Egyptian

Ra (or Re)

The sun god who emerged from a primeval egg or flower. Father of Shu, Tefnut, Geb, and Nut. Travels the sky by day and the underworld by night, fighting the serpent Apep (Apep). Portrayed with a falcon head and sun disk.

The Ennead

The "group of nine" gods worshiped at Heliopolis (Ra, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys). Alternatives included the enneads of Memphis (led by Ptah) and Thebes (led by Amon).

Osiris

God of the underworld, judge of the dead, and god of vegetation. Murdered and dismembered into 14 pieces by his brother Set; resurrected by his wife Isis. Represented as a green mummy wearing the Atef (plumed crown).

Isis

Goddess of love, motherhood, and fate; daughter of Geb and Nut. Recovered the pieces of Osiris to resurrect him and conceived Horus. Tricked Ra into giving her power by poisoning him with a snake. Equated with the Greek Demeter.

Set (or Seth)

God of violence, disorder, and disasters; murderer of his brother Osiris. Fought the demon Apep daily but later became associated with evil. Defeated and emasculated by his nephew Horus.

Horus

Sky god and son of Isis and Osiris. Avenged his father by driving away Set; lost an eye in the battle (restored by Thoth). Represented as a falcon or the child Harpocrates. All pharaohs were considered aspects of him.

The Afterlife (Soul)

Consists of the Ka (remains with the body), the Ba (travels to the underworld to merge with Osiris), and the Akh (wanders as a ghost).

Judgment of Osiris

Occurs in the Hall of Double Justice. The heart of the deceased is weighed against the feather of Ma’at (ostrich feather). If the heart is heavier than the feather, the soul is devoured.

Aton (or Aten)

Represented as the disk of the sun. The focus of a monotheistic period under Pharaoh Akhenaton (Amenhotep IV). Worship centered at Tell-al-Amarna but was ended by Tutankhamen.

Amon

Local god of Thebes governing air and fertility; often linked with Ra as Amon-Ra. Identified with Zeus/Jupiter. Associated with the ram; his temple at Karnak was the largest ever built.

Thoth

Supreme scribe and ibis-headed god of hieroglyphics, magic, and science. Created the calendar and served as the "tongue of Ptah." Consulted by Isis to resurrect Osiris and associated with the Greek Hermes.

Ptah

Principal god of Memphis who created the universe by an act of will. Patron of craftsmen and god of embalming; portrayed as a mummy or a healer dwarf. Husband of the cat-headed Sekhmet.

Anubis

Jackal-headed god of embalming and watcher of tombs; son of Osiris and Nephthys. Introduces the dead to the afterlife and weighs their hearts against the feather of truth.

Ma’at

Daughter of Ra and goddess of balance, order, and justice. Responsible for seasons and celestial movements. Her ostrich feather is used in the judgment of the dead.

Hathor

Patron of women and goddess of the sky, fertility, and beauty. Daughter of Ra and wife of Horus; portrayed with the head of a cow. Equated with Aphrodite and Venus.

Nephthys

"Lady of the Castle" and guardian of tombs; sister of Isis and wife of Set. Sided with Osiris against Set and helped collect his body pieces. Mistress of Osiris and mother of Anubis.