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Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

By , About.com Guide

The Egyptian gods and goddesses were mostly, at least partly anthropomorphic -- human shaped -- deities who behaved like humans and walked among mortals. Gods were not worshiped in the same way throughout Egypt or throughout time. Particular locations and pharaohs favored one set of gods over another. Here is a summary list of some of the major gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt and their primary functions.

Osiris

Priest of Osiris Holding Canopic Jar of Osiris.Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Osiris, god of the dead, is the son of Geb and Nut, brother/husband of Isis, and father of Horus. He is dressed like the pharaohs wearing an atef crown with ram's horns, and carrying a crook and flail, with his lower body mummified. Osiris is an underworld god who, after being murdered by his brother, was brought back to life by his wife. Since he was killed, Osiris thereafter lives in the underworld where he judges the dead.

Re - Ra

Ra at Deir el BahariCC Flickr User kairoinfo4u
Re or Ra, the Egyptian sun god, ruler of everything, was especially associated with the city of the sun or Heliopolis. He came to be associated with Horus. Re may be depicted as a man with a sun disk on his head or with the head of a falcon

Set - Seth

Seth Amulet.Public Domain. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Set or Seti is the Egyptian god of chaos, evil, war, storms, deserts, and foreign lands, who killed and cut up his older brother Osiris. He is depicted as composite animals.

Shu

The Egyptian god Shu holding up the skyClipart.com
Shu was an Egyptian air and sky god who mated with his sister Tefnut to sire Nut and Geb. Shu is shown with an ostrich feather. He is responsible for holding the sky separate from the earth.

Tefnut

A fertility goddess, Tefnut is also the Egyptian goddess of moisture or water. She is the wife of Shu and mother of Geb and Nut. Sometimes Tefnut helps Shu hold up the firmament.

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