Old Egyptian myths depict gods and goddesses with various roles; Sobek is associated with crocodiles and represents strength and power.
Ma’at is an important character in these tales, embodying ideas of balance and universal order. Anubis is often associated with chaos and violence while Horus represents royalty and rebirth.
Osiris
Osiris, meaning “mighty” or “strong,” was the ruler and judge of the dead in Ancient Egyptian culture. Born to Geb, an earth god from Geb, and Nut, an air goddess from Nut, Osiris was murdered by Seth but brought back to life by Isis; also responsible for fertility and rebirth and annually flooding of the Nile river.
Seth was jealous of Osiris’ prosperous reign and sought a way to kill him. Seth planned this by inviting Osiris to a banquet where an exquisite chest was offered as an incentive. Osiris was the only person able to fit inside it; when he lay down inside it, Seth and his accomplices quickly closed it shut before throwing it back into the Nile river.
After being killed, Osiris became King of the Underworld while his son Horus was to become Pharaoh of Egypt. Unfortunately, Horus first had to deal with Seth who murdered his father – many stories describe this conflict and its resolution; most involve Horus spearing Seth in order to restore Osiris’ kingdom in the underworld where Osiris sits as Judge and weighs souls against Ma’at (truth) before awarding them their eternal resting place – often depicted with green or black skin indicating its renewal every few millisecond of time along its length!
Ra
Ra is considered one of the most powerful deities. Ancient Egyptians believed he brought life, warmth, and growth to all living things on Earth, depicted most often with the head of a falcon and sun disk above him but sometimes depicted as cats, herons, bulls, lions or even scarab beetles – having greater durability as his spear could penetrate his own shield before healing faster than other gods.
Ra was blessed with both destructive and restorative abilities, often using his fury against humanity as punishment for their transgressions. Other gods begged Ra to cease, but he refused. Finally, they tricked him by dyeing beer red to simulate blood and placing it at temple Dendera; Sekhmet (commonly referred to as Sakhet) consumed this potion, leading her back into her gentle goddess form as Hathor.
Ra, although Egypt’s most powerful god, was not without flaws. He harbored a powerful desire for revenge against anyone he felt wronged him and often displayed aggression when angry. Additionally, Ra had great vision that allowed him to observe all that went on beneath the sun – witnessing even Osiris’ death but refusing to intervene or provide assistance when his son died despite witnessing what would eventually turn into his demise and combating demonic creatures such as Apophis for eternity.
Isis
Isis was one of the most iconic figures of ancient Egyptian mythology, known for her role as wife to Osiris and mother of Horus. She is considered a goddess of fertility and childbirth as well as healing and protection – she even revives dead souls! Isis was revered by both Egyptians and foreign visitors, with Isis receiving more offerings than any other deity combined.
Legend states that Isis was able to bring her husband back from death after he had been murdered and dismembered by Seth, and later used this power to unite the parts of his body and become pregnant with their son who would later rule Egypt as King Tutankhamen. She became one of Egypt’s most revered goddesses, as well as being revered in Greece today where many continue worshipping her as one of their gods.
Outside Isis, there are other powerful Egyptian gods. Geb is known as the father of Isis and Osiris; his laughter reportedly causes earthquakes; often depicted with a goose perched upon his head, Geb may even bring rain when angry.
Isis was known to revive the dead through her power of magic, which consisted of words and ritual. Therefore, Greeks could not understand why she did not speak directly with them, although she was one of their consorts. Perhaps this was due to their religious practices which did not worship dead gods like Isis did – however other factors could also explain her silence.
Horus
Horus was both patron and protector of Egyptian monarchy. Often seen in his zoo-anthropomorphic form as the falcon-headed man or in his role as father to Isis, Horus provided both comfort and protection when life became difficult. He remained an ever present friend throughout its trials.
Harsomptus (Horus the Uniter), as Osiris was also known, is one of the two primary Egyptian deities who represent both upper and lower Egypt, associated with both sun- and moon worship respectively. Harsomptus also acts as an advocate against his father Osiris; thus creating multiple associations between Osiris, Horus and Re.
His early decorated monuments from Nekhen depict him wearing the double crown of kingship to symbolize his affiliation with monarchy and identification with Pharaoh. Additionally, he is often shown wearing falcon wings while sporting youth’s sidelocks while defeating crocodiles, serpents, or any other animals that threaten his authority.
Legend tells that Isis concealed her son Horus while fighting Seth for Osiris’ throne in the Delta swamps. After losing her eyesight due to Seth, she petitioned Thoth, who restored it by reassembling pieces of Horus’ eye into an amulet known as wedjat eye amulet. Isis is also revered as guardian goddess for Duamutef, one of Four Sons of Horus who watched over canopic jars in tombs; many funerary portraits depict Isis alongside him as well.
Seth
Seth, commonly referred to by its Egyptian name Set, is the god of war, chaos and storms in ancient Egyptian mythology. Seth is often depicted as the enemy or antagonist despite also serving as an indicator of power and strength. Through history he has taken various forms, even becoming adversaries to several Egyptian deities – particularly during the time when Asiatics ruled Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period and worshipped him alongside Canaanite god Baal at Avaris.
Seth was one of the most captivating figures in ancient Egyptian mythology. Feeling threatened by his sister Isis’ newborn son Osiris, Seth killed and dismembered Osiris resulting in him earning himself the reputation as “god of violence and chaos.”
Seth eventually loses in their battle over control of the universe; but this doesn’t indicate his evil nature; rather it was part of maintaining order in it.
Seth was often perceived as being chaotic and violent; however, his many attributes also included protection for both pharaohs and people of ancient Egypt. He reigned over deserts, was thought to bring storms and rain. Additionally, Seth was believed to be capable of controlling oasis spaces as well as serving as patron saint of travelers; rituals and ceremonies were held regularly to keep his spirit alive including animal sacrifices and libations offerings to him.
Nephthys
Nephthys is the goddess of death and decay in Egyptian mythology, acting as the dark sister to Isis and Seth as well as wife of Anubis and part of the Great Ennead of nine deities who reigned supreme during ancient Egyptian civilization. Nephthys serves both to protect souls through death as well as aid funeral rites.
Like her daughter Isis, Nephthys is known to be the deity who rules over death and protects the underworld. However, unlike Isis she is also seen as powerful life giver – helping bring Osiris back from death with Isis’ help. Additionally she shares an extremely close family relationship with Isis making Nephthys an extremely potent deity.
Myth has it that Nephthys seduced Osiris by drugging his wine and fooling him into thinking she was Isis. After this was accomplished, she assisted Isis in gathering up Osiris’ scattered body parts before the King could be restored back to life, hence why the sisters came to be known as Weeping Sisters.
Nephthys was a central figure in Egyptian religion and culture. She can be found throughout Egyptian art and writing from the Old Kingdom period – such as artifacts such as mortuary texts like Book of the Dead. Nephthys is most often depicted wearing an elaborate headdress of disk and horns with her name written out hieroglyphically on her forehead; funerary art depictions often feature her with wings.