ago Seth killed his brother so his cousin, brother so his cousin, Horus, set him a Horus, set him a challenge of racing in challenge of racing in stone boats. Seth made a stone boats. Seth made a fine but heavy boat which fine but heavy boat which sank immediately. Horus sank immediately. Horus was a bit more clever he was a bit more clever he made a boat out of wood made a boat out of wood and made it look like and made it look like stone. He won and Seth stone. He won and Seth was sentenced to the was sentenced to the skies were he became skies were he became God of thunderstorms. God of thunderstorms.

I hope you enjoyed my slide show I hope you enjoyed my slide show

ReferencesReferences

McCall Henrietta, McCall Henrietta, Gods & Goddesses in the Daily Life of the Ancient EgyptiansGods & Goddesses in the Daily Life of the Ancient Egyptians, 2002, Hodder , 2002, Hodder Wyland.Wyland.

Ashworth Leon, Ashworth Leon, Gods and Goddesses of Ancient EgyptGods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2006, Evans publishing Group., 2006, Evans publishing Group.