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Ancient Egypt
Egyptian Mythology
Essential Standard
• 6.C.1Explain how the behaviors and practices
of individuals and groups influenced
societies, civilizations and regions.
• 6.G.1Understand geographic factors that
influenced the emergence, expansion and
decline of civilizations, societies and regions
(i.e. Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas)
over time.
Clarifying Objective
•
6.C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various societies, civilizations and regions
(e.g., beliefs, practices and spread of Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism,
Hinduism, Islam and Judaism).
•
6.G.1.1 Explain how the physical features and human characteristics of a place
influenced the development of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., location
near rivers and natural barriers, trading practices and spread of culture).
•
6.G.1.4 Explain how and why civilizations, societies and regions have used,
modified and adapted to their environments (e.g., invention of tools,
domestication of plants and animals, farming techniques and creation of
dwellings).
•
6.C.1.1 Analyze how cultural expressions reflected the values of civilizations,
societies and regions (e.g., oral traditions, art, dance, music, literature, and
architecture).
Polytheism
• Egyptians were
Polytheistic
• This meant that they
believed in many, many
gods and not just one god
like Christians believe in
• Egyptians had gods for
everything
Understanding Maat
• Maat is the Egyptian
word for stability
• Egyptians worshiped
gods for everything
because they believed
the combination of
these different gods
would give Egypt
stability
Animals in Egyptian Mythology
• Animals were central to
Egyptian Mythology
• Ancient Egyptians believed
that animals held heavenly
qualities
• They shaped their gods after
animals that they revered
• Some of the animals were
– Falcon (Horus)
– Ram (Ra/Atum)
Pharaoh
• During the Old Kingdom
when Egypt united Upper &
Lower Egypt the King Meni
became the Chief Priest or
(Pharaoh)
• He became the contact for
all Egyptian men & women
and their gods
• He resided in Memphis the
city that was built for him
Pharaoh Controlled the Nile
• The Egyptians believed that
Pharaoh was given the power
to control the Nile River
• They believed that Pharaoh
would make the Nile Flood
every year to provide fertile
ground for crops
• He was given these powers by
the Egyptian gods & goddesses
• Here is the story of Egyptian
Mythology
Mastering Flood Cycles
• Ancient Egyptians believed
that Pharaoh had the key to
mastering the flood cycles
of the Nile
• This is partially why they
developed the calendar
• If they could master the
flood cycles (when it would
flood every year) then they
would know when to plant
their crops
Mastering Flood Cycles
• Floods Cycles were so
important because they left
silt on top of the farmland
which provided rich
nutrients to the soil and
helped more crops grow
• This would give them extra
crops at the end of the year
• They would take the extra
wheat and either store it for
later or trade it with other
civilizations
Ancient City of Heliopolis
• Heliopolis was the
Ancient city of the Kings
• Known as the City of
the Sun
• It is located near what is
today the city of Cairo,
Egypt (Capital city)
Ancient City of Heliopolis
• Heliopolis contained
hieroglyphics all over its walls
that contained the story of the
creation of Egypt
• The stories on these walls
make up the “Creation Myths”
• The Creation myths are based
on the “Great Ennhead” which
was a family of 9 Egyptian
gods
• The Temple of Atum still
stands there today
Nun
• The story starts with Nun
which was not a god at all
• Nun was the waters of
chaos that represented
what Egypt would
become with their gods
• Nun was a deep dark
ocean
Atum/Ra the Sun god
• Out of the waters of the
Nun rose the island called
Ben-Ben
• The island was risen by
Atum/Ra the Sun god
• Atum/Ra was the god of all
gods and the god of life
• He stood atop of the island
Ben-Ben
Shu god of the Air
• While on top of the island
Atum coughed and spat out
Shu
• Shu was the god of the Air
• Shu was the calming god &
the god of pacifier
• He was represented with
Ostrich Feathers
• Shu is the son of Atum
Tefnut goddess of Moisture
• Atum coughed once more and
spat out Tefnut the goddess of
Moisture
• Ancient Egyptians worshiped
her for she would bring the
rains for their crops
• Tefnut is portrayed sometimes
as having a lioness head and
sometimes fully human
• She is the daughter of Atum
Shu & Tefnut
• Shu & Tefnut had two
children
• These were the
grandchildren of Atum
• The first child was Geb
the god of the Earth
• The second child was Nut
the goddess of the Sky
Geb
• Geb was the first born and
was the god of the Earth
• Geb allowed crops to grow
• Ancient Egyptians believed
that Earthquakes was Geb
laughing
• He was depicted as a Ram,
Bull, or Crocodile depending
on what Kingdom time
period it was
Nut
• Nut was the second born
child and was the goddess
of the Sky
• She allows the stars to
shine and she is the
goddess of fertility
• She protects souls &
bodies as they journey
into the afterlife
Nut
• She separates and protects the
cosmos from the Nun
• Goddess of direction as she is
believed to have touched all
points that give us cardinal
direction (North, South, East &
West)
• She appears as either a naked
woman covered in stars or a cow
• Her symbol is a ladder (ladder
was used by Osiris to climb to the
stars)
Nut goddess of the Sky & Babies
• There was a reason she was
the Egyptian goddess of
fertility
• Nut wanted to have many
children
• Atum the son god feared that
one of Nut’s children would
overthrow him and become
god of gods
• He declared that Nut will
never be able to have children
any day of the year
Egyptian Calendar
• Egyptians were the inventors of
the calendar
• They used this calendar to
monitor when it was a good time
to harvest their crops
• They also used their calendar to
give a time frame as to when
things would happen (floods of
the Nile happen in the spring or
the 100th day on the Calendar)
• At the time the Egyptian calendar
only had 360 days
Thoth has a Plan
• Nut went to Thoth the
god of wisdom and he
had a plan
• Thoth the god of wisdom
knew that he could beat
Khonshu the god of
moonlight in a game
• Khonshu’s moonlight was
as bright as Atum’s
sunlight
Thoth Creates Days
• Thoth & Khonshu were great
friends so Thoth knowing he
could win played many games
with Khonshu
• Every time that Thoth won
Khonshu gave Thoth some of his
moonlight
• Soon Thoth had enough
moonlight to create 5 extra days
(365 day calendar)
• This is very significant because it
was the first modern calendar like
ours with 365 days to a year
Nut Bears Children
• Thoth gives those days
to Nut and since they
were not part of the
360 day calendar she
may give birth
• On the first day she
bears a son and names
him Osiris
Nut Bears Children
• On the second day she
gives birth to a girl and
names her Isis
• On the third day she
bears another son and
names him Set or Seth
• On the fourth day she
bore a second daughter
and named her Nephthys
5th New Day
• On the 5th day the son
god finds out of this plan
and is furious
• There is no child born on
this day
• Atum/Ra storms into
where Geb & Nut live and
separates them for all of
eternity
5th New Day
• Nut’s father Shu was to
keep them apart forever
(this is why divorce was
accepted in Egyptian
culture)
• Still Nut never regretted
her decision
Isis goddess of Religious Beliefs
• Isis was the goddess of
Religious Beliefs
• She was worshiped as an
ideal mother & wife and
was the patroness of
nature & magic
• She was a friend of the
slaves, sinners, & artisans
• Mother of Horus
Osiris god of the Egyptian People &
The Underworld
• Osiris became the first god of the
Earth (first Pharaoh)
• He was also god of the
Underworld, Harvest, Eternal Life
• He would decide with the help of
the Pharaohs whose souls would
through to eternity
• Osiris is a good Pharaoh who
rules with Isis for many years
• However all was not well
Set or Seth god of Darkness & Chaos
• Set or Seth is the god of
Darkness & Chaos
• He is not a nice god
• Ancient Egyptians do not
worship this god but fear
him
• As the story of Heliopolis
goes Seth becomes very
jealous of his brother being
the first Pharaoh Osiris
Set or Seth god of Darkness & Chaos
• Seth wanted to be ruler of
the Earth
• One night Seth snuck into
where Osiris & Isis lived and
killed Osiris
• He mutilated his brother
Osiris and tore his body into
pieces
• Seth became ruler of the
Earth
Osiris goes to the Underworld
• Osiris goes to the
Underworld and becomes
King of the Underworld
• Isis is heartbroken and
reassembles Osiris corpse
and travels to the
Underworld to find him
• Because she brings his body
down Osiris soul is able to
reunite with his body and
he is temporarily
resurrected
Isis becomes Pregnant
• While Osiris is
resurrected and sharing
moments with Isis she
becomes pregnant
• Osiris returns to the
Underworld where he is
King & Isis bears a son
who they name Horus
Horus the god of War
• Horus was the god of war &
hunting, god of the living
• He is depicted as having a
head of a hawk
• The Pharaohs were said to
be Horus in human form
• Horus grows up and is
furious at King Seth for
murdering his father
Horus Fights Seth
• He challenges Seth to a
fight to the death
• The fight lasts several
days with neither
gaining control until the
gods side with Horus
and he defeats Seth
Horus Becomes King of Earth
• Horus becomes King of the
Earth after defeating Seth
• Osiris & Isis become
permanent rulers of the
Underworld
• Peace is restored to Ancient
Egypt
• That is the Egyptian
Mythology creation story
Important Points
• 6.C.1.2 (Polytheistic) Ancient
Egyptians were polytheistic
believing in more than 1 god
• 6.C.1.1 (Art) Hold animals in
high regard and use animals to
represent their gods
• 6.G.1.1 (Location Near Rivers)
Egyptians used the Nile River
to grow crops, provide a water
source & for a means of trade
both through sailing to ship
goods & making items from
the reeds