Home -> Encyclopedia -> Mythology – Major Myths and Legends Ancient Egyptian Mythology
- Creation Myths of Egypt: Examines stories from Egyptian mythology about how the world and its inhabitants were created. It typically talks about the primordial waters, the god Ra-Atum, and the legendary city of Heliopolis where creation supposedly started.
- Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephtys: An overview of one of the most renowned mythological narratives. This is a tale comprising love, betrayal, death, and resurrection, with these gods being central figures.
- The Tale of Ra and Apep: Describes the eternal battle between the sun god Ra and serpentine god of chaos, Apep. This story is a metaphor for the daily renewal of the sun’s journey across the sky.
- The Perils of the Underworld: An article covering the trials faced by the deceased in the underworld before they can achieve their eternal life. An important text for these narratives is “The Book of the Dead.”
- Journey of The Sun God: Encapsulates the daily journey of Ra across the horizon. It takes into account the legend of the sun barge and the symbology of the sun setting and rising.
- Legend of Isis and The Seven Scorpions: A story about Isis and her journey, accompanied by seven magical scorpions, to save her son, Horus, from Seth. The story carries themes of loyalty and protective maternal love.
- The Judgment of the Human Heart: Narrates the tale of how the hearts of deceased humans are weighed against Ma’at’s feather of truth, in the presence of Osiris, to determine their fate in the afterlife.
- Horus and Seth’s Battle: Foregrounds the legendary battles between Seth and Horus, often symbolizing the struggle between disorder and societal harmony.
- The Hymn to the Aten: Presents a singular exception in the polytheistic worldview of ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh Akhenaten introduced Aten as the sole god. This hymn offers praise to the sun disk Aten.
- The Myth of The Distant Goddess: Explores a recurring pattern in Egyptian myth where a goddess, angry or upset, withdraws from the world of gods and men, causing crisis. The goddess must be appeased and brought back to restore order.