The Cosmic Order of Kemet Deities. Duality, Balance, and Immortality
The pantheon of Kemetian Deities. Let us look within to see about the maintenance of Ma’at—the fundamental principle of truth, balance, order, harmony, and justice.
These are the gods and goddesses, also known as neteru, represent principles of cosmic order, nature, life, and human consciousness and the human body. They appear in distinct forms across cities, dynasties, and priesthoods all over Ancient Hikuptah.
Primordial and Creator Deities
- Nun (Nu) – Watery abyss; the unformed, chaotic state before creation.
- Naunet – Feminine aspect of Nun.
- Atum – First self-created god from Nun. Brings forth creation by generating Shu and Tefnut.
- Ptah – Creator god of Memphis; brings creation into existence through thought and word.
- Khnum – Creator god of Elephantine; forms humans on a potter’s wheel.
- Neith – Ancient weaver goddess, associated with war and creation.
- Ra (Re) – Solar creator god; creator of gods and men. Merges with many other deities.
- Amun (Amen) – Hidden, transcendent creator god of Thebes. Becomes Amun-Ra when fused with Ra.
Solar and Celestial Deities
- Ra-Horakhty – “Ra who is Horus of the Horizons”; a composite solar deity.
- Khepri – God of the rising sun; scarab-headed.
- Atum-Ra – Sun god in his setting aspect; the complete solar being.
- Horus – Sky god often linked to the sun and kingship.
- Nut – Sky goddess; mother of Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys.
- Shu – God of air; separates Nut and Geb.
- Thoth (Djehuty) – Lunar god; master of knowledge, writing, and time.
Underworld and Afterlife Deities
- Osiris (Asar) – God of the afterlife, resurrection, and judgment.
- Anubis (Anpu) – God of mummification and embalming; protector of the dead.
- Amentet – Goddess of the west; welcomes the deceased.
- Wepwawet – Opener of the Ways; guides souls in the underworld.
- Ma’at – Goddess of truth, balance, and cosmic order; her feather is used in soul judgment.
- Seker – Memphite god of the necropolis and silence of the tomb.
- Qebehsenuef, Hapi, Duamutef, Imsety – Four sons of Horus; guardians of the organs in canopic jars.
Protective and Household Deities
- Bastet – Cat-headed goddess of protection and motherhood.
- Bes – Dwarf god of music, dance, and protection from evil spirits.
- Taweret – Hippopotamus goddess of childbirth and fertility.
- Serqet (Selket) – Scorpion goddess; protects canopic jars and fights venom.
Composite and Syncretic Deities
- Amun-Ra – Fusion of Amun (hidden creator) and Ra (solar power).
- Ra-Horakhty – Solar fusion of Ra and Horus.
- Ptah-Sokar-Osiris – Trinitized god of creation, death, and resurrection.
- Sekhmet-Hathor – Duality of destruction and joy, wrath and love.
- Isis-Sothis – Isis fused with the star Sirius.
Warrior and Destructive Forces
- Sekhmet – Lion-headed goddess of war, fire, plague, and divine punishment.
- Montu – Falcon-headed god of war and valor, especially in Upper Egypt.
- Seth (Set) – God of chaos, violence, storms; both enemy and necessary force.
Fertility and Natural Forces
- Min – God of fertility, sexuality, and male virility.
- Renenutet – Goddess of harvest, nourishment, and the granary.
- Hapi – God of the Nile flood; brings abundance and prosperity.
- Tefnut – Goddess of moisture, vital to the life cycle.
Localized and Regional Deities
- Wadjet – Cobra goddess of Lower Egypt; protective deity of the crown.
- Nekhbet – Vulture goddess of Upper Egypt; guardian of the pharaoh.
- Banebdjedet – Ram god of Mendes; local form of fertility and virility.
- Meretseger – Serpent goddess of Theban necropolis; “She Who Loves Silence.”
- Anuket – Goddess of the cataracts and southern Nile.
- Satis (Satet) – Flood goddess of Elephantine; partner of Khnum.
Gods of Time, Magic, and Wisdom
- Thoth (Djehuty) – Patron of scribes, magicians, and moon cycles.
- Heka – God and principle of magic; one of the foundational forces of the cosmos.
- Seshat – Female counterpart of Thoth; goddess of measurement, writing, and architecture.
Gods of Time, Magic, and Wisdom
- Thoth (Djehuty) – Patron of scribes, magicians, and moon cycles.
- Heka – God and principle of magic; one of the foundational forces of the cosmos.
- Seshat – Female counterpart of Thoth; goddess of measurement, writing, and architecture.
Other Spirits, Guardians, and Deified Concepts
- Shai – God of destiny and fate.
- Renenet – Goddess of name and fortune.
- Hu – Personification of divine utterance.
- Sia – Personification of divine perception.
- Anhur – Warrior god, sometimes seen as an aspect of Shu.
- Mafdet – Feline goddess of justice and execution; early protector deity.
The Osirian Triad: Rulers of Life and Death
The story of Osiris, Isis, and Horus is the most famous myth in Kemet, establishing the foundation for kingship, the afterlife, and justice.
| Deity | Role and Domain | Key Symbolism / Iconography |
| Osiris | God of the Underworld (Duat), Death, Resurrection, and Fertility. | Depicted as a mummified king with green or black skin, holding the crook and flail. |
| Isis | Goddess of Magic, Motherhood, Healing, and Fertility. | Shown with a throne-shaped crown (the hieroglyph for her name) or a sun disk between cow horns. |
| Horus | God of the Sky, War, Protection, and Divine Kingship. | Depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon’s head. The reigning Pharaoh was considered the living manifestation of Horus. |
| Set | God of Chaos, Storms, the Desert, and Foreign Lands. | Portrayed with the head of the mysterious ‘Set animal,’ a creature combining features of a jackal, aardvark, and dog. |
