Strange Mythology of the Ancient Egyptians

By EZRA IVANOV

There are a lot of stories connected to ancient Egypt among the many nations of this world. Indeed, the history of this great nation contains many exciting elements, but what provides a better insight into ancient Egypt and its incredibly imaginative inhabitants is the mythology.

At the center of ancient Egyptian culture, sacrifices and rituals were dedicated to enthralling gods in Egyptian mythology. Horus, Isis, and Osiris are but a few. With their far-reaching trade links, Egyptians could export their great religion and culture.

The mythology in this eBook provides an insight into prehistoric Egyptian society, including the deities, the pharaohs, rites, sacrifices, and the mysterious "Book of the Dead."

• Language: English
• Publisher: DTTV PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201582760

EZRA IVANOV

Ezra Ivanov is from a prominent Bulgarian Jewish family. Most of his family is involved in archaeology and anthropology in Bulgaria or Poland. His first archaeological discovery was made with a metal detector on a beach holiday as a child. He often visits his extended family in Radom and Lublin to discuss history and archaeology. He received his prestigious degrees in archaeology from universities in Poland and Germany. A total of 27 publications were written about his research. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree.

Book preview

EZRA IVANOV

Introduction

There are a lot of stories connected to ancient Egypt among the many nations of this world. Indeed, the history of this great nation contains many exciting elements, but what provides a better insight into ancient Egypt and its incredibly imaginative inhabitants is the mythology.

At the center of ancient Egyptian culture, sacrifices and rituals were dedicated to enthralling gods in Egyptian mythology. Horus, Isis, and Osiris are but a few. With their far-reaching trade links, Egyptians could export their great religion and culture.

The mythology in this eBook provides an insight into prehistoric Egyptian society, including the deities, the pharaohs, rites, sacrifices, and the mysterious Book of the Dead.

Mythology of Egypt

Egyptian Mythology is a collection of myths derived from ancient Egypt, approximately from  4,000 BC until 30 C.E. Cleopatra VII, the last Ptolemaic monarch of Egypt died in the end.

Nut, the Sky, is held above Geb, the earth, by Shu, the air god (950 BCE).

Myths are often found in Egyptian writing and art; concise stories, Ritual texts, hymns, funerary texts, and temple decorations are among the religious materials. Rarely are these sources able to provide complete accounts of the legend, as they tend to describe it in fragmentary form.

The Silk Road was opened after 130 BCE, and Egyptian religion and beliefs were spread beyond Egypt's borders. Alexandria became a center of commerce. In other cultures, Egyptian mythology was characterized by the concept of eternal life after death, reincarnation, and benevolent divinities. The Greek philosophers Plato and Pythagoras were influenced by Egyptian beliefs about reincarnation. Additionally, the Romans essentially adopted Egyptian religious cultures as it was by other civilizations.

Egypt's myths were greatly influenced by its natural surroundings. The Nile flooded the soil every year, renewing its fertility and promoting Egypt's civilization through agriculture. Daily, the sun rises and sets, blessing the land with Light and keeping watch over human affairs. Therefore, in the view of the Egyptians, water and the sun were emblematic of life. To them, time was a natural cycle. In this cycle, low and high floods caused destruction to cultivation and buildings and famine. A harsh desert surrounded the fertile Nile valley, inhabited by people whom the Egyptians considered savages disrupting the peace. In this way, they thought their habitation area was stable, isolated from the others.

Humanity was believed by the Egyptians to be a tiny part of eternity's journey. Gods and supernatural agents ruled and coordinated this voyage.

Bunsen writes:

According to Egyptian religious beliefs, Heh, also called Huh in some eras, represented eternity - the goal and destiny of human life in every phase of existence - a stage in which mortals could reach everlasting bliss (86)."

For Egyptians, the afterlife was a reflection of their lives on earth. A person's existence on this earth is part of their eternal journey; it's also an introduction to something bigger. To enjoy the remainder of one's endless journey, one must live it correctly.

Creating the World

Out of chaos and obscurity, the universe and the world were created. At one time, all that existed was infinite dark water, devoid of any form or purpose. Atum (sometimes Ptah) lived atop this hill and arose from this bedlam. Observing the emptiness, Atum realized how lonely he was. Atum bred with his shadow to create two children: Tefnut (Goddess of moisture) and Shu (God of air). Order principles were issued by Tefnut, and life principles were given by Shu.

He awaited the return of his children for some time, and Atum became increasingly anxious. So he sent his one eye out in search of them.

After some time, Shu and Tefnut returned with his one look, much to the relief of Atum; he shed tears of happiness at the return of his children. After his tears rained down, women and men were born from Ben-Ben's fertile soil. After being taken, the siblings left their father on the Ben-Ben and created the world.

Goddesses pour the primeval waters around the circular mound of creation (1075–945 BC).

There was no place for these early beings to live, however. Consequently, Tefnut and Shu could mate and produce Nut (the Sky) and Geb (the earth). The siblings of Geb and Nut became inseparable lovers. Atum could not accept Geb's unacceptable behavior, and he took Nut to the heavens. They could both see each other clearly, but could not touch. Nut, already impregnated by Geb, bore Set, Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys- the prominent Egyptian gods. The world was given to Osiris by Atum probably because he was seen as a sensible and thoughtful god.

Sources

Egyptian mythology contains delightful stories and solemn hymns. In ancient Egypt, most people were illiterate, so the myths spread mainly through storytelling. Some have suggested that this storytelling tradition explains why so few details exist in the tales—every Egyptian was aware of the legends. There is very little evidence of surviving oral habits, and the only sources of knowledge of Egyptian mythologies today are pictorial and written. Few of these writings have survived to the present, as most have been lost.

Goddesses and Gods

In ancient Egypt, the gods had a great deal of influence over daily life. They were the ones who set the order of the universe and created it. The gods and goddesses had their own cult; they were worshipped with rituals and sacrifices.

Isis

Geb and Nut had one daughter, Isis (Egyptian Aset or Eset). Her siblings were Osiris, Seth, Nephthys, and Haroeris. From Osiris, she was