The Egyptian Gods

The Egyptian gods are the key players in Egyptian mythology, an ancient collection of narratives that evolved over thousands of years to explain the origins of the forces of nature around us, their impact on our lives, the nature of humankind itself, what it means to be human, our relationship with the earth and the cosmos, and our sense of place within it.

If we include all of the major gods, minor gods, spirits, demi-gods, mythical creatures, etc. from all of the different traditions across the ancient Egyptian world, we would be looking at about five hundred, and if all of them were included in this book, it would be so thick that you would have to ask Montu, Horus, Set, and Bes to hold each corner of it for you, so this is an illustrated introduction to sixty two of them.

In ancient Egypt, the gods were not just figures of worship, they were central to most aspects of daily life. As ancient Egyptian civilisation declined and foreign powers took hold, the prominence of these gods waned but was never entirely forgotten. Egyptian culture spread through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange. During the Ptolemaic dynasty, Egyptian and Greek culture was fused together, resulting in the philosophical and spiritual tradition of Hermeticism, the foundation of Esotericism, Alchemy, Astrology, Magic, Occultism, and modern spiritual movements.

Egyptian gods and goddesses like Isis, Osiris, Horus, Anubis, and Serapis, were worshipped outside of Egypt across the Mediterranean, Greece, Rome, Asia Minor, and across the Roman Empire as far away as Gaul, Germany, and Britain. In later centuries, particularly during the 19th century, archaeological discoveries sparked the imagination, and interest in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology surged once more. In modern times, the gods of ancient Egypt continue to capture the imagination. They appear in literature, films, television, video games, fashion, and fine art. Characters inspired by Egyptian mythology can be found in everything from graphic novels to Hollywood blockbusters.

This book is designed to be a useful introduction and an opening reference to the subject, for readers who are interested in mythology, history, deities, and the ancient Egyptians, and who would like to know more.