25 Egyptian gods (biography, personality and legacy)

The Egyptian gods were the fundamental figures for beliefs and rituals in Ancient Egyptian society.. These beliefs formed a complex system of interaction between the gods and the civil people, which were convinced of the control and supernatural powers that these divinities had, capable of altering the destiny of the people.

In this way, the attributes, offerings, prayers and other rituals dedicated to the Egyptian gods, were exclusively directed to win the sympathy of the same and to be able to count on their favors.

On the other hand, a well-known figure from Ancient Egypt is the Pharaohthat, in addition to governing, served as a link between the divinity and the people. The citizens expressed all kinds of obeisances to him to keep their gods "happy" and that they maintain a state of order and permanent peace.

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The most important Egyptian gods

Below you can find a list of the most significant Egyptian gods, with a brief description of each one and explanations about the influence they had throughout history.

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1. Geb

He was the father god of Seth, Nephythys, and Osiris, and used to be depicted as a man with a goose on his head. He was not attributed any type of worship of his own due to his status as an earthly god. She was a symbol of fertility, and the earthquakes in Egypt were related to the god Geb with his laughter.

2. Ammit

The body of this female god It was made up of three different animals: lion, crocodile and hippopotamus. Unlike the rest of the gods, Ammit was considered a demon, and was feared for everything she represented (death).

3. Shu

Father of Nut and Geb, and husband of Tefnut. Along with his wife, were the first Egyptian gods created by Atum. He was the god of air and sunlight; Shu's main task was to support the body of the goddess Nun and thus separate heaven from earth.

4. Nut

Mother goddess of Nephythys, Seth, Isis and Osiris. By the composition of her body thin, thin and elongated, he symbolized the sky. According to ancient Egypt, Nut swallowed the sun every evening and gave it light at morning break. The graphic representation of her is in many temples, as well as in the coffins of the dead.

5. Amun

This god was also known as Ammon, and he was the main deity of the city of Thebes. He was the patron of the pharaohs of the same city, and was placed at the highest level of the pantheon along with the god Ra. The fusion between Amun and Ra gave birth to the god Amun-Ra, and he was baptized as "the king of the gods".

6. Anubis

This god was represented as a man with the head of a jackal. Son of Seth and Nephythys, he was the protector of the dead. Anubis was in charge of bringing the dead to the day of their final judgment. It was also related to the process of mummification and preservation of bodies.

7. Amheh

She was a god of the underworld, whose name he had the meaning of "devourer of eternity". She was depicted as a canine-headed man who dwelt in a lake of fire.

8. Anat

This female goddess was highly regarded in ancient Egyptian culture. She was dedicated many templesher, since this she represented the goddess of war. The same god Ramses named his daughter Bint Anat (daughter of Anat in Arabic).

9. Bes

Contrary to the rest of the gods, Bes was drawn with his gaze straight ahead, and not in profile. He was a stocky, short-limbed being with his tongue sticking out, and he was considered the god of childbirth. Bes is believed to chase away demons at night and protect people from dangerous animals.

10. Hapi

He was the god who represented the flow of the Nile River. He was a man with large breasts and a belly and a head ornament made of aquatic plants. It is believed that he lived in the river caves and his cult was forged around the city of Aswan.

11. Horus

Main enemy of the god Seth, this god was the son of Isis and Osiris. The representation of him has always been diffuse: some Egyptologists assure that he was a man with the head of a hawk, others as a whole hawk and some claim that Horus was a curly child sitting on his mother's lap.

After killing the god Seth, he became the king of Egypt, he was the god of the sky and was considered the protector of kings.

12. Imhotep

He was one of the few commoners to be granted divine status.. He was an Egyptian mathematical expert and served as chancellor during the time of the Third Dynasty. He himself had his own tomb built in what would be his last home (it has been hidden since then and his whereabouts have not yet been known).

13. Isis

A fundamental figure in the mythology of ancient Egypt, Isis was the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus. He was related to funeral rituals and she is said to have created the first mummy with the dismembered remains of Osiris.

When she resurrected Osiris, she gave life to Horus, which is why she was also considered the goddess of life, healing, and a protector of kings. For ancient culture, Isis represented the ideal, loving, devoted and caring wife.

14. Nephythys

Daughter of Geb and Nut, sister of Isis, wife of Seth and mother of Anubis, this goddess was known as the "lady of the palaces". Like the goddess Isis, Nephythys she is considered the Egyptian goddess protector of the dead.

15. Osiris

One of the most important gods, he was the first king of Egypt. It was assumed that it was he who brought civilization to the human race. Risen by his wife Isis, he thus became the god of the underworld and the chief judge of death.

16. Ra

He was the supreme god of the sun, depicted as a hawk-headed man. Every night he traveled to the underworld to fight evil and chaos, and at dawn he was reborn. The Egyptian kings claimed to be direct descendants of Ra, which is why they called themselves "Sons of Ra".

17. Seth

He was the son of Geb and Nut, brother of Osiris. He was considered the god of darkness, confusion, and chaos. He was depicted as a man with an elongated snout head and long ears, possibly the skull of an aardvark. Seth killed his brother and he stole the throne of Egypt, and most of the gods hated him. Horus managed to finish off Seth, in what was considered the battle between good and evil.

18. Tefnut

Goddess of moisture and corrosion, she was the wife of Shu and mother of Nut and Geb. Together with her husband, they were the first gods created by Atum. She has represented it to him in two ways: lion-headed woman or like a lioness.

19. Ptah

She was considered to be the creator of the world through his thoughts and prayers, and therefore he was considered the creator god. Ptah was related to artisans and she had a temple in her honor.

20. Nefertum

According to Egyptian mythology, it was first a lotus flower that existed during the creation of the world and arose from the source of life. He was considered the son of the creator god, Ptah, and of the goddess Sekhmet. He was typically depicted as a handsome, stocky young man.

21. Mehen

Egyptian god represented by a large serpent, was also considered another protective deity. He raided the god Ra during his nocturnal descent into darkness (remember that Ra was the protector of good).

22. Khonsu

His name means "traveler"Maybe related to the trip he made to the moon every night. This god had a major role in the creation of life and creatures. In this way he was considered the god of the moon.

23. Khnum

He is one of the oldest Egyptian gods in mythology, and is depicted as a ram-headed man. Originally considered the source of the River NileHe was also considered the creator of children, making them out of clay to introduce them into their mothers' wombs.

24. Ishtar

She was the goddess of love, fertility, sex, war, and power. She was the daughter of Anu. It is believed that he was the divine personification of the planet Venus.

25. Khepri

This Egyptian god is the favorite of science fiction novels and movies. He was related to the blue beetle. Khepri symbolizes creation and rebirth. She was drawn to him as a man with the head of a beetle.