Egyptian Deities

[Underworld Priestess]

There are many deities in Ancient Egypt, some are well known most are not.
The following is a brief list of deities and a brief description for each of them, just to start. Over time I will write a section for each deity on the list. If you have any questions or a deity you feel should be added just let me know.

A Brief Overview of the Deities:

Gods:

. . Aker..........................The double lion god.

. . Amun................................The hidden one.

. . Ammut.............................The devourer.

. . Anubis..............................The jackal, deity of embalming, cemeteries, guardian and guide of the dead.

. . Geb................................. Great Cackler..

. Hapi................................Father of the gods.

. . Horus...............................He who is above.

. . Khepri.............................. He who comes into existence.

. . Aten..................................Lord of all.

. . Khnum..............................Lord of the cool waters.

. . Min...................................Chief of Heaven.

. . Osiris................................King of the dead.

. . Ptah.................................. The Opener.

. . Ra.................................. Father of the gods.

. . Seth.................................. Lord of Upper Egypt, god of storms and evil.

. . Sobek............................... He who causes to be fertile.

. . Thoth............................... The great measurer, god of knowledge.

Goddess:

. . Bastet...............................The Tearer.

. . Hathor.............................. Mistress of heaven.

. . Isis................................... The throne.

. . Maat.................................The goddess of truth.

. . Mut...................................Lady of Heaven..

. Neith................................ Great Goddess.

. . Nephthys.......................... Lady of the house, Friend of the Dead.

. . Nut................................... The Sky.

. . Sekhmet........................... Mighty One.

. . Seshat............................. Lady of the Library.

. . Taurt................................ The great lady.  

[Underworld Priestess]

Aker

 

[Underworld Priestess]

Amun

 

[Underworld Priestess]

Ammut

 

[Underworld Priestess]

Anubis

Called Ienpw (phonetically "Yinepu") or Inpu by the Ancient Egyptians, He is the canine funerary deity of ancient Egypt. He is depicted in most cases as a man with the head of a jackal or in full jackal form. His jackal form is always in the color black to signify rotting flesh or to symbolize his role as a funerary deity (depending on what source one reads). In at least one instance, he is depicted in an all human form. The reason the jackal form was chosen for him or taken by him is because jackals were frequent visitors to the cemetaries and tombs of Ancient Egypt.

The meaning of his name is unknown -- speculations range from "Royal Child" to having derived from the world for "to putrefy". Both certainly fit the deity, who was at various points in time of Egyptian history known as the lord of the dead before Osiris and, later, became popularly known as the son of Osiris.

Anubis is an extremely ancient deity. The oldest mastabas of the Old Kingdom have prayers to him carved into their walls, and he is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts in his most celebrated role as a guardian and protector of the dead. A standard offering formula for the dead in the Old Kingdom began:
"An offering which the king gives and Anubis, who is upon his mountain and in the place of embalming, the lord of the necropolis...."

Anubis was the first ruler over the dead until Osiris was forced to take residence in the valley of the dead. In the earliest period of Egyptian religion Anubis was clearly the lord of the dead and Osiris the embalmed god while Anubis performed the act of embalming. Titles that were invested unto Osiris -- such as Khenty-Imentiu or "Foremost of Westerners" -- were originally Anubis's. As the drama of Osiris's death and vindication unfolded over the centuries, (Osiris was murdered by his brother Set), Anubis assumed the role of the guide who holds steady the scales on which their hearts are measured against the feather of ma'at as "He Who Counts the Hearts". Should the heart be light as the feather, the soul would then be lead by Anubis (or, in some cases, Harseisis) to be presented to Osiris. Should the heart be heavy, it is fed to Ammit and the soul destroyed.

As Imy-ut, or "He Who is In the Place of Embalming", Anubis is the embalmer who washes the entrails of the dead and guards over their physical bodies as well as the places that house them (the tomb and the necropolis). Priests wearing a mask of Anubis were responsible for the Opening of the Mouth ceremony that reawakened a dead person's senses. In a reflection of the royal seal used on the tombs of the Valley of the Kings depicting pharaoh's victory over the "nine bows" (enemies of Egypt), Anubis is shown recumbent over nine bows meant to be hostile forces of the Underworld who he -- as "Jackal Ruler of the Bows" -- has triumphed over.

As for the parents of Anubis. The most common belief is that he is the son of Nephthys and Osiris but another equally common theory says that he is the son of Nephthys and Set. Another possible father is said to be Ra. Other possible theories for his mother were Hesat, the cow goddess, this was from a Coffin Text. Bastet has also been mentioned. In the Pyramid Texts he has a daughter, the goddess Qeb-hwt ("Cooling Water") a celestial serpent or ostrich.

Anubis was worshipped throughout Egypt, but the center of his cult was in Cynopolis (Upper Egypt).

- sources are partially my own notes on this deity and the rest is from http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/anubis.html