Egyptian Mythology

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

This glossary introduces characters from the stories and legends of Egyptian Mythology.

  • Aaru: Abode of the blessed dead.
  • Amen (Amon, Ammdn): One of chief Theban deities; united with sun god under form of Amen-Ra; husband of Mut.
  • Amenti: Region of dead where souls were judged by Osiris.
  • Anubis: Guide of souls to Amenti; son of Osiris; jackal-headed.
  • Apis: Sacred bull, an embodiment of Ptah; identified with Osiris as Osiris-Apis or Serapis.
  • Geb (Keb, Seb): Earth god; father of Osiris; represented with goose on head.
  • Hathor (Athor): Goddess of love and mirth; cow-headed.
  • Horus: God of day; son of Osiris and Isis; hawk-headed.
  • Isis: Goddess of motherhood and fertility; sister and wife of Osiris.
  • Khepera: God of morning sun.
  • Khnemu (Khnum, Chnuphis, Chnemu, Chnum): Ram-headed god.
  • Khonsu (Khensu, Khuns): Son of Amen and Mut.
  • Mentu (Ment): Solar deity, sometimes considered god of war; falcon-headed.
  • Min (Khem, Chem): Principle of physical life.
  • Mut (Maut): Wife of Amen.
  • Nephthys: Goddess of the dead; sister and wife of Set.
  • Nu: Chaos from which world was created, personified as a god.
  • Nut: Goddess of heavens; consort of Geb.
  • Osiris: God of underworld and judge of dead; son of Geb and Nut; brother and husband of Isis.
  • Ptah (Phtha): Chief deity of Memphis.
  • Ra: God of the Sun, the supreme god; son of Nut; Pharaohs claimed descent from him; represented as lion, cat, or falcon.
  • Serapis: God uniting attributes of Osiris and Apis.
  • Set (Seth): God of darkness or evil; brother and enemy of Osiris; brother and husband of Nephthys.
  • Shu: Solar deity; son of Ra and Hathor.
  • Tem (Atmu, Atum, Tum): Solar deity.
  • Thoth (Dhouti): God of wisdom and magic; scribe of gods; ibis-headed.

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