2)+Creation


 * The Creation of Ancient Egypt **

In the beginning all that existed was water. From this water Atum “The All” arose, the self creating god. As he rose, Atum stood upon a primeval mound of earth. Atum The All began to populate this primeval mound making from himself the gods Shu and Tefnut. The two gods were air, Shu the god of dry air that preserved and his sister Tefnut, god of the moist air that caused rot and withering. When Shu and Tefnut became lost, Atum wept for them. These tears turned into the people who inhabited the world. The union of Shu and Tefnut produced children, Nut the sky goddess and Geb, earth god. The union of the gods produced more children who were gods and goddesses of the world. After the creation of the gods, Shu separated all, forcing them into their rightful positions within the cosmos.



Story telling is a worldwide tradition that has endured the test of time; unifying societies and strengthening the bonds between the people within that society. It provides younger generations with an understanding of the ways of their ancestors whilst allowing the traditions to be passed from one person to the next. Creation myths answer one of the most complex questions –where do we come from? It is difficult to find the exact and complete story of creation that Egyptians followed as there were many variations to the myth. As Egyptian society developed and became more sophisticated so did their mythology. The size of Egypt has to also be considered; even thought Egypt was unified and united, different areas had a primary deity which would play a more prominent role in their everyday activities as well as their outlook on life and death. Although these variations existed, important themes that reoccur in Egyptian creation myths are the primeval mound and water.

The creation myth is very reflective of Egyptian life and the environment, so it stands to reason that the mound described in the myth may have been the inspiration for building of the earl pyramids (Barnett, 1996:51) and temples. The temples that were built on the bank of rivers were built in such a way that it looked as if the buildings were emerging from the water like the fertile mound. This architecture can be seen at the temples at Aswan located on the East Bank of the Nile (Hagen and Hagen, 2002:194). The fertile mound created for Atum to stand upon can also be compared to the fertility of the Nile delta. As the Nile receded the land was revealed and as it overflowed the land disappeared. In most aspects, the roots of Egyptian mythology can be seen in everyday life. The reoccurring themes within religion as well as with religion and everyday life are examples of Ma’at.

Water is another vital component in Egyptian life and the reliance on the Nile is an aspect that can be seen throughout Egypt. It is not a coincidence that the myth told about the creation of Egypt life focuses heavily on water. Myths are used to reinforce societal beliefs as well as act as a guideline as to how citizens should live their life. Without water there would be no life; the Ancient Egyptians understood this and is why water played a significant role in mythology. Egyptians constructed the temples in a way that mimicked water. On the walls surrounding the temple complex at Dendera (located on the West Bank of the Nile) the lines between the bricks are wavy to represent the wave of the original waters (Hagen and Hagen, 2002:194). 

**1) Introduction: Gods and Deities** **2) Creation**  **3) The Afterlife**