Unique Religious Figures in Ancient Egypt

While most people are familiar with the Greek gods like Zeus and Poseidon, the ancient Egyptian gods tend to be overlooked. Holding just as much culture and religion in their stories, these gods are an important piece of our history. Today, we'll be looking at some of the biggest names during this era and why they were so revered (or feared). 

WSP300 on Wikimedia

1. Osiris

Considered one of the most important ancient Egyptian gods, Osiris was in control of not only fertility but also the underworld and the afterlife. Being the god of such significant aspects of life, many worshipped him in hopes of receiving immortality. 

The New York Public Library on Unsplash

2. Isis

As the wife to Osiris, many might say Isis is considered the Queen Mother of the Gods. She was definitely an important religious figure to the ancient Egyptians as the goddess of healing, magic, and protection. Alongside her husband, these two were arguably the most worshipped deities during this era. 

AXP Photography on Pexels

3. Horus

If you've ever seen an ancient Egyptian figure with the head of a falcon and the body of a man, you were likely unknowingly looking at Horus. This incredibly powerful and worshipped god represented kingship, the sun, and the sky. He is noted to be the son of Osiris and Isis, demonstrating just how crucial he is in ancient Egyptian religion. 

AXP Photography on Unsplash

4. Anubis

Possibly one of the most recognizable ancient Egyptian gods, Anubis stands out for having the head of a jackal. Given how detailed and unique Egyptian embalming practices were, he was a major religious figure as the god of funeral practices, graves, and guide to the underworld. He was also often associated with the color black, which was often a symbol of regeneration and life. 

Egor Myznik on Unsplash

5. Amun

To help you gain perspective, Amun is often considered the Egyptian equivalent to Zeus, the King of the Gods. After merging together with Ra to become Amun-Ra, it further solidified his position at the top. Known as the god of air and the sun, many saw him as the ultimate creator and worshipped him greatly. 

Vladislav Glukhotko on Unsplash

6. Hapi

We all know how crucial the Nile River was to the ancient Egyptians as it provided food, trade, and materials. That's why Hapi is considered a very valuable religious figure as he was seen as the god of the Nile River. To be more specific, he was in charge of the annual flooding, a very important event that was what allowed the Egyptian's crops to grow and flourish. 

Zetazo on Wikimedia

7. Bastet

While Bastet was initially viewed as a lion warrior, she became more widely known as the cat goddess. She was a protector of Lower Egypt and was commonly associated with the Eye of Ra (as his daughter) which was a symbol of ultimate power that was feared and respected. 

Rama on Wikimedia

8. Tefnut

Considering ancient Egypt was largely a desert, being the goddess of rain and water meant you were very highly regarded, as is the case for Tefnut. As the daughter of Ra-Atum, she is another who is able to control the Eye of Ra. She is portrayed either as fully human or with the head of a lion. 

tutincommon (Mr. John Campana) on Wikimedia

9. Ma'at

As the goddess of justice, law, and order, Ma'at played a very large role in day-to-day society. For the ancient Egyptians to live peacefully together, they followed seven important principles represented by Ma'at which are truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. She is also usually depicted wearing an ostrich feather which symbolizes these values. 

TYalaA on Wikimedia

10. Shu

As the son of Atum and the brother to Tefnut, Shu was another big religious figure that was responsible for light, air, and wind. It's said that believers thought him to be the dry air that sits right between the Earth and the sky. He is often painted in different ways, sometimes as a human with ostrich feathers or sometimes as a lion. 

A. Parrot on Wikimedia

11. Ra

Not to be confused with Horus (though they share many characteristics), Ra was an almighty god that ruled the sun, sky, and kings. His head was that of a falcon and carried a large sun-disk above it. With the powerful Eye of Ra simply being an extension of his true power, it reinforced his royal standing and dominance. 

AnonymousUnknown author on Wikimedia

12. Nut

In ancient Egyptian religion, Nut is often viewed as the goddess of the universe and many aspects surrounding it including stars, the sky, and astronomy. An interesting fact about her is that she was cursed by Ra out of fear she would produce a child stronger than he was. 

Panegyrics of Granovetter on Wikimedia

13. Hathor

Like many of the gods on this list, Hathor was responsible for more than just one role. As the goddess of love, nurturing, fertility, and beauty, her animal form is the cow, a creature commonly tied to maternal values. But in her more powerful form, she is another goddess who takes on the Eye of Ra, protecting him from his enemies. 

LorettaLynn on Pixabay

14. Sobek

Here's a more interesting figure: Sobek was the god of crocodiles. Seen in many art pieces as half crocodile and half human, he plays an interesting role in Egyptian religion. While most of us may view these reptiles as terrifying creatures to stay away from, in ancient Egypt, they were viewed as religious beings that helped in peoples' journey to the afterlife and beyond. 

Hedwig Storch on Wikimedia

15. Ptah

As a mighty creator god, one story surrounding Ptah is that he brought the entire world to life through his power of speech. Now that's an incredible tale to be associated with! He's also referred to as the guardian of craftsmen, sculptors, and architects, making him similar to the Greek god Hephaestus. 

Marco Chemello (WMIT) on Wikimedia

16. Thoth

Thoth is an ancient Egyptian god typically depicted with the head of a baboon, a sacred animal frequently associated with him. He is the husband of Ma'at and is the god of the Moon, wisdom, and knowledge. In many myths, he plays a very crucial part, one of which states he is in charge of maintaining the entire universe. 

2H Media on Unsplash

17. Sekhmet

With the head of a lion carrying a sun-disk, Sekhmet is a goddess to be feared. Many were anxious to disappoint or upset her because though she is the goddess of medicine, she was also known to be an intense retaliator. Let's just say she wasn't someone you wanted as your enemy. 

Vassil on Wikimedia

18. Set

One of the more dangerous gods on this list, Set was not known as a friendly being; he's the god of storms, the desert, and violence. He is most known for playing a crucial part in one of the most iconic Egyptian myths (the Osiris myth) where he took the life of his own brother. He is also constantly written to have conflict against Horus in many legends and tales. 

RGY23 on Pixabay

19. Nephthys

While Nephthys might be a difficult name to pronounce, when translated, it means Lady of the House/Temple (which is pretty cool). She is seen as the goddess of death and darkness, and though it might sound a bit grim, she was mainly seen as a protector. 

Neithsabes on Wikimedia

20. Bes

Considered to be one of the kinder gods in Egyptian religion, Bes was pictured as a small and bearded man wearing a feather crown. He wasn't a god to be feared, he was a protector for the home, children, and mothers. He was so synonymous with goodness that he became known as the defender of all good and a fighter against all the bad. 

Hajor~commonswiki on Wikimedia