mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== [1]Front page - [2]Gods - [3]Cult Temple - [4]History of Religion - [5]More articles The Egyptian Gods their main centers of worship and some festival days _ On this page: [6]Amaunet, [7]Amun, [8]Amunhotep-son-of-Hapu, [9]Anat, [10]Anubis, [11]Anuket, [12]Apis, [13]Aten, [14]Atum _ _Amaunet _ Amaunet - the name means'hidden one'. As a primeval god in the [15]Ogdoad, her shadow is a symbol of protection. There she forms the female counterpart of Amun. At Karnak she is also the consort of Amun though less important than Mut. _Main center of worship_: _Thebes_/Waset; Karnak from the New Kingdom to Late Period. _Khemmu_/Hermopolis - el Ashmunein, together with the Ogdoad. _Amun/Imen _ _Amon, Amun, Imen_ - Primeval Creator God mentioned already in the Pyramid Texts (5th Dynasty) as a primeval deity whose shadow protects the other gods. His female counterpart is Amaunet. He is often called "The Hidden One" which shows an association with invisibility. The ancients regarded him as being behind and in all things, a deity too complex to describe in one name or even being possible to depict in his true form. Therefore another name was "He who abides in all things". 'Hidden of aspect, mysterious of form' or the _ba_ of all things are other epiteths. They also called him 'asha renu' wich means 'rich in names'. _Forms and sacred animals_ As the creator behind all of cosmos, also other deities were unaware of his true form. He was sometimes depicted in the form of the _Nile Goose_, and sometimes as a _ram_ with curved horns or as a ram-headed man. These two animals were sacred to him, though never offered. The connection with the goose might come from the creation myth about the "Gengen Wer" (the Great Honker or the Great Cackler)- the goose which carried the egg from which life came forth, indicating Amun as a creator god, and the ramīs creative energy indicating him as a fertility god. As _Amun-Min_ he was also shown in ityphallic form. Another frequent image of Amun shows him in human form, with two tall plumes on top of his head, seated on a throne, his skin is blue-colored, denoting lapis lazuli which was a highly treasured, semi-precious stone, and wearing a short kilt. His crown wears two high plumes, signifying him as a sky deity, and it is said that he was as invisible as the wind. _Amun-Re_ Already in the 11th Dynasty Amun was merged with the royal sun-cult of Re in Heliopolis. His importance grew an he was imported at Thebes where he became Amun-Re, the Sun-god, or the 'King of the Gods', which title appears for the first time in Dyn 12. This was an effort at making Amun the most important of all deities and to link him to the kingship as being the divine father of the ruler. Though he was the High God, he also was a deity to whom the commoner could turn to in times of need. Papyrii tells of him protecting the rights of the poor in law courts and he is called the 'vizier of the humble' who comes at the voice of the poor'. There are also traces of Amun being 'Amun of the road', a protector of travellers. _Amun at Thebes - Karnak and Luxor_ _Karnak; "Ipet-Isut"_, in ancient Egyptian: 'The Most Select of Places', consists of three main precincts: for Amun, [16]Mut and [17]Khonsu which form the 'Triad of Karnak'. These are all within the main precinct of Amun. Here is also the Opet temple and a small temple dedicated to Ptah to be found. To the north is the precinct of the temple of [18]Montu, the earlier main god of Thebes from the end of Dyn XI. _Luxor; "Amun em Ipet Resyt_, in ancient Egyptian: 'Amun Who Is In His Southern Sanctuary'. This temple lies 3 km south of Karnak, was in ancient times situated in the center of Thebes (Waset), and dedicated to Amun-Re. Here he was represented mainly in either a bluepainted form or the black ityphallic form, and he was even 'visted' by Amun of Karnak once a year during the Opet Festival. The temple was called the 'Place of Seclusion' or the 'Southern Opet'. His importance endured into the Greek and Roman days when several temples were dedicated to him. _Main center of worship:_ _Thebes/_Waset, 4th Nome, Upper Egypt _Other temple locations:_ _Djamet_/Medinet Habu 4th N, Upper Egypt _Khmun_/Hermopolis/el-Asmunein 15th N, Upper Egypt _Teudjoi_/Ankyronopolis/el-Hiba 18th N, Upper Egypt ("Amun of Great Roaring") _Mennefer_/Memphis, 1st N, Lower Egypt _Naukratis_ 7th N, Lower Egypt _Djanīnet_/Tanis 19th N, Lower Egypt _Ain Amur_ Between El-Kharga and El-Dakhla, from Roman times. _Ain Birbiyah_ at El-Dakhla Oasis, from Roman times. _Deir El-Hagar_, at Dakhla Oasis, from Roman times. _Nadura_, at El-Kharga Oasis, two small temples, Roman times. _Temple of Hibis_, at El-Kharga Oasis, to Amun, Mut and Khonsu. _Qasr Ain-El-Zaijan_, at El-Kharga Oasis, Roman times. _Siwa Oasis_, 26th Dynasty. _Djanīnet_/Tanis, 19th N, Lower Egypt _Qasr El-Megysbeh_ at Bahariya Oasis, to both Amun and Horus, Greek times. _For a virtual page_: go [19]here Main Festival: _Opet_ which was celebrated when the yearly rising of the Nile was halfway through. the cult-statue of the god was carried on a processional boat from his temple at Karnak to the great temple at Luxor, 2.5 km away, where it stayed for several days before it returned to Karnak. [20]Top of Page Amunhotep/Son-of-Hapu Amunhotep-son-of-Hapu was a courtier, who was employed as a royal scribe and "overseer of all the work of the king" in the reign of Amunhotep III (Dynasty XVIII). Later, in the Ptolemaic period, he was deified on account of his reputation for wisdom. Amunhotep came from Athribis in the Delta area, and rose to power in the Theban court. He was responsible for recruiting military personnel and labourers for state building projects. As Pharaohs chief architect he would have been involved in most of the lavish building programme, not only in Thebes but also in Nubia. He was Pharaohs most trusted and privileged official, being given management of the vast estates of Sitamun, the eldest royal daughter, and exclusively for a commoner, awarded a mortuary temple. Here, he is portrayed as a corpulent seated scribe. He is believed to have lived into his eighties; his tomb is in the Theban necropolis. Of all his titles, Amunhotep seems to have been most proud of "royal scribe". His cult seems confined to Thebes, where he was worshipped as a benefactor and healing genius. At Deir el-Bahari, Deir el-Medina and the temple of Ptah at Karnak, he shares his cult with [21]Imhotep, of whom he is claimed to be the inseparable brother. His statues in the main Karnak temple were often prayed to, as being the way to gain access to the greater deity, Amun. _Main center of worship:_ _Thebes_, where he was worshipped in conjunction with Imhotep:4th Nome,upper Egypt _Other places:_ _Deir el-Bahari,_ 4th Nome, Upper Egypt _Deir el-Medina,_ 4th Nome, Upper Egypt _Temple of Ptah at Karnak,_ 4th Nome, Upper Egypt [22]Top of Page _Anat _ A Syrian deity introduced into Egypt in the Middle Kingdom. She was originally a deity of war, depicted with shield, axe and lance. Despite this she was called 'Mother of the gods' and 'Mistress of the sky'. She was regarded as protectress of the king in battle and her name was used interchangeably with Astarte, although the cults of these two deities differed considerably. Sometimes she is said to be the consort of Set but occasional monuments link her to [23]Min. As with all greater goddesses she was assimilated by Hathor. The Syrian gods Reshef and Baal were at times also considered as her consorts. Temple & cult places: In the Third Intermediate she was celebrated at the temple of Mut at Tanis, Lower Egypt. [24]Top of Page Anubis/Inpew Anubis Anubis/Inpew/Yinepu/Anpu, "Lord of the Hallowed Land", meaning the necropolis. Jackal or dog headed god protecting the deceased. Known since Predydnastic times and linked to the name Khenty Amentiu, "Foremost of the Westerners". He was also the protector of embalming and guardian of the mummy and the necropolis. Sem priests used to wear a mask of Anubis during mummification. After the cult of [25]Osiris had risen to power, Anubis was placed under his rule, Osiris taking over much of Anubisī role as caretaker and protector. This is when Anubis became the embalmer, ("he who is before the divine booth") and overseer of the funerary proceedings. In the Hall of Judgement he oversaw the weighing of the heart of the deceased. In myth he is sometimes called the son of [26]Nebt-Het (Nephtys) and [27]Set or of Nephtys and [28]Osiris. The jackal or doglike animal which he also is shown in has so far not been satisfactorily identified. _Main center of worship:_ _Zawty/__Lycopolis/Asyut_, 13th N, Upper Egypt _Other places: _ _Menaīt Khufu/__ el Minya_, 16th N, Upper Egypt _Hardai,_ 17th Nome, Upper Egypt _Saqqara_ 1st N, Lower Egypt. [29]Top of Page _Festival Days: (dates are not historically confirmed and varied each year depending on the rising of the Nile water.)_ _Ancient Date_ _Modern Date_ _Ceremony or Ritual Name_ 17th of Mechir 1st of January Day of Keeping the things of Wasir (Osiris) in the hands of Anpu 6th of Pamenot 20th of January Going forth of Anpu; Festival of jubilation for Wasir (Osiris) in Busiris 19th of Pamenot 2nd of February Anpu goes forth to the Place where he receives his adoring followers in the Great Hall; feasting and festival. 2nd of Parmutit 15th of February Geb proceeds to Busiris to see Anpu 7th of Mesore 20th of June Anpu travels to every necropolis 10th of Mesore 23rd of June Anpu Ceremony 22nd of Mesore 5th of July Feast of Anpu with the Children of Nut and Geb 18th of July The Day of the Feast of Anpu Who Is On His Mountain ... A day of great festivities, as it represents the Purification of the Gods 17th of Paopi 3rd of September Going forth of Anpu to inspect the embalming place for the protection of the god. An adverse day. 18th of Paopi 4th of September Ceremony of Transformation through Anpu [30]Top of Page Anukis/Anuket Her name means "Embracing Lady", she was probably of Nubian origin and worshipped in the 1st cataract area. The name of Anuket has been found together with [31]Satis on a great number of inscriptions from quarry expeditions in that area. In later times she was included in the Elephantine triad as the daughter or consort of [32]Khunm and his consort Satis. Together they protected the waters of the Nile in the cataract area. Anuket is depicted as a woman wearing a tall feather crown, some say of ostrich plumes, others say of reed. Her image can be seen in the Temple of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and at other Nubian temples. Her sacred animal was the gazelle. _Main center of worship:_ _Abu_/Elephantine, 1st Nome, Upper Egypt. _Kom Meir_, near Esna, 1st Nome, Upper Egypt. _Festival Days:_ (dates not historically verified) 25 th July 9 of _Thuthi _-_ Feast of Anuket: Welcoming the rising of the Nile_ [33]Top of Page _Apis _ Originally a fertility symbol, he became the sacred bull, or the 'Ba' of the creator god Ptah at the cult center of Memphis. The Apis was linked to Pharaoh as the divine manifestation of a god and the bulls became important enough to have a grand burial at Saqqara, with national mourning and mummification. From the 22nd Dynasty onwards the Apis bull was depicted on private coffins and obviously regarded as a protector of the deceased. The Apis bull was assimilated into the god [34]Osiris at his death; Osiris-Apis which in the early Ptolemaic period became hellenized as Serapis and combined to several other Greek deities. The cow mothers of these bulls were venerated as a form of [35]Isis, which at their death were given similar burials at the Iseum further to the north of Saqqara. These burials were discovered and excavated an the 1970īs. [36]Top of Page Aten/Iten The Sun disc itself, first as a heavenly body, later personified as Re. During the Amarna period exalted by Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) to be the only god in existence, something which had been unheard of in Egyptian religion. Aten was then depicted as a sundisc with rays ending in life-giving hands. This period was brief, only ca 15 years and may in fact not have had any large effect outside of the royal court. After Akhenatenīs death the priesthood of [37]Amun reinstalled the old religious practice and the Amarna period became an exception in the history of Ancient Egypt. _Main center of worship:_ _Akhet-aten_ - Tell el-Amarna, 14th N, Upper Egypt _Festival Days_: (dates not historically verified) 21st of July - 3rd of _Thuti_ - _Birthday of Aten_ [38]Top of Page Atum/Tem Atum The Creator God of the [39]Ennead of Heliopolis, who rose out of the Primeval Waters by self-creation. In the Pyramid Texts he is said to be the Primeval Mound from where he created the structured universe. Called "He Who came into being of Himself", or the "Lord of All". He was both male and female and thus the producer of [40]Shu and [41]Tefnut, which in turn created [42]Geb and [43]Nut, who parented the children [44]Osiris, [45]Isis, [46]Nephtys and [47]Set. These deities make up the Heliopolitan Ennead (the Pesedjet). Atum was also thought to manifest in the form of a scarab or the primeval serpent. In later times he was merged with the setting sun and became Re-Atum. He was a cosmic deity and as such did not have a large priesthood and only few temples. _Main Center of worship: _ _Iunu/_Heliopolis/Cairo, 13th N, Lower Egypt. _Other places:_ _Per-Bastet_/Bubastis, 18th N, Lower Egypt _Zau_/Sais, 5th N, Lower Egypt _Tjeku_/Pithom/Tell-el-Makuta, 8th N, Lower Egypt _Festivals:_ (dates not historically verified) 30th August - _13th Paopi_ - _Day of Satisfying the Hearts of the Ennead_ 7th September - 21st _Paopi _- _Neith Goes forth to Atum _ 23rd September - 7th _Hethara_ - _Honors offered to Atum _ 15th March - 30 _Parmutit_ - _Offerings to Ra, Wesir (Osiris), Heru, Ptah, Sokar and Atum _ 29th October - _13th Koiak_ - _Day of Going Forth of Het-Hert (Hathor) and the Ennead_ 15th November - _30th Koiak_ - _The Ennead feast in the House of Ra, Heru (Horus) and Wesir (Osiris)_ [48]Top of Page _ [49]A [50]B [51]G [52]H [53]I [54]K [55]M [56]N [57]O [58]P [59]R [60]S [61]T [62]U [63]W _ [64]Front page - [65]Gods - [66]Cult Temple - [67]History of Religion - [68]More articles [69]Contact me [mailme.gif] A selection of sources: Temples of Ancient Egypt - Dieter Arnold Temples of the Last Pharaohs - Dieter Arnold The Pyramid Texts - transl: R.O. Faulkner The Coffin Texts - transl: R.O. Faulkner Daily Life of the Egyptian Gods - by Dimitri Meeks & Christine Favard-Meeks Egyptian Myths - by George Hart A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses - George Hart Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt - Erik Hornung Egyptian Religion - Siegfried Morenz Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt - R.T. Rundle Clark The Egyptians - Barbara Watterson Symbol & Magic in Egyptian Art - Richard H. Wilkinson My special thanks to [70]House of Netjer for allowing me to draw from their unique knowledge of the Netjeru! 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