Egyptian Mythology

Ancient Egyptian Amulets And Their Meanings

Ancient Egypt places a lot of importance on amulets. Amulets were worn around the neck of the living and used to adorn the dead. The word “amulet” originated from the Arabic language, which stands for “to carry” or “to bear” in the English language. In the dynastic period, amulet means protector.

Simply put, an amulet refers to an object created for a particular purpose, and it can equally be carried about worn on any part of the body. Amulets are not just used for fashion purposes; they are believed to carry magical powers. They can be worn around the arm or neck. They are usually used for protection, love, and several other purposes, depending on what the particular amulet is designed for. See Egyptian Jewelry for more on this.

In ancient Egypt and Egyptian mythology they are equally included in mummy’s wrappings; it is believed that the amulets protect and prepare the dead for his journey through the underworld. The amulet can equally protect the dead in the afterlife.

Amulets are available in many forms and shapes. They are also made with different materials, with each of them having a different meaning. The shape and material also determine the purpose of its use. Amulets can protect the mind and the body of the wearer from evil forces, both visible and invisible. They can equally confer special magical power on the wearer.

In this write-up, we will look at the various types of amulets and their meanings.

Types of amulets

Amulets are classified into two groups:

Those carrying magical formulae and verses
Those not carrying magical formulae or verses

Meaning

Amulet of the hearts

The heart is seen as .the sear of life and power in ancient Egypt. It is also seen as the source of good and evil. Also, the heart refers to the conscious part of the human mind. Considering the purpose described above. The heart can be considered as a precious part of the body that should not be lost. This is a good reasons why people guide it with a very strong sense of purpose, both in life and death.

Those involved in mummification give special .attention to the heart and the lungs to preserve them by placing them in a pitcher or a jar, after which they are placed under the protection of Tuamutef. After removing the heart from the mummy, it is replaced with the Amulet of Hearts.

Amulet of the Scarab

It is also called kheper. . It is an insect with great influence in Egyptian civilization. It held sway for several years. It first became a popular object for making amulet during the period of building pyramids. The insect represented several sets of beliefs that dated further than these beliefs that prevailed in ancient Egypt.

People of ancient .Egypt saw the scarab as the symbol of the sun and most potent of all symbols for making amulets. It is believed that the symbol can resurrect, transform and protect. It is believed in ancient Egypt that an amulet made of scarab can provide adequate protection for the dead soul.

The amulet can also contain verses that can increase their power. Additionally, the amulet can give the dead soul a new life and energy in the harsh after-life. The scarab is a symbol of Khepera, which is the god with the invisible power propelling the sun in its journey across the sky.

Amulet of the Buckle

It is also called .the Knot of Isis. It has a similarity to the girdle of Isis, which is why it is also called the Blood of Isis, Buckle Isis or the Girdle of Isis. There is no clear information about the origin of the Amulet or the Buckle. It is translated to mean life or welfare. It equally symbolizes the strength and power of the goddess of Isis and said to have a magical power capable of protecting the wearer from negative influence, sickness and all kinds of evil.

You can find the buckle of Isis .on several items that are associated with burials and funerals; it can also be found on things relocated to sarcophagi und shrines.

Amulet of the Tet

It is also called Djed. The amulet symbolizes rebirth and resurrection of .Osiris. It equally symbolizes hope and new life. It stands out as the oldest symbol of Osiris and is related to the ankh symbol. The word “tet” means stability, firmness, balance, and preservation.

It has four crossbars, which indicate the four branches .of the world-tree and the four cardinal points. The object is revered in Egypt and considered as the highest religious item for Egyptians.

Also, the amulet stands for a .tree that grew beside the casket of Osiris and equally stands for where the goddess of Isis hid her husband’s corpse. It equally serves as the pillar of a Byblos palace.

Amulet of the pillow

This amulet is rare and shaped like a head-rest or pillow. It is placed directly under the neck of the mummy inside the coffin. The purpose of the amulet is to protect the head of the deceased when he reaches the underworld. The pillow equally prevents the head from being de-capacitated.

The amulet functions as a protective talisman. It equally produces peace and pillow. The amulet is made of hematite, which is a dark, reddish-black stone. It equally has a text from Spell 167 and CLXVIth Chapter of the Book of the Dead.

Amulet of the vulture

This amulet possesses the great .power of Isis, which is seen as the divine mother protecting the deceased. The amulet was usually tied around the neck of the deceased on the day of the funeral, and it gives the dead fierceness and strength accustomed to Isis when the latter was wandering in the form of a vulture around the papyrus swamplands of the delta.

Other ancient Egyptian amulets and their meanings are highlighted below:

Amulet of the collar of gold, which provides freedom from all fettering around the neck
Amulet of the papyrus scepter, which gives the dead vigor, vitality, youth, renewed energy and endurance
Amulet of the soul, which helps the soul to unite with the body of the dead

There are several others, but these .are the amulets that space will permit.

Gods of Egypt

Egyptian gods were the fundamental figures for the beliefs and rituals in ancient Egyptian religion and society. They are part of the ancient Egyptian mythology.

In this article we will see who were the most important Egyptian gods names and a small summary of them. This list have links to a more detailed articles for the main ones.

Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Osiris

Osiris is the ancient egyptian god of corn. His followers originated from Syria, and these followers refer to him as Adnjeti. They have established in Delta city long ago in predynastic times. The Djed column is a fetish or cult object by which the city is known. No one can say for sure what the name stands for, but it is related to the “creation of a throne.” Some also relate it to Power or Seat of the Eye.

The Osiris fertility cult was apparently peaceful, and it later spread to virtually every part of Egypt. The burial rites associated with this deity were established at the early part of his existence. He had already absorbed the funerary gods of Abydos by the Fifth Dynasty and also had an association with the dead pharaohs. He later became the supreme god of Egypt. The Heliopolitan Ennead then incorporated Osiris by mythology. He is also said to be the son of the earth god, Geb.

Seth

Seth can also be called Suty, Setekh, Sutehk or Setesh. The Egyptians term him as the god of foreigners, violence, disorder, storm and desert. He is called Seth in ancient Greek mythology, and he has a decisive role in accompanying Ra to rule Apep on his solar boat. Apep was the serpent of Chaos. One of his vital roles includes that of a reconciled combatant. He was also the lord of the desert or red land. He acts as a balance to the role of Horus, who is the lord of the soil or black land.

He is seen as a usurper in Egyptian mythology because he mutilated Osiris, his brother. However, Osiris’ wife reassembled her husband’s mutilated body and got him resurrected, after which Osiris gave birth to Horus, his son and heir. When he grew up, Horus sought to revenge his father’s murder against Set.

Isis

Isis is the goddess of medicine, magic, motherhood, fertility and marriage. Several tiles and names have been given to this god over time. She is also being worshipped in some parts of Europe and Egypt with many of her cults and temples spreading across the places. In fact, she is termed as the deity with ten thousand names. This is just an exaggeration though; she does not have up to ten thousand names. Some of the names by which she is being called are Werethekau, Aust, Aset, Urethekau, Unt, Iahu, Hesat, Esu, Eset and Eenohebis. Isis has an association with several other Egyptian goddesses, like Hathor and Sekhmet. She is also being worshipped in Greece, where she is associated with some Greek goddesses, like Athena, Tethys and Persephone. Some of her titles include:

Mother of God
The Maker of Sunrise
Queen of Heaven
Queen of all Gods
The Divine One.

Nephthys

Nephthys was first mentioned as a goddess during the Old Kingdom. She was the daughter of Nut and Geb and a member of the Ennead of Heliopolis. She was also a sister to Horus, Isis and Osiris. Also, she was the wife and sister to Set. She got a place on Ra’s boat after Ogdoad and Ennead merged so that she could accompany Ra on his journey through the underworld. The Greek calls her Nephthys, while the Egyptians call her Nebthwt, Nebthet or Nebhhwt, with the word “hwt” standing for “house.” “House” in this context can stand for the whole of Egypt or a royal family. She protects the oldest females in all households, and she is also seen as the head of the household of the gods.

Nephthys was associated with the Lower Egypt or Ptah-Tanen. Isis and Khnum represent upper Egypt.

Nut

The Nut is the goddess of the sky in the Ennead of ancient Egypt. She represented the stars arching over the earth and covering nude women. She was the daughter of Tefnut and Shu. She also got married to her brother named Geb. Her five children were Horus, Nephthys, Isis, Set and Osiris. She stands out as one of the oldest among the deities recognised in Egypt. Her origin was also found in Helipolios creation story. She is also considered as the goddess of the nighttime sky. Her name was then shortened to “sky goddess.” The Pot was her headdress, and it also represents the uterus. She is also depicted in nude human form. At times, she is depicted in the form of a cow, and the high body of the cow was said to form the heaven and sky. Furthermore, she can be represented as a giant sow suckling many piglets or a sycamore tree.

Ra

Ra is the god of the sun in ancient Egypt. His major cult centre is located in Heliopolis, and his symbol is the sun disk. He gave birth to eight children, namely Serket, Ma’at, Satet, Bastet, Sekhmet, Hathor, Tefnut and Shu. He has no parent since he was self-created. However, some accounts refer to Neith as his father. His siblings are Serket, Sobecik and Apep.

Thoth

Thoth is among the deities of Egyptian pantheon and was depicted as a baboon or a man with the head of an ibis in art. The baboon is his sacred animal. Seshat is his female counterpart, and Ma’at is the name of his wife. His chief temple can be found in the city of Khmum, which was later called Hermopolis Magna in the Greco-Roman era. Some also called him the same as Hermes in line with Greek interpretation. Also, he served as the mediating power between evil and good.

Geb

Geb is the Egyptian god of the Earth. He later became a member of the Ennead of Heliopolis. He was considered as the father of snakes because he had a viper around his head. Ancient Egypt mythology has it that his laughter can create an earthquake. It is also believed that crops can only grow with his permission. The name can also be called Keb or Seb.

Aroueris

Aroueris is among the most significant of the ancient gods in Egypt. He was part of Egyptian worship from prehistoric Egypt to Roman Egypt. Egyptologists record different forms of Aroueris in history. It has been concluded that these different forms are the various perceptions of the same god, who is considered as a multi-layered deity. The various perspectives are complementary rather than antagonistic. It is in agreement with the way the Egyptians perceive the multiple facets of reality. Most times, Aroueris is depicted by a falcon, either a peregrine or lanner falcon. At times, it can be depicted by a man having a falcon head.

Aroueris was described as the son of Osiris and Isis. He equally played a significant role as Osiris’ hair in the Osiris myth. He was equally known as Set’s rival; it would be recalled that Set murdered Osiris. Hathor is regarded either as his mother or wife. Ancient Egyptians consider him as the god of the sky and kingship.

Facts about ancient Egypt gods

Who is the most powerful Egyptian god

It is difficult to answer but there are two main responses.

Ra the sun god was the most important and powerful one. Also the Pharaoh was very important in ancient times.

Are they real?

While there are written evidences they cannot be considered as 100% truth like other mythologies and religions. Probably some parts are real and some parts are not.

How Many Egyptian Gods were there in ancient Egypt

There were more than 2.000 and obviously we cannot list it all in detail, here are the most important ones:

Images and Pictures

Egyptian Masonic Rite

This magical ritual was devised by Count Alessandro di Cagliostro who claimed that Egyptian Masonry (see also Egyptian Jewelry) held the key to the Philosopher’s Stone and those participating in it could discover their “primitive innocence,.” Cagliostro admitted both men and women into his lodge. His wife assisted in the initiation of the female neophytes. She would say, “I breathe upon you this breath to cause to germinate in you and grow in your heart the truth we possess; I breathe it into you to strengthen in you good intentions, and confirm you in the faith of your brothers and sisters…”

Later, the women put on white robes and participated in a ceremony where they were encouraged to cast off the “shameful bonds” which their male masters imposed on them. They were subsequently led into a garden then later to a temple where they experienced an “initiatory” encounter with Cagliostro himself. Naked, he descended on a golden sphere through the roof of the temple and ordered the neophytes to disrobe in the name of Truth and innocence. He then explained to them the symbolic nature of their quest for self-realization before he mounted the golden ball and ascending through the temple vault.

As it has been pointed out that the intentions of Cagliostro and his wife in bestowing these gifts were not purely altruistic. It seems there was an 100 louis fee to participate, however, most who did belonged to the Parisian aristocracy and could well afford it. A.G.H.

Source: 62.

Egyptian calendar

The ancient Egyptians it appears were the first culture in history to construct a solar calendar. It contained twelve months with each month having thirty days. There were an additional five days, which were often referred to as the epagomenal days at the end of the year that made 365 days. The months were Thoth, Phaophi, Adyr, Choiak, Tybi, Mecheit, Phamenoth, Pharmuti, Pachon, Payni, Epiphi, and Mesore. The five epagomenal days were held to be the birthdays of the deities Osiris, Aroueris, Set, Isis, and Nephthys respectively.

In one Egyptian myth, the sky-goddess Nut, wife of Ra, loved the earth-god Geb and became pregnant by him. Upon his discovery of the pregnancy Ra cursed Nut and ordained that she would not give birth on any day in any month of the year. Thoth, the god of wisdom, also was a lover of Nut, gambled with the goddess of the moon winning from her one seventeenth of each day. Together this number composed five entire days, which Thoth attached to the year. Now these days belonged to no month of the year so on them Nut bore the children of Geb.A.G.H.

Source:

Greer, John Michael. The New Encyclopedia of the Occult. St. Paul. MN. Llewellyn Worldwide. 2005. pp. 145-146

Ptah Egyptian God

Egyptian God

Ptah was an Egyptian creator god and god of craftsmen. His reign was from 3000 BCE, possibly earlier, to the end of ancient Egyptian history, about fourth century CE, with cult sanctuaries in Memphis and throughout the Nile valley. His main rival for seniority as creator god was Atum of Heliopolis within the Egyptian pantheon. His consort was the lion-goddess Sakhmet, and, by implication only, his son is Nefertum.

Representation

He is depicted in human form wearing a closely fitted robe with only the arms free. His most distinctive features are the invariable skull-cap exposing only his face and ears, and the was or rod of dominion which he holds, consisting of a staff surmounted by the ankh symbol of life. Otherwise hi is symbolized by the sacred animal, the bull.

According to the priestly genealogy compose in Memphis Ptah upstaged Atum as the “father of the gods.” The people was convinced that Ptah not only Atum but the whole Heliopolis pantheon by thinking and speaking the cosmos into existence. All life and matter came from the tongue of Ptah. In this cosmogony, Nun represents the amorphous primeval matter out of which Ptah generated himself as a bisexual entity, the maleness of which is Ptah-Nun and the femaleness Ptah-Naunet. Sometimes Ptah is called Kher-baker, meaning “he who is under his tree,” suggesting that he was syncretized with an older local tree god of Memphis whose symbol is the moringa tree.

Another vision of him came from his role as patron of craftsman of trades, but particularly trades like jewelry where his presence was denoted in art by dwarfish craftsmen busy at work. Ptah is envisaged as creating humankind from base metals. In Greco-Roman times he became identified with Hephaestus, the Greek god of the smiths.

History

Ptah god emerged from the primordial chaos, considered by the cosmogony of Memphis, from which he was originally, as the sovereign of the gods to have created the world through the word. It carries the titles of “Lord of magic”, “Lord of Darkness”, “Lord of Truth” and “Lord of snakes and fish”, which could be related to its creative function. He is the most important of the gods of Memphis and assumed functions of Ta-Tenen. The other name by which the city was known, Hikuptah, “Mansion of the soul of Ptah”, could give rise to the word Aigyptos, which Homer used to designate both the river and the country. It is said that he became famous for defeating the Assyrians by sending rats that invaded the enemy camp and gnawed the ropes of their bows.

Patron of arts and crafts, protecting stonemasons, sculptors, blacksmiths, craftsmen and artists and it was thought that he was the inventor of masonry; these works could be occupied by dwarves, who were under the tutelage of Ptah and his assistants: the Patecos. In Egypt the dwarves formed a well-known clan, mainly due to their dedication to goldsmithing, and as such they had as their patron Ptah, and on some occasions he was represented as a monstrous dwarf, which is why Heródoto confused him with the Pateco gods Phoenicians The term pateco comes precisely from Ptah. He was especially worshiped among the artisans of Deir el-Medina; during the Old Kingdom, more than one royal architect occupies place in his clergy; the high priest of Ptah was the supreme leader of the artisans and possessed the title of “Master builder” In the New Kingdom he becomes the guardian god of expeditions to the mines of Sinai. In Serabit el-Khadim, next to the turquoise mines, a speos was dedicated to him.

Its relation with the funeral world goes back to the Old Kingdom; he is considered the inventor of the opening ceremony of the mouth; by then he began to relate to Sokar, as Ptah-Sokar. It was later when he assumed the position of god creator. He united in his person the identity of Nun and that of Naunet. Occasionally it is called Ptah-Nun, identifying it with the primal Nun prior to all things, and being associated with Ta-Tenen, the hill on which the sun was born for the first time. Like Jnum, he created beings on his potter’s wheel. He was credited with great healing power. He was the titular god of the month of Paopi. In the XIX Dynasty he was the protector of the monarchy and the director of the party Sed. As a component of the Memphite triad, he was the husband of the goddess Sekhmet and father of Nefertum, or also of Imhotep; Paternity is also attributed to him.

It has a mummiform appearance, with a beard that sometimes has the shape of a wedge; he is wrapped in a shroud, with a skullcap on his head, the menat collar symbolizing fertility and stability and holding before him a scepter composed of the dyed pillar and the scepter uas, or a staff (heqat) and the flagellum (flail) . He is represented on a pedestal that symbolizes Maat to match his stature with the rest of the gods. In the New Kingdom, its cosmic characters include it in the cycle of the stars; and as Ptah-Tatenen places the solar disk on his head and “illuminates the world with his two eyes”. One of its epithets is “the one with the beautiful face”. In later times he was assimilated to Osiris, thus arising Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, funerary god, represented as Osiris, mummiform and with high feathers on his head; or with falcon or falcon head with white crown flanked by two feathers and at the base two twisted horizontal horns and the solar disk. The Greeks assimilated it to Hephaestus and the Romans to Vulcan. His animal manifestation was the bull Apis, in which he was incarnated. Karnak was an important center of his cult, where he had a temple within the precincts of Amon; Temples were also dedicated to him in Abydos and in Nubia; near the Valley of the Queens a sanctuary was excavated for him in which he was associated with Meretseger. His party was celebrated on the 22nd of the month of Meshir, next to Horus. His festival was on the 29th of the month of Mesore. Great characters of the V and VI Dynasties included this god in their name: Ptah-hotep, Ptah-Shepses, Kai-Ker-Ptah; as well as Mineptah, pharaoh of the XIX Dynasty.

According to the texts of the Menfite theology Ptah created the local gods, built the cities, established the territorial divisions, placed each god in the places where he is worshiped, fixed the offerings he was to receive and built his chapels

Source:

Jordan, Michael, Encyclopedia of Gods, New York, Facts On File, Inc. 1993, p. 211

Osiris Egyptian God

Osiris was an ancient corn-deity who followers, who came probably from Syria, identified their god with a pastoral deity called Andjeti and established themselves in his Delta city in predynastic times. The cult object, or fetish, known as the djed column and thought to represent four pillars seen one behind the other, or a man’s backbone, or more probably a leafless cedar, was brought from Syria after which came the name of the city of Djedu. The city was subsequently renamed Per-Usire or Busiris after Usire, the Egyptian form of Osiris’ name. Although, the meaning of this name is uncertain, it has been interpreted as “to create a throne” and as Seat or Power of the Eye.

The Osiris fertility cult soon spread, apparently peacefully, to many parts of Egypt. The god’s associations with burial rites were also established early, because by the Fifth Dynasty he had absorbed the funerary gods of Abydos and dead pharaohs were identified with him. Since the funerary aspect ultimately became paramount, Osiris became the supreme god of Egypt. However, when speculating about the beliefs concerning the “First Time” when Osiris was incorporated by mythology into the Heliopolitan Ennead, it is easy to imagine the vegetation god being the son of Geb, the earth god.

Plutarch, in his treatise, present a fairly complete account of the Osiris myth with its accuracy confirmed by certain details in the Pyramid Texts and other documents of an earlier date. Accordingly Nut gave birth to Osiris at Thebes on the first of the five intercalary days that Thoth created for Nut because he was in love with her. At the birth of Osiris a voice was heard in the temple crying that the great and good king was born, or that the lord of all was entering the light. Re acknowledged Osiris as his heir, and at times is said to have begotten both Osiris and Horus, Thoth fathered Isis, and Geb only Seth (Set) and Nephthys. Also, according to legend, Osiris and Isis fell in love while still in the womb and then produced Horus the Elder. They were later married and Osiris succeeded his father Geb on the throne.

According to the First Time legends concerning Osiris the people of that time were barbarous cannibals. It was Osirs who instructed in the ways of civilization, teaching them what to eat and the methods of agriculture. He taught the proper worship of the gods, and drew up laws for them. Thoth helped by serving as Osiris’ scribe, as well as inventing the arts and sciences, and naming things. Osiris governed by persuasion, not by force; and when having civilized Egypt by these methods, he decided to teach the rest of the world. He left Isis as regent during his absence. Osiris took with him on his mission many musicians and minor gods. Through arguments and hymn singing he persuaded other peoples of the things that he had taught his own people. However, during his absence Isis administered his kingdom, assisted by Thoth, but she was hard pressed by the tactics of Seth who not only coveted the throne, but also was enamored of her, and sought to change the order of things.

Not long after Osiris returned Seth, assisted by the queen of Ethiopia, Aso, and seventy-two conspirators, was determined to do away with him. Their plot was successful as Osiris fell to the conspirators, and it was Seth who cast his body into the floodwaters of the Nile. Isis sought and found the body of her husband, and with her own magical powers, assisted by Thoth, Nephthys, Ambis, and Horus, restored Osiris to life. But Osiris already belonged to the world of the dead, though after his resurrection he could have resumed the throne, but it is thought he preferred to maintain his kingdom in the land of the dead, leaving his earthly vindication in the hands of his posthumous son Horus.

The proceeding is just one of many versions of the Osiris myth. The legend of Osiris, perhaps more than the legend of any other god, has constantly undergone change throughout history. Obviously there are probable reasons for this: in earlier times, certainly, he was a subsidiary god in the national religion; originally his myth did not belong to any of the great cosmogonic systems, but was subordinated to the family of gods venerated at Heliopolis, Hermopolis, Memphis, and Thebes. The priests of these centers, anxious lest the ever-popular Osiris cult should swamp their own cults, accepted the fait accompli of gods combined into one human family by popular imagination. And in this family Sethting the Osiris myth gained widespread appeal. The suffering Osiris, head of an ideal family and model king, ultimately became the most important member of the divine family. By acquiring such veneration among worshipers, it is easily to understand how the cult of Osiris emerged.

The Osiris myth, perhaps related to the reign of some king, apparently absorbed the local Delta gods and unified Lower and Middle Egypt. As god of the dead, Osiris his greatest popularity; though he seemed to have begun his mythic career. But, gradually his worshipers hoped for an eternal happy life in the Underworld ruled but a just and good king. The location of this kingdom was thought to be either beneath Nun, or in the northern heavens, or in the west, and it was a gentle, fertile land.

As god of the dead, Osiris retained his earlier associations with the fertility of land and agriculture, and his death was identified with the dwindling of the Nile while his resurrection was associated with the flooding of it; the sun too, with its daily death and rebirth, became associated with Osiris. The rivalry with his brother Seth was view as the eternal opposition between the fertile Nile and the hostile desert, between life and death.

Osiris became worshipped throughout Egypt, usually as a triad that included Isis and Horus, his posthumous son. The chief cult centers were Busirs, representing his early home in the Delta; Abydos, in Middle Egypt; and near Nedit, the center for the cult of the dead because it was thought to be the location where he was killed or where Isis found his body. Here Osiris was known as the “First of the Westerners,” a title taken from the first god of Abydos, Khenti-Amentiu, which means King of the Dead. Starting in the Old Kingdom, the pharaohs were buried in Abydos, later notables and others too were buried or had their funeral stales there. Later Abydo became the center to which most Egyptians made pilgrimages, sometimes in proxy, then as part of their funeral ceremonies. A.G.H.

Sources:

Cotterell, Arthur, A Dictionary of World Mythology, New York, G. P. Putman’s Sons, 1980, pp. 41-42
Grimal, Pierre, Larousse World Mythology, Secaucus, New Jersey, Chartwell Books, 1965, pp. 35-38
Ions, Veronuca, Egyptian Mythology, Feltham, Middlesex, Hamlyn Publishing Group, Ltd., 1968. pp. 50-58