Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Name and describe Egyptian gods and some roles in ancient belief: Ra and the sun, Osiris and the afterlife, Isis and magic and motherhood, Anubis and mummification, Horus and the sky, Thoth and writing, and Bastet and home protection. Explain that gods could have several roles and forms, and could share them.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Name at least four Egyptian gods/goddesses and describe their roles
- Describe how animal forms could show gods' powers, and recognise that some reasons for these forms are uncertain
- Understand that Egyptians built temples as homes for the gods and performed daily rituals there
1 · Read
Egyptians believed in many gods with different, sometimes shared powers. In myths, Ra sailed the sun across the sky daily in a boat. Anubis protected the dead during mummification, preserving bodies for the afterlife. Bastet, shown with a cat head, protected homes and families. Thoth was linked to writing and knowledge. Horus was a falcon-headed sky god. His eyes represented the sun and moon. Gods could also look like people.
Animal forms could show a god's powers. Anubis had a jackal head. Jackals lived near burial grounds, perhaps linking him to guarding the dead. Bastet's cat head suggested protection of homes. Thoth's ibis head represented a god of writing and knowledge; why this bird was chosen is uncertain. Falcons fly high and see far, fitting Horus's sky role. Different gods could share an animal form.
Different animal forms could express different powers.
Egyptians built temples as homes for gods. They believed a god could live in a temple statue. Priests cared for these statues daily, washing and dressing them and offering food. These rituals honoured the god's presence in the temple.
A role is something a god was believed to do. A god could have several roles, and different gods could share a role. Osiris ruled the afterlife. Isis was linked to magic, motherhood and protection. Thoth was linked to both writing and the moon. Stories and pictures of gods could change over time.
Egyptian gods could have several roles and forms. Animal images expressed their powers, and priests cared for statues in temples.
More to read
Meet the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Ancient Egyptians believed in many gods and goddesses. A god could have several roles, and different gods could share powers. Stories and images changed over time.
Ra was a sun god. People told of his daily boat journey across the sky.
Osiris ruled the afterlife in Egyptian belief. Isis was linked with magic, motherhood and protection.
Anubis protected the dead and was linked with mummification, preserving bodies for the afterlife. Artists often gave him a jackal head.
Horus was linked with the sky and kingship. He could be shown as a falcon or a falcon-headed person. Egyptians connected their living king with Horus.
Thoth was linked with writing, knowledge and the moon. He could appear as an ibis, an ibis-headed person or a baboon.
Bastet was linked with protection and could appear as a cat or a cat-headed goddess. She also had other forms and roles.
Temples were treated as homes for gods. Priests cared for temple statues daily, washing and dressing them and offering food and drink.
Anubis and His Jackal Head
Anubis was an Egyptian god linked with mummification and protecting the dead. Artists often showed him with a jackal head or as a whole jackal.
Jackals lived near burial grounds. This may explain why Egyptians linked a jackal form with a guardian of the dead. The animal was a symbol of divine powers. Other Egyptian gods could also have jackal forms, so a head alone is not always enough to identify a statue.
Mummification preserved a body for the afterlife. It involved more than wrapping: bodies were dried and treated before being wrapped in linen. Egyptians believed Anubis protected this work.
In judgment scenes, Anubis could tend scales weighing a person's heart against the feather of truth. A balanced heart showed that the person could enter the afterlife. This was part of Egyptian religious belief.
Anubis had more than one role. His links with mummification, graves and judgment all concerned care for the dead.
Bastet, the Cat Goddess
Bastet was an Egyptian goddess linked with protection. Artists often showed her as a cat or a woman with a cat's head. Earlier images could show a lioness form.
People associated her with home and family protection. She was also linked to fertility and celebration. Her roles and forms changed over time.
Some stories called Bastet a daughter of Ra, a sun god. Her cat form could express gentle qualities, while her lioness form could express fierceness.
Cats were valued as household companions and hunters of pests. They also became sacred animals associated with Bastet. Religion was one reason people valued them.
Bastet had a temple at Bubastis. Festivals there honoured her with music and dancing.
A cat figure can suggest Bastet, but Egyptian gods could share forms and powers. Names and other clues help us understand an image.
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