25 Egyptian gods (biography, personality and legacy)

We explain the history behind the main divinities of the Nile lands.

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 civilian people, who were convinced of the control and supernatural powers that these divinities had, capable of altering the destiny of the people.

Thus, 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 of 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 him to keep their gods "happy" and that these maintained 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 of 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 of his own due to his condition of earthly god. He was a symbol of fertility, and earthquakes in Egypt were related to the god Geb with his laughter.

2. Ammit

The body of this female god was composed of three different animals: lion, crocodile and hippopotamus.. Unlike the rest of the gods, Ammit was considered a demon, and was feared for all that he represented (death).

3. Shu

Father of Nut and Geb, and husband of Tefnut. Together 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 thin, slender and elongated body, symbolized the sky. According to ancient Egypt, Nut swallowed the sun every evening and gave it light at sunrise. Its graphic representation is in many temples, as well as in the coffins of the dead.

5. Amun

This god was also known as Ammon, and was the main deity of the city. 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 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 carrying the dead to the day of their final judgment. He was also related to the process of mummification and preservation of the bodies.

7. Amheh

He was a god of the underworld, whose name meant "devourer". whose name 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 feminine goddess was highly regarded in ancient Egyptian culture. Many temples were dedicated to heras she represented the goddess of war. The god Ramses himself 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 in front, and not in profile.. He was a stocky, short-limbed being with his tongue hanging out, and was considered the god of childbirth. It is believed that Bes drove 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 belly and with an ornamentation on his head made of aquatic plants. It is believed that he lived in the caves of the river and his cult was built around 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.. His representation has always been diffuse: some Egyptologists claim that he was a man with the head of a falcon, others as a whole 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, was god of the sky and was considered the protector of the kings.

12. Imhotep

He was one of the few commoners who was granted a divine status.. He was an expert Egyptian mathematician and served as chancellor during the time of the Third Dynasty. He himself had his own tomb built in what was to be his last house (it has been hidden ever since and its whereabouts are still unknown).

13. Isis

A fundamental figure in the mythology of ancient Egypt, Isis was the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. She was related to funeral rituals and it is said that she created the first mummy. it is said that she created the first mummy with 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 the 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 is considered the Egyptian goddess of the palaces. 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. Resurrected by his wife Isis, thus became the god of the underworld and the chief judge of death..

16. Ra

He was the supreme sun god, depicted as a man with the head of a falcon. 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, so they were called "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 of elongated snout and long ears, possibly the skull of an aardvark. Seth killed his brother and stole the throne of Egypt from him, 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 been represented in two forms: woman with the head of a lion or as a lioness..

19. Ptah

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

20. Nefertum

According to Egyptian mythology, he 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, beautiful and strapping man.

21. Mehen

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

22. Khonsu

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

23. Khnum

One of the oldest Egyptian gods in mythology, he is depicted as a ram-headed man. Originally considered the source of the Nile RiverHe was also considered the creator of children by making them out of mud to introduce them into the wombs of their mothers.

24. Ishtar

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

25. Khepri

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