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Egyptian and Nubian mythology: gods and guardians

41 spirits documented in the Kunda Codex

Egyptian mythology is the most documented of Africa's ancient traditions. On the banks of the Nile, Egyptians imagined a cosmos where the sun dies and is reborn each night and where Maat, rightful order, must be defended against chaos. Anubis weighs hearts, Isis resurrects, Sekhmet destroys and heals, Aker guards the horizon. The entries below document these gods with their myths and sources.

SEKHMETFireally

SEKHMET

The Protecting Lioness

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of Fire

BASTSoulally

BAST

The Cat, Keeper of the Hearth

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Hearth

SOBEKWaterneutral

SOBEK

Primordial Force of the Waters

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Waters

HEKASpiritally

HEKA

Breath of Sacred Knowledge

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Guardian Spirit

AKERSpiritally

AKER

Keeper of the World's Gates

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Guardian Spirit

RÊSpiritally

Sun, creation, cosmic order

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

ISISSpiritally

ISIS

Magic, motherhood, kingship

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Ancestral Spirit

OSIRISSpiritally

OSIRIS

Death, rebirth, vegetation

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Dead

HATHORSpiritally

HATHOR

Love, music, fertility

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Earth

ANUBISSoulally

ANUBIS

Embalming, passage of souls

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Ancestral Spirit

MAÂTSpiritally

MAÂT

Truth, justice, universal order

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of Justice

THOTSpiritally

THOT

Knowledge, writing, magic

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of Wisdom

APEDEMAKSpiritally

APEDEMAK

War, kingship

Nubie / KushSoudan

Warrior Spirit

AMANISpiritally

AMANI

Royal femininity

NubieSoudan

Ancestral Spirit

DOGIRSpiritneutral

DOGIR

Spirit

NubieNubie

Spirit

HORUSAirneutral

HORUS

Falcon god of the sky and kingship

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Deity

SETHEarthneutral

SETH

God of the desert, storms and chaos

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of Chaos

NEPHTHYSSoulneutral

NEPHTHYS

Funerary goddess, protector of the dead

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Dead

PTAHFireneutral

PTAH

Creator god of the craftsmen of Memphis

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

AMONAirneutral

AMON

Hidden god, king of the gods of Thebes

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

GEBEarthneutral

GEB

God of the Earth

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Deity

NOUTAirneutral

NOUT

Goddess of the Sky

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Goddess

SHOUAirneutral

SHOU

God of the Air

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Deity

TEFNOUTWaterneutral

TEFNOUT

Goddess of Moisture

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Goddess

ATOUMFireneutral

ATOUM

Creator God

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

KHNOUMWaterneutral

KHNOUM

Potter god, source of the Nile

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

KHEPRIFireneutral

KHEPRI

Scarab god of the rising sun

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Solar Spirit

BESSpiritneutral

BES

Dwarf god protector of the home

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Protective Spirit

TAOURETWaterneutral

TAOURET

Hippopotamus goddess of childbirth

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Protective Spirit

KHONSOUAirneutral

KHONSOU

Lunar god of Thebes

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Lunar Spirit

MOUTAirneutral

MOUT

Mother goddess of Thebes

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Mother Goddess

NOUNWaterneutral

NOUN

Primordial ocean

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Primordial Spirit

HAPYWaterneutral

HAPY

God of the Nile flood

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Spirit of the Flood

OUADJETFireneutral

OUADJET

Cobra goddess of Lower Egypt

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Protective Spirit

NEKHBETAirneutral

NEKHBET

Vulture goddess of Upper Egypt

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Protective Spirit

NEITHWaterneutral

NEITH

Warrior and creator goddess

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Creator Spirit

APOPHISSpiritneutral

APOPHIS

Serpent of chaos

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Monstrous Spirit

AMMITSoulneutral

AMMIT

The Great Devourer

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Monstrous Spirit

MONTOUFireneutral

MONTOU

God of war

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Warrior Spirit

OUPOUAOUTSoulneutral

OUPOUAOUT

The one who opens the ways

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Protective Spirit

SESHATSpiritneutral

SESHAT

Goddess of writing and architecture

Égypte antiqueÉgypte

Goddess