Egyptian Creation myths

There were four theories; however, each theory holds that in the
beginning, only a primordial, stagnant ocean called Nu existed. In
addition, the four theories agree that out of Nu, rose the primeval hill.
Each cosmology believed it was their temple that stood on this hill. The
first step-pyramids are no doubt symbolic of this mound. All
cosmologies share the belief that creation was a slow process, not
catastrophic. Finally, they also all agree that there was a "First Time,
or a time period when the gods actually lived on earth.

Heliopolitan cosmogony
the Heliopolitan cosmogony develops the myth further. The first event
was the creation of Amun, the god of Heliopolis. There is dispute over
whether he created himself, or was the son of Nu. Some texts say he first
appeared over the hill, others say he was, himself, the hill. Eventually,
Atum became associated with Ra, the sun-god. Ra-Atum at this point is
said to be the coming of the light to disperse the darkness of Nu.
His next task was to create other gods. He did this by masturbation, not
having a mate. This was not offensive to ancient Egyptians, but in fact
intensified his power in their minds. Ra-Amun gave birth by spitting out
twins: Shu,the god of the air and Tefnut, goddess of world order. Shu
and Tefnut gave birth to Geb, god of the earth, and his wife and sister,
Nut, goddess of the sky. Geb and Nut, in turn, were the parents of Isis,
Osiris, Nephthys, and Set. Horus, another god was the son of Isis and
Osiris.

Creator gods--Amun

King of gods, primeval, hidden power

Thebes, Hemopolis Magna

Creator godsRa or Re

Creator, solar
Heliopolis

Creator god--Ptah

Creator, craftsman
Memphis

Creator god--Aten

Solar God worshiped by Akhenaten

Nut, Geb and Shu

Children of Nut and Geb

Isis and Nepthys

Osiris

Seth

Death of Osiris

Osiris is the focus of a famous legend in which he was killed by the

rival god Seth. At a banquet of the gods, Seth fooled Osiris into
stepping into a coffin, which he promptly slammed shut and cast into
the Nile. The coffin was born by the Nile to the delta town of Byblos,
where it became enclosed in a tamarisk tree. Isis, the wife of Osiris,
discovered the coffin and brought it back. (The story to this point is
attested only by the Greek writer Plutarch, although Seth was identified
as his murderer as early as the Pyramid era of the Old Kingdom.)
Seth took advantage of Isis's temporary absence on one occasion, cut
the body to pieces, and cast them into the Nile.

Rescue of Osiris by Isis

Isis searched the land for the body parts of Osiris, and was
eventually able to piece together his body, whole save for the penis,
which had been swallowed by a crocodile (according to Plutarch)
or a fish (according to Egyptian texts). In some Egyptian texts, the
penis is buried at Memphis. Isis replaced the penis with a reasonable
facsimile, and she was often portrayed in the form of a kite being
impregnated by the corpse of Osiris. In some Egyptian texts, the
scattering of the body parts is likened to the scattering of
grain in the fields, a reference to Osiris's role as a vegetation god.

Osiris

Isis

Seth

God of chaos, infertility, desert, storm

Horusson of Osiris and Isis

God of the sky, kingship, divine utterance and authority

Hathor

Goddess of love, fertility, sexuality,

music, dance, alcohol

Hathor continued

Anubis: jackal-headed god of

cemeteries and embalming

Bastet

Daughter of Ra,
protective goddess

Bes
Leonine dwarf
who helped women
in childbirth

Sekhmet:Lioness-headed
goddess of healing

Tawaret: goddess of mothers &

pregnant women

Maat: goddess of order, truth,

justice

Thoth: god of wisdom,

protector of scribes

Animal mummies

Akh, Ba, and Ka

Ibis symbolizing
akhtransfigured
spirit

Baa bird symbolizing

our concept of personality

Ka: intimately linked

with physical body