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Ennead

From Thelemapedia

Image:Egyptiangods.jpg
The Ennead

Ra
Shu
Tefnut
Nut
Geb

Nephthys
Osiris
Isis
Set

The Ogdoad

Nu/Naunet
Amoun/Amaunet

Kuk/Kauket
Huh/Hauhet

Other Egyptian Gods

Anubis
Anuket
Apophis
Apis
Astarte
Aten
Bast
Bes
Hapi
Hathor
Horus
Harpocrates

Khepri
Khonsu
Khnum
Maat
Mentu
Neith
Nut
Ptah
Sebek
Sekhmet
Tahuti
Tawaret
Tum

The Great Ennead of Heliopolis were the nine most important gods and goddesses worshipped in the city, as per the creation myth of Heliopolis.

Table of contents

Etymnology

The word 'ennead' comes from the Greek word ennea, meaning nine. Ennead has thus since become a word to mean a group of nine. When referring to Egyptian mythology, the Ennead are generally the nine foremost deities of Heliopolis, though the term can also be used within Egyptian texts to refer to a council of the gods.

Ennead and Heliopolis

The nine gods and goddesses of the Ennead of Heliopolis were Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Nephthys and Set. Over time, with differing emphases placed on different gods by different Pharaohs, other deities were added into the Ennead, such as Nun and Ra, inevitably giving the Ennead as a whole a 'cult' status. Many aspects of the Ennead were absorbed into other city cult systems.

Ennead and creation

The original nine stem from a creation myth that was local to Heliopolis at first, but eventually became more popular and spread. The myth varies in detail greatly depending on the location and time of the writing, but the basic idea remains.

Atum was the creator god, having risen from the primeval waters of chaos (Nu), creating himself through his own will. He created a hill to stand on, which was said to be the spot on which the temple of Heliopolis was built. He created Shu, the air, and Tefnut, moisture, from himself. They in turn gave birth to Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky. Geb and Nut then gave birth to Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephthys, who were the parents of the Pharaohs and other gods.

See also: Ogdoad

References


Retrieved from "http://thelemapedia.org/index.php/Ennead"

This page has been accessed 15055 times. This page was last modified 17:40, 12 Mar 2005. Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.


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