Religion of Ancient Egypt is characterized by long-term existence of primitive representations.Throughout the centuries-old existence of the Egyptian state and the essence of the meaning of many cults repeatedly changing.The beliefs of primitive hunters, farmers and pastoralists are mixed together in the future to them affects the political events, the echoes of the ascent of the country and its decline.
should be noted that Egypt was not a single state religion, except during the reign of Akhenaten.That's because the unification of the pantheon of gods was not carried out.Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt are quite complex phenomenon, because they often joined often contradictory and sometimes quite conflicting beliefs.From time to time priestly circles still some attempts were made to streamline and consolidate the chaotic clutter historical beliefs.But the success they have failed.
Gods - progenitors of the world
There was in ancient Egypt and a unified concept of the universe.Was common views on the creation of the world were very inconsistent, due to different time of their origin and place of origin.The most popular legend about the universe of Heliopolis, which is narrated that from primordial chaos initially emerged as the personification of the sun Atum Atum-Ra.He is the ancestor of all living things.Fertilize himself, Atum spits air - Shu and Teftun - moisture, which in turn give rise to the sky - Nut and the earth - Hebe.At Nut and Geb were born Osiris, Seth, Isis and Nephthys.All these gods of Ancient Egypt
later, emerged in the era of statehood Memphis legend, attributes the creation of the world his god Ptah.
most revered deities in Egypt were associated with the Nile, for example, Sebek, Hapi, and with the sun - Horus, Atum, Ra, as well as the gods, patronage dead - Anubis, Osiris.The ancient Egyptians worshiped all around, considering that in the power of the gods are all areas of life, from the forces of nature to cultural development.Natural phenomena perceived as the relationship between the various deities.Social and cultural life had its backers.So, for example, the script associated with the goddess Saf ibisogolovoe deity or one that embodied the culture as a whole.
sun worship in ancient Egypt
Ideas about what shape were solar gods of Ancient Egypt, in different areas were different: whether it is the winged disc, or a huge bug - Scarab pushing disco lights in the sky, it is also represented in theForm falcon or a man who has his head falcon.
Representatives of the solar cult in different periods and in different centers and their names were: Ra, Khepera, Atum, Choir and others.Sometimes different gods of Ancient Egypt merged into one, and ideas about them superimposed.In the Old Kingdom, among other special place was the god Ra, who tal went beyond local significance and has become a cult obscheegipetsky state.Later, if some deity received national importance, it shall immediately united with Ra, and his name puts the corresponding particle: Sebek-Ra, Amun-Ra-Ra Mentu and others.
During the Middle Kingdom after the unification of Egypt under the rule of the Theban house, took the leading role the cult of the god Amun.He was considered a great celestial deity symbolizing the state, as well as the power and authority of Pharaoh.
other cults
Also, one of the most revered gods of Egypt were Osiris, who represented the Nile, his sister, and suddenly his wife - Isis - the goddess of fertility, protectress of mothers and their joint son Horus, one of the ancient gods of the sunand statehood.Dark forces personified brother Osiris Seth - god of drought, chaos and evil, and his wife Nephthys.These gods of Ancient Egypt inspired both fear and deep respect to the inhabitants of the valley of the Nile, who tried to appease their zealous worship.
syncretism cult of Osiris with the cult of the dead can be traced to ancient times, and to the period of the New Kingdom is quite clearly emerges idea of painting the underworld court, which administers Osiris.The conductor of the dead was considered the god Anubis, who was represented in the form of a jackal or a man with a jackal's head.
consider gods and myths of Egypt, be sure to consider them in specific historical circumstances, given the layers of different periods and places of distribution.All the gods of ancient Egypt are complicated syncretic incarnation of archetypes and occupy an important place in the cultural heritage of this mysterious state of the distant past.
