25 Egyptian Gods (biography, Personality and Legacy)

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

In this way, the attributes, offerings, prayers and other rituals dedicated to the Egyptian gods were exclusively aimed at gaining their sympathy and being able to count on their favors.

On the other hand, a well-known figure from Ancient Egypt is the Pharaoh who, in addition to governing, served as a link between the divinity and the people The citizens expressed all kinds of reverences to keep their gods “happy” and for them to maintain a state of order and permanent peace.

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.

1. Geb

He was the father god of Seth, Nephythys and Osiris, and was usually depicted as a man with a goose on his head. He was not attributed any type of cult due to his status as an earthly god. It 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 he represented (death).

3. Shu

Father of Nut and Geb, and husband of Tefnut. Together with his wife, They 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. Due to the composition of her body, thin, thin and elongated, symbolized heaven According to ancient Egypt, Nut swallowed the sun every evening and gave it light at dawn. The graphic representation of him is in many temples, as well as on 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 “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 final judgment. He was also associated with the process of mummification and preservation of bodies.

7. Amheh

He was a god of the underworld, whose name It had the meaning of “devourer of eternity” He was represented as a man with the head of a dog who lived in a lake of fire.

8. Anat

This female goddess was highly regarded in ancient Egyptian culture. Many temples were dedicated to him, since this represented the goddess of war. The god Ramses himself named his daughter Bint Anat (daughter of Anat in Arabic).

9. Kiss

Contrary to the rest of the gods, Bes was drawn looking forward, and not in profile He was a stocky, short-limbed being with his tongue sticking out, and was considered the god of childbirth. It is believed that Bes chased away demons at night and protected 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 with an ornamentation on his head 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 claim that he was a man with the head of a falcon, others as an entire falcon, and some claim that Horus was a child with curls sitting on his mother’s lap.

After killing the god Seth, he became the king of Egypt, he was 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 expert Egyptian mathematician and served as chancellor during the time of the Third Dynasty. He had his own tomb built in what would be his last home (it has been hidden since then and his whereabouts have still not been known).

13. Isis

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

When she resurrected Osiris, she gave life to Horus, so she was also considered the goddess of life, healing, and a protector of kings. For ancient culture, Isis represented the ideal, loving, devoted and affectionate 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 he was the one who brought civilization to the human race. Resurrected by his wife Isis, He thus became the god of the underworld and the main judge of death

16.Ra

He was the supreme god of the sun, represented as a man with the head of a falcon Every night she traveled to the underworld to fight evil and chaos, and at dawn she 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 represented as a man with a head with an elongated snout 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 kill Seth, in what was considered the battle between good and evil.

18. Tefnut

Goddess of humidity and corrosion, she was wife of Shu and mother of Nut and Geb. Along with her husband, she were the first gods created by Atum. She has been represented in two ways: woman with the head of a lion or like a lioness

19. Ptah

He was considered the creator of the world through his thoughts and prayers, and therefore he was considered the creator god. Ptah was related to the craftsmen and had a temple in his honor.

20. Nefertum

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

21. Mehen

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

22. Khonsu

His name means “traveler.”, perhaps 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 represented as a man with the head of a ram. Originally considered the source of the Nile River He was also considered the creator of children, making them from clay to place them in their mothers’ wombs.

24. Ishtar

She was the goddess of love, fertility, sex, war and power. She was the daughter of Anu. She was believed to be the divine personification of the planet Venus.

25. Khepri

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