Tip 1: How many gods were in ancient Egypt

The science

Tip 1: How many gods were in ancient Egypt

The exact number of gods in the Ancient Egyptianreligion is unknown, their pantheon numbered at least several hundred major deities, as well as many other mythological creatures. Modern Egyptologists know the names of about 150 gods.

Number of ancient Egyptian gods

Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex system,which went through several stages of development for its many thousands of years of history, included many different cults and had a very extensive pantheon of gods, deities, deified concepts, and monsters, different essences and other mythical phenomena. Until now, information has only reached about one and a half hundred gods, but Egyptologists are sure, but in fact they were much more.

There were general Egyptian deities in which the entire territory of the state was believed, and local gods belonging to certain cities, regions or settlements.

The history of the appearance of the ancient Egyptian gods beganin ancient times, when in the territory of ancient Egypt was widespread totemism. For millennia, the totems acquired more human traits and became deities that did not completely get rid of animistic features - almost all representatives of the pantheon symbolized any animals, birds, fish, insects. Moreover, their names were denoted by ideograms in the form of corresponding animals or creatures. For example, the name of Thoth's god was denoted by the figure of the ibis, Mut-griffin, Unut-hare. Anthropomorphic ancient Egyptian deities remained until the disappearance of this religion and the adoption of the Egyptians by Christianity.

The most famous ancient Egyptian gods

In Ancient Egypt there were a number ofstrong, most revered, basic deities that were spread throughout the state. As in other ancient religions, the central place among this list was occupied by the sun god Amon, personifying wisdom. He was associated immediately with two animals - a sheep and goose, which were considered wise. Egyptologists believe that his cult first appeared in Thebes, but quickly spread throughout ancient Egypt. Together with his wife Mut and son Khonsu, they constituted the so-called Theban Triad. Another famous sun god in ancient Egypt was Ra, connecting the images of a falcon, a cat and a man. Ancient Egyptian myths tell us that Ra races in the boat on the heavenly Nile during the day, and in the evening transplanted to another barge and continues to swim along the underground Nile.

In the Middle Kingdom, Amon and Ra united, forming a deity under the name Amon-Ra. He began to be called the father of all pharaohs and the main god.

The Patron of the Dead in Ancient Egyptian Religionwas Anubis, the son of Osiris, who, in turn, also belonged to the pantheon of the basic deities - he was responsible for natural forces, patronized agriculture, winemaking, healing, urban construction. Seth was considered the personification of evil, he was portrayed as a man with a donkey's head. The God of wisdom and sciences was named One, the inventor of the calendar, letters and accounts.

Tip 2: The most famous gods of Ancient Egypt

The lord of ancient Egypt was always Pharaoh,considered the son of God. However, among the ancient Egyptian people, the deities themselves were particularly revered, the number of which numbered more than one hundred representatives. The gods were worshiped, erected in honor of them majestic structures and made legends.

The most famous god of Ancient Egypt is consideredAmon (Ra). Amon was the god of the Sun, and also was the god of all the famous Egyptian gods. Often the image of Amun can be found in the form of a man, but instead of a human head the ram's head is represented. This is not accidental, because in ancient Egypt the ram is a symbol of wisdom.

The goddess Naunet is the goddess of water, who has a looksnakes. She is part of the group of gods who created the world. It should also be attributed to - the god Noon (has the appearance of a frog), the god Hut (as Nun is portrayed as a frog) and the already famous god Amon.

God of Horus is the god of heaven and sun. Often this deity can be met with the head of a falcon, however, there are other images of Horus.

God Osiris is known as the father of Horus. After the god of Osiris was killed by his brother Seth, Horus resurrected his father and he became the god of the afterlife. This god can be recognized by the color of the skin, which was green.

The goddess Isis is known as the mother of Horus, as well as the wife and sister of the god Osiris. The goddess Isis of the Egyptians is the patroness of fertility, a symbol of faithful matrimony and intercession of women in childbirth.

God Seth is the brother of Osiris, whom he killed, so Seth is the personification of all evil. The animals depicted by Osiris are a pig and a donkey.

God Anubis is known as the patron of dead people. This god can be found with the head of a dog, more often a jackal. But soon he was replaced by Osiris who came.

There were in ancient Egyptian mythology and other deities, which were worshiped by the ancient people of Egypt.

Tip 3: What gods were worshiped by the Egyptians

Before the rise and spread of Christianityreligious beliefs of the Egyptians were very diverse. For thousands of years the religion of Egypt has gone through several stages of its development. The gods changed, and with them religious rituals arose and disappeared.

Instructions

In ancient Egypt, there was somea kind of a single religion, which at the same time was combined with multiple cults of local gods. Focusing on worshiping one of the idols, the Egyptians still recognized other deities. For this reason, the religious structure of Ancient Egypt is considered to be polytheistic. The tendencies of monotheism were manifested first of all in the emergence of the cult of the god Aton.

The inhabitants of Egypt in ancient times were sure that the worldand the life of every man is wholly governed by the gods. They were depicted on the walls of temples, in honor of the gods they created majestic sculptures. Images of the gods can be found in the burials of the palace nobility and the pharaohs. It is believed that the Egyptian pyramids were one way to perpetuate the divine nature of the rulers of the country.

Legends say that all the living things in the world were born by GodAtum, who came to the world from chaos and utter darkness. He created the god Shu and his companion goddess Tefnut. Shu was a reflection of the inextricable connection between heaven and earth, and Tefnut personified a feminine principle that gave life to all life. From the marriage union of these deities, other gods were born, each of whom was responsible for one of the elements.

Perhaps the most famous religious characterEgypt - the god Osiris. Up to the present, a beautiful legend has come about how he came into being, how to rightly rule the people, caring for the needs of every person. Osiris in his deeds helped the goddess Isis, who was distinguished by wisdom and faithfulness to her husband. The myth of Osiris reflects the aspirations of ordinary Egyptians who were convinced that justice in the world entirely depends on the will of the gods.

One of the central deities in the systemreligious beliefs of the Egyptians eventually became the god of Ra. He represented the power and energy of the Sun. Every day Ra rose to the zenith through the great sky, and by sunset again descended to the ground, where he courageously fought with the forces of darkness, invariably defeating them. In daily battles with evil he was helped by the god of wisdom That. His divine nature was determined by the moon.

By the time of the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep IVrefers to the heyday of the cult of the god Aton. He was the embodiment of the solar disk and absorbed the features of many other Egyptian deities. In an effort to strengthen his personal authority, Amenhotep IV declared Aton the only god for all Egyptians. Throughout the time of the reign of this pharaoh, worship of other gods was forbidden.

This is only a small part of the huge pantheon of the gods,which at various times worshiped the Egyptians. The inhabitants of Egypt also with great reverence and sacred trepidation related to the Nile River, on which the life of the country's population depended largely. The full-blooded Nile was worshiped, considering him a deity, prayers and hymns were added in honor of him.