The Ennead
Information about the
Ancient Egyptian Ennead
What is the Ennead? The Ennead is the collective name given to the nine
original deities (Gods and Goddesses) of the cosmogony of Heliopolis (the birthplace of the Gods) in
the creation myths and legends of the Ancient Egyptians.
The Egyptian Ennead -
The Creation Myth
The early Egyptian priests evolved a
creation myth, or Cosmogony, to explain how some of the Gods and
Goddesses came into being. The early Egyptian priests then evolved a
Family tree in which the relationships between the main Egyptian Gods
and Goddesses of the Ennead.
Egyptian Gods &
Goddesses -
The Ennead of Heliopolis
The Ennead is the collective name given to the nine deities of the
cosmogony of Heliopolis. Heliopolis was also one of the most ancient cities
of Egypt particularly associated with worship of sun-deities ( Sun Gods) and
Heliopolis was believed to be the birthplace of the company of the gods where creation began. The nine
deities, or Gods and Goddesses of the Egyptian Ennead were as follows:
Each of these Ancient
Egyptian Gods and Goddesses who formed the Ennead played a part in the
creation myth, also called the Cosmogony. Details of the Gods and
Goddesses of the Ennead are detailed below.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God
Atum
The God Atum the God of Life and
Reproduction who was depicted by depicted with a solar, or sun, disk and
a scarab beetle was his symbol. He was also sometimes depicted with the
head of a falcon. Atum was the first God and spat out the elements of
moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu).
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God
Geb
The God Geb God of Life beneath the
Earth, Vegetation and the Underworld. Geb was depicted with the body of
a man and the head of a Goose. Geb was believed to have descended from
the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who spat out the
elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu). The
twins, Shu and Tefnut, gave birth to Geb and his sister Nut. Geb and Nut
had four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The
Goddess Isis
The Goddess Isis was the Goddess of
Love, Magic, Fertility and Healing. Isis was depicted with the body of a
woman and the horns of the cow. Isis was believed to be the daughter of
the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. She was the sister of
Osiris, Seth and Nephthys. She was also the wife of Osiris and mother of
the God Horus.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The
Goddess Nephthys
The Goddess Nephthys was the Goddess
of Divine Assistance. Nephthys was depicted with the symbol of her name
on top of horns. In the funerary role, Nephthys was also depicted with
the head of a falcon or vulture, or as a woman with the bird's wings.
Nephthys was believed to be the daughter of the Earth God, Geb, and the
Sky Goddess, Nut. She was the sister of Osiris, Seth and Nephthys. She
was also the wife of Seth and mother of the God Anubis whose father was
Osiris.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The
Goddess Nut
The Goddess Nut the Goddess of Sky
and a symbol of resurrection and rebirth. Nut was depicted with with
blue skin and her body is covered with stars. She is also depicted with
the body of a woman and the head of a Cow. Nut was believed to have
descended from the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who spat
out the elements of moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God
Shu)The twins, Shu and Tefnut, gave birth to Nut and her brother Geb who
also became husband and wife. Geb and Nut had four children: Osiris,
Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God
Osiris
The God Osiris Osiris was the God of
Death, the Dead, the Underworld and Rebirth. Osiris was depicted as a
Pharaoh wearing a crown together with the other emblems of power such as
a crook, flail and beard. Osiris was believed to be the eldest son of
the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut. He was the brother of
Isis, Seth and Nephthys. He was also the husband of Isis and father of
the God Horus. He was also believed to be the father of the God Anubis
by his sister Nephthys.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God
Seth (aka Set)
The God Seth God of Evil, Chaos,
Desert & Storms. Seth was depicted with the body of a manand the head of
Beast resembling an aardvark. Occasionally seen in the form of a
crocodile. Seth was believed to be a younger son of the Earth God, Geb,
and the Sky Goddess, Nut. He was the brother of Osiris, Isis and
Nephthys. He was also the husband of his sister Nephthys. Legend tells
that the jealous Seth murdered his brother Osiris.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The God
Shu
The God Shu was described as
being God of Wind and Air and one of the 'twin lion gods' with his
sister, and wife, Tefnet. Shu was depicted with the body of a man
wearing an ostrich feather or occasionally with the head of a lion. Shu
was believed to have been created by the Sun God Atum, Ra or Re, the
Lord of Creation, who spat out the elements of moisture (the Goddess
Tefnut) and air (the God Shu)The twins, Shu and Tefnut gave birth to the
Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead - The
Goddess Tefnut
The Goddess Tefnut Tefnut was
described as being Goddess of Rain and is linked to the sun and the
moon. Tefnut was depicted with the body of a woman and the head of
Lioness or Lion. Tefnut was believed to have been created by the Sun God
Atum, Ra or Re, the Lord of Creation who spat out the elements of
moisture (the Goddess Tefnut) and air (the God Shu). The twins, Shu and
Tefnut gave birth to the Earth God, Geb, and the Sky Goddess, Nut.
The Ancient Egyptian Ennead
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