Egyptian Creation myths

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Egyptian Creation myths
There were four theories however, each theory
holds that in the beginning, only a primordial,
stagnant ocean called Nu existed. In addition,
the four theories agree that out of Nu, rose the
primeval hill. Each cosmology believed it was
their temple that stood on this hill. The first
step-pyramids are no doubt symbolic of this
mound. All cosmologies share the belief that
creation was a slow process, not catastrophic.
Finally, they also all agree that there was a
"First Time, or a time period when the gods
actually lived on earth.
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Heliopolitan cosmogony
the Heliopolitan cosmogony develops the myth
further. The first event was the creation of
Amun, the god of Heliopolis. There is dispute
over whether he created himself, or was the son
of Nu. Some texts say he first appeared over the
hill, others say he was, himself, the hill.
Eventually, Atum became associated with Ra, the
sun-god. Ra-Atum at this point is said to be the
coming of the light to disperse the darkness of
Nu. His next task was to create other gods. He
did this by masturbation, not having a mate.
This was not offensive to ancient Egyptians, but
in fact intensified his power in their minds.
Ra-Amun gave birth by spitting out twins
Shu,the god of the air and Tefnut, goddess of
world order. Shu and Tefnut gave birth to Geb,
god of the earth, and his wife and sister, Nut,
goddess of the sky. Geb and Nut, in turn, were
the parents of Isis, Osiris, Nephthys, and Set.
Horus, another god was the son of Isis
and Osiris.
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Creator gods--Amun
King of gods, primeval, hidden power Thebes,
Hemopolis Magna
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Creator godsRa or Re
Creator, solar Heliopolis
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Creator god--Ptah
Creator, craftsman Memphis
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Creator god--Aten
Solar God worshiped by Akhenaten
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Nut, Geb and Shu
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Children of Nut and Geb
Isis and Nepthys
Osiris
Seth
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Death of Osiris
Osiris is the focus of a famous legend in which
he was killed by the rival god Seth. At a
banquet of the gods, Seth fooled Osiris into
stepping into a coffin, which he promptly
slammed shut and cast into the Nile. The coffin
was born by the Nile to the delta town of Byblos,
where it became enclosed in a tamarisk tree.
Isis, the wife of Osiris, discovered the coffin
and brought it back. (The story to this point is
attested only by the Greek writer Plutarch,
although Seth was identified as his murderer as
early as the Pyramid era of the Old Kingdom.)
Seth took advantage of Isis's temporary absence
on one occasion, cut the body to pieces, and
cast them into the Nile.
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Rescue of Osiris by Isis
Isis searched the land for the body parts of
Osiris, and was eventually able to piece
together his body, whole save for the penis,
which had been swallowed by a crocodile
(according to Plutarch) or a fish (according to
Egyptian texts). In some Egyptian texts, the
penis is buried at Memphis. Isis replaced the
penis with a reasonable facsimile, and she was
often portrayed in the form of a kite being
impregnated by the corpse of Osiris. In some
Egyptian texts, the scattering of the body parts
is likened to the scattering of grain in the
fields, a reference to Osiris's role as a
vegetation god.
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Osiris
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Isis
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Seth
God of chaos, infertility, desert, storm
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Horusson of Osiris and Isis
God of the sky, kingship, divine utterance and
authority
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Hathor
Goddess of love, fertility, sexuality,
music, dance, alcohol
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Hathor continued
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Anubis jackal-headed god of cemeteries and
embalming
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Bastet
Daughter of Ra, protective goddess
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Bes
Leonine dwarf who helped women in childbirth
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SekhmetLioness-headed goddess of healing
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Tawaret goddess of mothers pregnant women
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Maat goddess of order, truth, justice
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Thoth god of wisdom, protector of scribes
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Animal mummies
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Akh, Ba, and Ka
Baa bird symbolizing our concept of personality
Ibis symbolizing akhtransfigured spirit
Ka intimately linked with physical body