Great Gods of Ancient Egypt: Creators of the Universe and Destiny

The Primordial Ogdoad in Egyptian Mythology

Egyptian creation myths are unique in that they place the universe, gods, and humans on the same level of creation, without distinguishing between them. Therefore, when discussing the creation of the universe, gods, and humanity, they are all considered part of the same process.

The Primordial Ogdoad: The Pre-Creation Chaos

The first stage of creation in Egyptian mythology involves the emergence of the Primordial Ogdoad, which represents the chaotic substance (primordial matter) that existed before the creation of the universe and the solar deity. This myth originates from Khnum (also known as Hermopolis or Khemenu) and states that, in the beginning, eight primordial deities existed above a mound that appeared in Khnum from the primordial ocean. These deities consisted of four divine pairs, each comprising a male and female counterpart. The males were depicted as frogs, symbolizing the watery abyss, while the females were depicted as snakes, symbolizing regenerative life. These deities are:

Nu and Naunet – Representing the primordial waters.
Heh and Hehet – Representing infinity and eternity.
Kek and Kauket – Representing darkness.
Qerḥ and Qerḥet – Representing night.

Some texts suggest that the fourth pair was actually Amun and Amunet, a later addition meant to emphasize the presence of Amun before the creation of the world.

The scene of these divine frogs and snakes was one of stillness and tranquility, as they embraced each other on the primordial mound of Khnum, existing in eternal silence.

eight primordial deities - Deckenrelief im Tempel von Dendera, Ägypten
Date: 7 March 2011- Source: Own work- Author:Olaf Tausch

The Second Stage of Creation: The Emergence of the Creator God

The Ogdoad gives us insight into an ancient, static creation enveloped by fundamental elements. However, the next stage of creation begins with movement within this still world. Egyptian theology and mythology contain multiple schools of thought regarding how the creator god emerged. While they generally agree that the creator god arose from the primordial watery abyss, they differ in defining the god’s nature and identity:

The Hermopolitan School continued its myth and introduced the solar deity Shepeshi as the creator god who emerged from the Ogdoad.
The Heliopolitan School asserted that the solar deity Ra also emerged from the primordial waters (Nun) in the form of Atum.
The Memphite School viewed Ptah as the creator god, who, upon taking his throne, embodied the spirit of the great watery abyss, containing both male and female aspects. Unlike the other schools, Ptah was not a solar deity but rather a logos-like god, possessing the ability to create through thought and speech (the heart and tongue).
The Theban School saw Amun as the creator god, incorporated as the fourth divine pair in the Ogdoad. He was perceived as an invisible, formless god with no father or mother, the divine breath from which all existence emerged.
The Amarna School took a significant monotheistic approach, asserting that the sole creator god was Aten, represented as the solar disk, with no god before or after him.
The Elephantine School believed in a creator god of a clay-water nature, represented by Khnum, the divine potter.
The Esna School proposed that the creator god was a female deity, Neith, the divine archer who emerged from the primordial waters in the form of a cow.

These varying traditions demonstrate that Egyptian mythology saw the creator god as either a solar deity like Ra, a craftsman deity like Khnum, or even a female deity like Neith. Additionally, many local and secondary gods were elevated to the rank of creator gods, though they did not possess the same universality and creative power as those already mentioned.

The Creation of the Sun God: The Child of the Ogdoad

In the first stage of creation, the eight primordial deities of the Ogdoad existed in a state of stillness, forming the primordial substance of the ancient world before creation. This myth was depicted in Hermopolis (Khnum), a name that refers to the eight deities, while the Greek name Hermopolis (City of Hermes) later associated the city with Thoth, the god of wisdom.

Before creation, the universe was composed of a vast, muddy, primordial ocean mixed with silt. The imagery of snakes and frogs was drawn from amphibious creatures emerging after the inundation of the Nile, where water and silt dominated the land.

One day, the Ogdoad stirred, and different versions of the myth describe the consequences of this movement:

In one version, they formed a cosmic egg from which the sun child
Another version claims they formed a lotus flower, which opened to reveal the sun child.
A third version suggests that the eight deities poured their seed onto the lotus flower, giving birth to the sun child.
A fourth version describes the Ogdoad transforming into black bulls and cows, which then merged into a single black bull named Amun and a cow named Amunet. The bull impregnated the cow, and its seed fell into the water, where a lotus flower bloomed. This flower took the form of a scarab with a ram’s head, which then transformed into a child sucking his finger while wearing a crown with a cobra, symbolizing the sun child.

Thus, the second stage of creation concluded with the emergence of the sun child, who was the solar deity known as Shepeshi of Khnum, the glorious son of the Ogdoad.

The Sun God Ra: The Creator of Heliopolis

The Heliopolitan School emphasized that the creator god was Ra, who manifested in three distinct forms, forming a solar trinity:

Khepri – The morning sun, symbolized by a scarab beetle.
Ra – The midday sun, symbolized by a stork.
Atum – The setting sun, symbolized by a serpent or lotus flower.

This solar trinity formed the foundation of the theology and mythology of Heliopolis, which held that the sun god first appeared in the form of Atum, emerging from the primordial waters (Nun)—a concept that encapsulates the Primordial Ogdoad. However, Atum had no firm ground to stand on, so he stood upon a mound and later ascended a Benben stone, a sacred obelisk in Heliopolis symbolizing the sun.

Atum, existing in solitude, united with his shadow or engaged in self-procreation, bringing forth two elements:

Shu – The god of air (masculine principle).
Tefnut – The goddess of moisture (feminine principle).

This event marked the completion of the Great Ennead, the nine gods of Heliopolitan cosmology.

The name Atum means “the one who has completed himself by absorbing all others,” implying that he absorbed all previous elements of creation. He was depicted as standing on the primordial mound, an image that aligns with the idea that early life forms emerged from the original mound of silt in the Nile. Some texts suggest that the gods themselves merged into Atum rather than just the first living creatures, reinforcing his role as the sole origin of creation.

The Creation of Atum

An ancient mythological text tells us how the god Atum created himself through his divine magical power. He declares:

"I am (Nu), I am the One and Only, there is nothing like me... I brought my own body into existence through my magical power; I created myself by myself and shaped myself according to my own desire, according to my will."

Thus, the solar creator god Atum took form and even controlled the primordial chaos that preceded him. However, Atum became a symbol of the aging, setting sun. Therefore, three divine forms were necessary: Khepri, Ra, and Atum—representing the rising, eternal, and setting sun, respectively. This forms the Heliopolitan Solar Trinity.Atum had two consorts: Iusaaset and Nebethetepet.

Ptah, the God of Memphis

The god Ptah was primarily conceptual rather than material, meaning he was not associated with a specific natural element like the sun, moon, air, or stars. Even his solar aspect was symbolic rather than literal, as every creator god in Egypt had to have some connection to the sun.

Ptah was the patron deity of artisans, builders, and inventors of crafts. His sacred animal symbol was the Apis bull.

The priests of Memphis depicted Ptah as the primordial creator and considered all known deities to be mere manifestations of him. From the moment he first ascended his throne, he was regarded as the spirit of the great primordial waters, encompassing both male and female divine forces represented by frogs and serpents.

Eventually, Ptah was recognized as the father of Atum, integrating him into the solar divine order due to his supreme and comprehensive nature.

Remains of a granite statue of Ramses II with the god Ptah (19. Dynasty) on the museum grounds of Memphis, Egypt Date 8 October 2014 Source Own work Author Olaf Tausch

Ptah and the Power of the Word

In essence, Ptah was a logos god, meaning he created the universe through the power of speech. His creation process involved two stages:

The first stage was hidden—the thought, represented by the heart.
The second stage was manifest—the spoken word, represented by the tongue.

Thus, Ptah brought forth the world, humans, gods, and all things merely by conceiving them in his mind and then uttering their names, which caused them to come into existence.

The Memphite Triad consisted of:

Ptah as the father
Sekhmet, the goddess of power, as the mother
Nefertum, the god of the lotus flower, as the son

The reason Ptah was regarded as the god of artisans is that when craftsmen sculpted, painted, shaped, or inscribed images, they were essentially creating representations of reality—mere forms or outlines that could be brought to life when Ptah spoke the sacred words.

For this reason, artisans were known as "Si-Ankh", meaning "those who bring life." This concept also explains how the Egyptians believed they could grant immortality to newly created objects through divine speech.

The triad of Memphis consisted of Ptah (father), Sekhmet (mother), and Nefertem (son) Date 9 January 2025 Source Own work Author Pharaoh Crab

Amun: The Hidden God of Thebes

The name of the god Amun means "the hidden one." He was the god of Thebes and, like Ptah, had a metaphysical nature, not taking on a physical form. The priests of Thebes elevated him as the eternal and primordial source of all gods. He was considered the supreme creator, the greatest deity who brought himself into existence—just like Atum. Since no other god existed before him to create him, he had neither a father nor a mother. He was invisible and was said to have been born in secrecy.

Amun remained alone until he fulfilled a predetermined period, after which he chose a sacred place to reside in. Because of this, he was symbolized by the serpent, and his dwelling was imagined to be in a distant underworld, with its entrance near the city of Habu, west of Thebes. This place was called "Iat-Thamo."

Amun bore two primary titles: "Amun-Renf" (meaning "hidden of name") and "Kam-Anef" (meaning "he who completed his term"). It seems that Amun was hidden in both name and form, yet when he engaged in the act of creation, he manifested himself through or alongside other known deities. However, he would soon return to his original, hidden state—his eternal, primordial form as "Kam-Anef."

His method of creation was absorptive, meaning that he assimilated the gods who preceded him and became their creator. This process reflects the nature of the New Kingdom, which demonstrated its ability to absorb all previous religious beliefs. Amun, more than any other deity, symbolized the golden age of Egyptian civilization, under whose banner Egypt flourished.

Thus, Thebes (Waset) was considered the first city to come into existence, representing the primeval waters (Nun) and the primordial mound where creation first emerged—formed by Amun himself.

The Theban Triad consisted of:

Amun, the supreme god
Mut, his wife, symbolized by the vulture
Khonsu, their son, the moon god, symbolized by the falcon

Aten: The God of Amarna

One of the most extraordinary events in the history of ancient religions, which often leaned towards polytheism, was Akhenaten’s introduction of the Aten cult.

Akhenaten proclaimed Aten, meaning "the solar disk" as the supreme god, depicting him as a radiant sun disk with rays ending in hands that granted life to all who sought it. Unlike other Egyptian deities, Aten was never represented in human or animal form.

Akhenaten, as the prophet of Aten, rejected the idea that Aten was part of the physical universe or a manifestation of nature. Instead, he envisioned him as the one and only creator, with no partners among the gods. His hymn to Aten reflects this belief:

"How many are your creations!
How much is hidden from us!
You are the one and only god, without equal.
You created the earth as you desired, alone.
You made it without a partner.
You created mankind, the animals, both large and small,
You made all that walks upon the earth
And all that flies with wings in the sky."

Khnum: The Potter God of Elephantine

Khnum, the god of the Nile’s cataracts, was worshiped from the earliest times as a local deity of the First Cataract region in Upper Egypt, particularly in Esna and other cities. He was regarded as a creator god, with his name deriving from the verb "khnm" meaning "to create." This suggests that he was a creator from the very beginning, rather than having creative attributes assigned to him later, as was the case with some other deities.

Khnum was believed to be the creator of gods, humans, and even the Nile itself. He was known as "the maker of all that exists and all that will be."

His sacred animal was the African ram, and he was often depicted as a man with a ram’s head, working at a potter’s wheel, shaping gods and humans from clay. His association with both water and clay present an interesting contrast to the sun-based creation myths, offering a different interpretation of divine creation.

The Triad of Elephantine consisted of:

Khnum, the creator god
Anuket, his wife, the "Lady of the Nile," symbolized by the gazelle
Satet, another wife, goddess of water and moisture, symbolized by the cow

Khnum was also given a solar aspect, sometimes depicted as receiving orders from the sun god Ra.

A hymn describes his creative power:

"Khnum-Ra, the potter god, who founded the earth with his arms,
The god who unites bodies in the womb,
The builder who ensures the prosperity of offspring,
Who breathes life into beings still in their infancy,
While he is surrounded by the great liquid circle,
And embraced by the divine currents."

Neith: The Archer Goddess of Sais

The seventh creator deity in Egyptian mythology was the goddess Neith, also known as "the Archer." She was the goddess of Sais in the Nile Delta and was associated with hunting and war. Neith's name appears as early as the pre-dynastic period, inscribed on Naqada pottery.

During the Old Kingdom, she was considered a daughter of Ra, but later she was called "the Mother of Ra" and became the wife of Khnum. Neith played a significant role in funerary beliefs as early as the Pyramid Texts.

Neith was depicted as a woman wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt, holding a bow and two crossed arrows.

Neith, an ancient Egyptian goddess, depicted with the red crown of lower Egypt. Date 9 January 2008, 20:16 (UTC)Source Own work Author Jeff Dahl

The Creation Myth of Neith

According to her creation myth, Neith emerged from herself within the primordial waters (Nun), while the world was still in darkness. She first took the form of a cow, then a fish, moving through the chaotic waters until she opened her eyes, bringing forth light.

She then raised the first mound amidst the waters, which was identified with Esna, also known as the "Land of Waters." Above this land, she hovered like a scarab beetle, marking the beginning of creation. Other regions of Sais followed, becoming the "Land of Repose," where the gods, the sun, and eventually the rest of the universe would come into being through the power of her word.

This creation myth uniquely blends both feminine (as a goddess) and masculine (through speech) methods of creation, offering a rare synthesis outside the traditional solar creation narratives.

Relief representing the goddess Neith, mistress of Sais - Temple of Luxor - Reign of Ramses II - 19th Egyptian dynasty Date 21 August 2005 Source personal work / Minolta DiMAGE Xt Author Naitsabes

A sacred text describes Neith’s creation:

"The father of fathers, the mother of mothers,
The divine being who initiated existence at the beginning,
She existed in the heart of the primordial waters (Nun).
She emerged from herself
While the land was still in darkness.
No plants had yet grown.
At first, she took the form of a cow,
Unknown to any god, anywhere.
Then she transformed into a fish
And began to move forward.
She opened her eyes, and there was light.
Then she spoke:
"This place where I exist shall become land within the waters!"
And so it became the "Land of Waters," the city of Sais.

Conclusion:

Egyptian mythology reflects the depth of religious thought and cosmic perceptions that prevailed throughout the ages. The gods played a central role in explaining the origins of the universe and organizing life. From Amun, the hidden deity, to Aten, the god of monotheism, and from Khnum, the potter-god of creation, to Neith, who emerged from the primordial waters—each deity embodies diverse beliefs that evolved over time. These gods were not merely religious figures but representations of natural forces, history, and Egypt’s rich cultural heritage. Through these myths, we can explore the legacy of a civilization that flourished for over three thousand years, leaving behind an intellectual and spiritual heritage that continues to inspire scholars and history enthusiasts today.