|
|
|
Other cults and different gods developed over time, such as the creation myth concerning the god Ptah whose cult was based in Memphis, but the creation myth of Heliopolis is the most famous. |
Facts about the ancient Egyptian Creation Myth Creation Myth Fact File Name: The Creation Myth is also referred to as the as the Cosmogony of Heliopolis. The word Cosmology derives from the Greek words meaning 'universe' and 'origin or creation' Sun Deities: Sun worship and the concept of solar deities was developed in Egypt and a creation myth was required to make the evolving religion understandable to the ancient Egyptian people Heliopolis: A Creation Myth, involving a collection of nine gods, was developed in the ancient city of 'On', later renamed by the Greeks as Heliopolis. The ancient city was located at the triangular apex of the Nile river, about 10 km (6 miles) north of modern Cairo Ennead of Heliopolis: A collection of nine gods was called an Ennead. The creation myth told the story of the nine gods who made up the Ennead of Heliopolis. Names of the gods: The names of the gods referred to in the creation myth were Atum, later known as the Ra, the Supreme Solar God, Geb, Isis, Nephthys, Nut, Osiris, Set, Shu and Tefnut Facts about the Creation Myth in Egyptian Mythology Facts about the Creation Myth from Mythology and Egyptian History Fact 1: Creation myth summary: At first there was darkness and a primeval ocean called Nun. Fact 2: Creation myth summary: The Lotus emerged from of original silt (mud deposit) of the ocean and the Sacred Mound surfaced. Fact 3: Creation myth summary: The creator, Atum, was born from the lotus flower. Fact 4: Creation myth summary: The Tree of Life grew out of the Sacred Mound, it's branches reached out and supported the star and planet studded sky, while it's roots reached down into the watery abyss of the Underworld Fact 5: Creation myth summary: The trunk of the Tree of Life represented the World Pillar or Axis Munde (meaning "Axis of the Mound") around which the heavens appeared to revolve. The World Pillar was the centre of the universe. Fact 6: Creation myth summary: The source of four rivers was believed to be located at the foot of the Tree of Life, providing water to the world. Fact 7: Creation myth summary: The four rivers were oriented according to the cardinal points of the compass and are associated with the four elements:
Fact 8: Heliopolis was believed to be the point of creation and the birthplace of the divine family of gods Fact 9: The BenBen Stone was a pyramid-shaped stone that symbolized the Primeval mound of the Creation myth and was the dwelling place of the of the Sun god Atum-Ra. Fact 10: The Bennu Bird was believed to be a divine bird and the personification of the sun god Ra Fact 11: The Tree of Life was the Seat of the Bennu Bird. The fruit of the Tree of Life gave Eternal Life and the secret knowledge of the 'divine plan'. Fact 12: The Sun God Atum (later called Atum-Ra and eventually Ra) the Lord of Creation rose from the lotus and spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu) Fact 13: In the Creation myth summary the twins, Shu and Tefnut gave birth to the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut Fact 14: The God and Goddess Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephthys Facts about the Creation Myth from Mythology and Egyptian History Facts about the Creation Myth in Egyptian Mythology Facts about the Creation Myth from Mythology and Egyptian History Fact 15: Geb was the the "father of the gods" and he became the first king of Egypt and ruled with his wife Nut, the first queen of Egypt Fact 16: Osiris had a son called Horus by his sister, and wife, Isis and the three gods were the Abydos TriadFact 17: Osiris had a second son called Anubis by his sister Nephthys Fact 18: The evil Set was jealous of his brother Osiris who had become king of Egypt. Set murdered Osiris and cut his body into piecesFact 19: According to the Creation myth Anubis, the son of Osiris, helped Isis and her sister Nephthys to rebuild his body and Anubis presided over the first mummification. Fact 20: Osiris became the lord of the Underworld.Fact 21: The Sun god ruled the world but the humans turned against him and undermined his authority. The humans had to be punished. The "Eye of Ra", usually depicted as his daughter Hathor or his grandson Horus, passed judgement and many humans were killed. But Ra showed mercy, deciding that all humans should be judged at the end of their lives in the Underworld. Fact 22: The two main centers of religion in ancient Egypt were Heliopolis and Memphis. However, the cities of Hermopolis and Thebes were also important religious centers. All four of these cities, as centers of religion, had their own versions of the creation myth in order to stress the pre-eminence of their favored gods.Fact 23: The Ogdoad of Hermopolis (the Egyptian Khmunu) encompassed of a creation myth relating to aquatic gods represented by frogs and the goddesses represented by snakes consisting of four pairs of deities: Amun and Amaunet, Heh and Hehet, Kek and Keket, and Nun and Naunet Fact 24: The Triad of Thebes incorporated a creation myth centered on the god Amun, his consort Mut, the mother goddess, and their son, Khonsu, was the moonFact 25: The Triad of Memphis centred around the Cult of Ptah, his wife Sekhmet and their son was Nefertem Fact 26: The Elephantine Triad consisted of the three gods Khnum, Satet the war goddess of the flood or inundation and their daughter Anuket, the goddess of the cataractsFact 27: A Family tree of the Heliopolis Gods and Goddesses explained 'who was who' and what relationships they had with each other according to the Creation myth. Facts about the Creation Myth from Mythology and Egyptian History |
