Egyptian mythology contains and encompasses a plethora of mystical aspects, myths, and deities of both Ancient Egyptian society and religion. Egyptian myths characterize and describe the diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, serving as a means to explain aspects of the natural world: the creation of man and the planet, the afterlife, and natural phenomena. Egyptian myths helped establish a religion of ethics through the lessons  hidden within the myths. Egyptian Mythology has lived throughout history despite seemingly being eradicated by various emperors, such as Constantine and Christian Roman Emperors, who outlawed paganism, creating a decline of belief ranging from 4th Century CE to 6th Century CE. Still, Egyptian Mythology lives on in modern culture through displays in various media (“Egyptian Mythology”).

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Egyptian mythology connected the complex and diverse groups of individuals surrounding Egypt’s Nile River valley. The mythology deeply affected Egyptian culture, influencing copious rituals and providing an ideological framework for kingship. In Egyptian society, the pharaoh, or king, possessed a supremacy above others and served as an intermediary and link between the deities and humans. The Pharaohs were viewed as successors of the gods who had ruled Egypt during its infancy. Therefore, given the responsibility of maintaining the welfare of Egyptian society and revering the gods through temple construction and the formation of cults, the Pharaoh was seen as a “living god,” maintaining a title reflecting the sun god Ra and the sky god Horus and often achieving the status of a god after their death (“Egyptian Mythology”).

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Owing to the Nile River being geographically bordered by deserts and separated from civilization, Egyptian religion had little influence from foreign culture. However, with conquests by Alexander the Great’s in 332 B.C. and the Romans roughly 300 years later, Egyptian religion was adulterated and weakened. The impact was primarily seen when, by A.D. 400, Christianity had become the supreme faith. Due to this weakening, Egyptians did not share a single belief system. Almost universally, The Egyptians acknowledged and accepted certain principles and myths, such as those regarding the implications that could arise from unfaithfulness; the idea that the “chaos” or destructive forces of the universe would be unleashed if the gods were not revered by both the pharaoh and his people. However, the specific qualities of these myths, such as where or how a deity performed an action, generally shifted from each group or tribe across Egypt. For example, although there are an abundance of creation stories, the overarching principles or deities involved remain the same. Additionally, the identities and personalities of the Egyptian gods varied from myth to myth. For example, many of the gods were known by various names, such as the goddess Hathor who is also known as the Eye of Ra or the god Ra who is often merged with the god Amun, becoming Amun-Ra. Although the diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses were revered differently depending on the group, ancient Egyptians shared unity through general qualities but disagreed on specific details, such as how specific events were carried out and who was involved (“Egyptian Mythology”).

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Creation: Atum, Ra, Aten, Amun

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In ancient Egyptian religion, Atum was a creator god whose myth originated in Heliopolis, which was a city near Egypt's Nile River. Atum is a manifestation of the sun and creator god, associated with a variety of creation myths (“Atum”). According to the creation myth, Nu, or Nun, before the beginning of time, was the name of the primordial waters of chaos. Out of these waters, Atum, either from sheer will or thought, created himself. Creating a mound to stand on, Atum sought to establish order, creating Ma’at, the personification of order and justice, truth, and balance. Then, Atum created his son, Shu, the god of the air, by spitting him out, and his daughter, Tefnut, the goddess of mist and moisture by vomiting her out. Shu and Tefnut then created Geb, the god of the earth and Nut, the god of the sky. Atum then, during a stressful situation, cried, creating humans which upheld Ma’at or order and justice. Additionally, Shu and Tefnut produced other gods: Isis, Osiris, Hathor, Seth, Thoth, and Nepththys. Together, all these gods formed the Ennead, or Great Ennead, of Heliopolis, a collection of gods. As a self-created deity, Atum provided the ancient Egyptians, primarily those living in Heliopolis, closure regarding creation and the rabbit hole of existence ("Egyptian Mythology").

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Considering how there are various creation myths, Atum is often replaced or merged with Ra, the god of the sun and sometimes creation, becoming Atum-Ra. Atum is also associated with solar myths, where the god is seen to be the personification of the sun, depicted as Atum during dusk, “Khepri at dawn and as Re at the sun’s zenith” (Brittanica, "Atum"). In other accounts of solar myths, Atum travels to the underworld at nightfall, giving light to the depths, being born in the morning and dying at night. Still, although Atum is revered as the creator of all subjects, other accounts may refer to Ra, Amun, or Aten in the same light. Ra, however, largely considered the god of the sun, is often merged with the creators Amun and Atum, becoming either Amun-Ra or Atum-Ra. In this merged form, the composite god was different both in rank and influence, becoming the supreme god of the pantheon. The various deities of creation and their connections through these “composite forms” demonstrate how Egyptian mythology is rich in complexity (“Egyptian Mythology”).

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