The Ægyptian Pantheon Introduction to Ægyptian Culture The Ægyptian gods are unique in many ways on Ærth. Precious few deities so readily interfere with mortal affairs, and certainly no other are known to combine in order to fight a common enemy. This unusual ability is best illustrated in the merger of the usually opposed Amun and Ra into Amun-Ra, becoming a deity of the Greatest sort when such is needed. The Ægyptian people certainly have a lot to do with the powers of their gods. Few other races come together in such numbers, or indeed with such fervour, in the worship, defense, honour and temple-building as do the Ægyptians. This is particularly unusual because the commoners never see their gods, nor any evidence of their gods, except at one time of the year, when the solid gold statues of the gods are taken out of the temples, in their covered sedan chairs, obscuring them from sight, and paraded through the streets during the rebirth ceremonies. The priests are the only conduit, the only link between the people and their gods. They take the written prayers of the commoners to the gods, acting as the mediators. The degree of purity of each priest is determined and documented monthly, and this indicates precisely how close he may come to the figure(statue) of the god. Each priest then charges an amount based on his own purity for the delivery of the message. Ægyptians are not obsessed with death, as many believe. They see little difference between life and death, believing that the afterlife is lived very much as life, only in a special, otherwise unattainable place. After crossing the dangers in between, and being judged by the gods for having lived their life correctly, they will take their place by the side of their pharaoh-become-god. Because this second life will be eternal, no expense is spared in preparation for it. As a result of the vast cultural importance of death, many deities reside in the afterlife, with no power upon the living. They are considered no less important for it, but we will not be dealing with them in this document. For our purposes, we will focus only on the deities with actual power on Ærth, with only a few exceptions to maintain compatibility with previous publications. A few of the more common magick items, concepts and Mystical places are also explained in the appendices. You will note the lack of a deity of magick on this list. This is because the Ægyptians believe that magick is made by man with words. A mage is said to be "strong in words". Since words, and writing, come from Thoth, he shares some of the dominion of magick. The others who claim possession of magick are Isis and especially Nephthys. The Ægyptians believe that even gods are powerless to the proper magickal incantations, and that discovering the true name of gods give the mortal untold power against them. Thus, the priests are not puppets of the gods, but seek to control and even exploit the gods to their own ends; an extreme twist compared to other pantheons. Upon close research, the enterprising sage may find that there are, in fact, a god and a goddess of magick, named "She-magick" and "Great-magick-man", but because they had no temples, no priests, no worshippers and no actual influence on anything, we elected to keep them out of this list. The Ægyptian pantheon is not without internal strife. Because the individual power of gods is based on their control of spheres of influence, the individual power of gods is highly mutable. Priests start the process of change by claiming their god can grant prayers within the spheres of other gods. Then, when the worshippers are convinced that it is true, through their preaching, it becomes true, and the god gains additional power from the new sphere. Obviously, the other god who previously held dominion over the pilfered sphere is diminished in power, by the exact amount that is gained by the usurper. This causes animosity between the priests, as well as between the gods themselves. The last, and most important thing to understand, while reading this information, is that the list you see before you is not comprehensive. A multitude of gods have been left out of these pages, for several reasons. Aside from the gods of the afterlife, mentioned above, we have excluded many gods of foreign origin, gods whose area of influence within Ægypt is reported to be less than 50 miles radius, and gods who would have contradicted previous publications in one way or another. This doesn't mean they don't exist. Merely that they will be dealt with in other sections of this work, and by other authors. Ægyptian Myth of Creation Summarized and enhanced for Mythus In the beginning there was chaos. And this chaos was the watery being of Tem, God of nothing. Then, an egg floated to the surface of Tem and Ra the hawk-headed emerged from his egg, and rose into the sky. Thoth also came forth from his own egg, and joined Ra in the heavens. Soon after, Ptah rose to the surface on a lotus blossom, but refused to ascend to heaven. From his mouth, Ra brought forth Shu and Tefnut. Shu and Tefnut were married, and Tefnut gave birth to Geb, and his twin sister Nut. Ptah created Maat, and she rose to sit at Thoth's side. Geb and Nut wanted to be married as well, but Ra said they could not, unless they agreed that they would have no children on any day of the year. And so Geb and Nut lay close together but had no offspring, until Thoth made a deal with the moon on their behalf and created some days that were not in the year. In these days were born Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. Ra was outraged that he had been tricked and ordered Shu to stand between Geb and Nut, separating them forever. Saddened by this, Geb cried so much that he created the salty seas and oceans. The children of Geb and Nut married. Osiris wed Isis, and Set wed Nephthys. Osiris, being the firstborn, inherited the land of Ægypt by right, while Set was given the rest. Set was not happy with his lot however, as he coveted Osiris' kingdom of Ægypt. He plotted against and killed his brother, and separated his body in fourteen pieces which he scattered throughout Ægypt. Isis was devastated by the loss of her husband, and by the knowledge that Set, his killer, would now inherit the land of Ægypt. She travelled throughout Ægypt with Nephthys and gathered the pieces of her husband. She could not find all of them, and so Nephthys was not able to restore Osiris to life, but she did put the pieces of Osiris back together, sufficiently for his essence to return to the body. Isis then lay with Osiris. Learning this, Set chased Isis throughout Ægypt to slay her and her unborn child. While this was happening, Nephthys also lay with Osiris, disguised as her sister, Isis because Set had given her no sons, and Nephthys wanted nothing to do with Set any longer. While Isis gave birth on the run to Horus, Nephthys gave birth to Anubis. Set was not able to kill Isis or Horus, and he returned to heaven disappointed. Isis, Nephthys and Anubis mummified the body of Osiris, and resurrected him as the God of the Afterlife. Later Horus challenged Set's claim on Ægypt, and was almost completely successful. The land would be ruled by men, in his stead, and Set would also whisper in the Pharaoh's ear, while Horus would speak to his heart. The other Gods came about much later, during the period of prosperity which followed. Gods and Goddesses of the Ægyptian Pantheon Listed by Ethos Sunlight Aker Minor God (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Sef, Tuau. Avatars: Sef. As Sef, Aker guards the Dusk Gate, found in the middle of Amemtet, where the souls of the departed await Ra to enter the Duat, because only at sunset can deceased cross the gate. His name means "yesterday". Tuau. As Tuau, Aker guards the Dawn Gate found in the middle of Sekhet- Aaru, through which Ra returns daily from the underworld. Here, he prevents the deceased from re-entering the Duat. His name means "today". Description: A male lion with a black mane. He is the guardian lion, and the patron god of all guards and protectors. Lion figures of Aker as Sef and Tuau flank the entrance to any major building, or the private homes of those who can afford such fine guardians. Aten Minor God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Adon, Aton, Edon. Description: The newest sun-god to appear in Ægypt, he had a brief period of supremacy during the reign of Akhetaten the heretic, until his death. Upon the demise of Akhetaten, the priests of Amun and Ra joined forces, thus compositing Amun-Ra, and destroyed nearly completely the worship of Aten. This is because Aten's priests prohibited the worship of any other gods, and even had Ra's name struck from monuments. To this day, the open worship of Aten is prohibited, and in some areas, there are fines for making figures of Aten's sun disk available to the public. It is Aten's name that has been stricken from all documents, monuments and statues. Despite this, there are still some followers. Hathor Major Goddess (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Athir, Athor. Consort: Horus. Sacred Animal: The Cow, The Sycamore tree. Description: The cow goddess, Hathor is seen as the great mother. She conceives, brings forth and maintains all life. Hathor can be very dangerous if angered, however. Hathor is depicted as a cow-headed goddess, or a woman with cattle horns and a sun disc. Heneb Demigod (Benign, Intermediate) Description: Demigod of grain and other crops, he is their protector. Menu Minor God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Other names: Menthu, Mentu, Mont, Muntu. Menu is the god of destructive war which cannot be stopped, represents the scorching heat of the sun. Holy wars are the province of Menu, in defense of the Ægyptian pantheon. Pakhut Lesser Goddess (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Pakhet. Leopard-headed goddess who guards the dead and the living against evil spirits. Patron of Apotropaism. Her figures are often found on the doors and gates of specially protected places such as palaces and tombs. Ra Greater God (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Re, Phra, Ree. Creator of the physical universe, personification of the Sun that brings warmth and life, Ra is the greatest of all gods, despite being undermined by many pretenders. He takes all but the most obvious assault in stride, and seldom concerns himself with the activities of man, or god. He presides over the judgement of the dead, seldom, if ever, speaking, silently aware of all. In the morning he ascends into the sky aboard his barge called Matet ("becoming strong"), and in the evening descends toward the west in his barge, now called Semktet ("becoming weak"). His daylight course is mapped by Maat. At night he provides warmth, food, air and light to those condemned in the hours of the Duat. He exclusive control of the sun's coming and going, though his creation of the universe is being challenged by various priesthoods. Avatars: Chepri (Kephera) Ra in the morning, aboard Matet. Af (Auf) Ra at noon, aboard Manjet, the noon boat. Atmu Ra in the evening, aboard Semktet. Guides: Abtu (Abdu), a divine fish swimming at the bow of Ra's boat, driving away evil from its path. See Inet. Inet (An-t), a divine fish swimming at the bow of Ra's boat, driving away evil from its path. See Abtu. Allies: Mehen. The great serpent protects Ra by coiling himself around Ra's cabin in the sun boat. Sacred Animal: Hawk, The Sycamore tree. Sekhmet Major Goddess (Baneful, Chaotic) Other names: Sechmet, Sekhait, Sekhauit, Sekhautet, Sekhem, Sakhmis. She is the lion headed goddess. She represents the destructive power of the sun's heat. Punitive war is her domain. "When Ra became old, and mankind sought to replace him, to do away with the old god, he created Sekhmet, and set her upon the Ærth, and she began to slay the human race by the thousands in punishment. She enjoyed killing them so much that she would not stop, and it took the rest of the gods working in concert to fool her into thinking she had killed them all." Consort: Ptah. Sacred Animal: Lion Seshat Lesser Goddess (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Sefkhet-Aabut, Sesheta. As Thoth foremost associate, as well as consort, Seshat is the goddess responsible for the writing of history. She is "The lady of the house of books", patron of libraries. It is said "Her stroke is deep and indelible". She wears a close-fitting panther-skin garment. And always carries a writing reed and pallet. Consort: Thoth Tuart Major Goddess (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Apet, Taueret, Taurt, Rert, Rertu. Her name means "The great [fat] one". She is the white hippopotamus goddess of childbirth and maternity. Her association with Hathor is well known, as she protects the life that Hathor makes possible, on occasion even in the Duat. Sacred Animal: Hippopotamus Consort: Bes Avatar: Apet (Balance) is the aspect of Tuart which keeps Sebek in check. She is the green hippopotamus, eater of crocodiles. Moonlight Aah Demigod (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Ah. He is the patron of students. Sacred Animal: Ibis Description: A god of the moon, portrayed as a young man with the hair lock of youth, he joined Thoth's household to learn from him. Amun Great God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Aman, Amen. Consort: Amunet (Amonet, Amenet) is shown with the crown of lower Ægypt, and is in fact nothing more than an aspect of Amun himself. Sacred Animal: Frog. Description: God of fertility, hidden things, and secrets. Though he is now a major deity, Amun usurped most of his power from Ra. His worshippers gained more power, and as they did, they displaced Ra here and there in Ægypt. Amun is the reason Ra is no longer a deity of Greatest sort. His priests are starting to claim that he is the "One One" and has "No Second", the same as the priests of Aten once did, which is certain to cause friction in the very near future. As it stands, Amun may have more temples, but Ra has many more followers. Apuat Lesser God (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Upuat, Upwaut, Wepwawet, Ophois. Sacred Animal: Wolf, Jackal Descriptions: Apuat is the "Opener of Ways". He brings the souls to newborn at the moment of birth. He guides warriors in battle, he guides the souls of special dead, or particularly innocent dead to judgement, protecting them on the way. He takes personal offense when a life is unduly cut short. His fierce nature is used by pharaoh in battle, by carrying his standard to travel the best route. On occasion, he even pilots Ra's barge in the underworld, finding the best way to cross the Duat. Bast Lesser Goddess (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Bastet. Sacred Animal: Cat Description: This cat-headed goddess is the protector of pregnant women, protects men from sexual disease. She is a pleasure-loving goddess, and in her honour is held the most loved festival of the Ægyptian people. During this festival, which can count hundreds of thousands of adherents, more wine is drunk at Bastu than the entire year throughout Ægypt, and music rings through the streets day and night for a week. During this time, women are allowed to behave as men with impunity, and often shout abuses, and expose themselves (moon) to people on the river's edge from passing barges. Chons Major God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Khonsu, Khensu, Khons, Chunsu. Description: A moon god, Chons is "He who crosses the sky in a boat". Healing is the province of Chons, though he also has the ability to protect night travellers. One aspect of Chons, "Khensu-Nefer-hetep" is known to be able to exorcise and turn demons into good-natured beings. His power is drawn from love. Chons is the son of Khnemu and Anqet. He is shown as a young man with a crescent moon headdress, and holding an ankh. He is the patron of Exorcism. Hu Demigod (Benign, Intermediate) Description: God of the sense of taste. He also personifies the divine food of the afterlife. He is portrayed as a man with the hieroglyph "Hu" above his head. Those who eat the food he creates receive either bliss or death, depending on which they deserve. Khnemu Major God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Khnum, Khnumis. Consort: Anqet Sacred Animal: Ram Description: God of potters and clay workers, the "Moulder". The flat-horned ram-headed god is the most skilled craftsman of the gods. He moulds every man before he is born. He is the son of Ra and Nekhbet. His son is Chons. Min Lesser God (Benign, Ordered) Description: God of fertility and crops, he is offered the first sheaf of the harvest by Pharaoh himself, and he is honoured at harvest time. His name is evoked by travellers before setting out on a voyage through the desert as he protects travellers who worship him. He is a mummiform, bearded man carrying a flail, and wearing the Amen crown. Neith Lesser Goddess (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Other names: Neit, Net, Nit. Description: A dual aspect deity, one fierce and one gentle, Neith nourishes and sustains life, just as readily as she takes it in battle. Her holiday, the "Festival of Lights" calls for lights to be burned all night long during the celebration. She protects weavers, as she is credited with inventing the loom. Her symbol is composed of two crossed arrows and a shield, and she is often seen with a bow and two arrows, indicating her second nature: huntress. She is the single mother of Sebek. Nephthys Great Goddess (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Nebtet. Description: The personification of darkness, decay and death, she is the daughter of Geb and Nut. Once married to Set, she tricked Osiris into giving her a son: Anubis. When Set killed Osiris, she abandoned him, and assisted Isis in retrieving all the parts of Osiris for mummification. Nephthys has great skill in magick and can heal, restore and even return the dead to life. She protects the mortal remains, just as she causes decay in those improperly mummified. She is shown as a normal female, wearing the symbol of her name on her head. She often carries an ankh and a papyrus sceptre. Nut Great Goddess (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Naut. Avatars: Naut. This is the most beneficial form of Nut. She is the night sky, who brings relief from the heat of the day and refreshes even the gods under her cool shadow. Sacred Animal: Sow, Cow, Sycamore Tree Consort: Geb Description: The goddess of the starry sky. Nut and her husband produced so many children that Ra decided to separate them by ordering Shu (air) to place himself between the two. Her children are Osiris, Set, Isis and Nephthys. Nut is the daughter of Shu and Tefnut. Thoth Great God (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Asten, Djehuti, Techu, Techuti, Thaut, Thouth, Zehuti. Sacred Animal: Ibis, Baboon Consort: Seshat The god of justice, writing, knowledge, speech and wisdom. Thoth abhors injustice and will go to great lengths to prevent or redress it. He is the judge of the gods, and occasionally even carries the Utchat (eye of Ra), so trusted is he of Ra. The "Most excellent scribe" is also said to have written the first copy of the Book of the Dead. He is self-created. Balance Anhur Major God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Other names: Anhoret, Anhert, Onouris. Description: Anhur is the personification of the warlike nature of the sun. Anhur is the foremost god of war, patron to all warriors. He wears a headdress with four straight plumes. Son of Hathor and Horus. Anqet Minor Goddess (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Ankhet, Anukis Consort: Khnemu Description: Goddess of the cataracts of the Nylle, and waterfalls in general. She carries a papyrus sceptre and wears a crown of high feathers. Ba-ned-djeb Minor God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Ba-neb-tet, Banedbdetet Consort: Hamehit Description: Ram god of lower Ægypt. Patron of virility. He is carried in a yearly procession, before a crowd of thousands of men seeking to partake of his power. Bes Lesser God (Benign, Chaotic) Consort: Tuart Description: Dwarf god, Bes is the patron god of arts and music, though he has been known to fight fiercely if he must. His usually ugly appearance makes him a strange choice for a god of beautiful music and art, but when he is in the presence of Ra or Horus, his inner beauty takes outer physical shape, making him the most handsome of all gods. Avatar: Aha: The violent aspect of Bes, Aha is known to strangle bears, lions, antelopes and snakes with his bare hands. Buto Minor Goddess (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Uatch-ura, Inadjet, Edjo. Sacred Animal: Cobra, snakes. Description: Cobra goddess of protection. She hid Isis from Set when Isis was giving birth to Horus. She has another aspect, however: the destroyer of grave- robbers. Her wings often protect burial chambers. Geb Great God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Keb, Seb, Kenkenwer. Consort: Nut Sacred Animal: Goose Description: Geb is the god of earth. With Nut, he fathered Osiris, Isis, Nephthys and Set. When he was separated from Nut by Shu (air), he cried so much that his tears filled the oceans and seas. Hamehit Minor Goddess (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Hatmehit. Description: Dolphin goddess, rescuer and patron of seamen. Goddess of fish, and all things of the sea. Unfortunately, the Ægyptian attach very little importance to the sea. Hapy Major God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Other names: Hap. Avatars: Apis. The incarnation of Hapy into a bull. The bull is left to roam the courtyard, observed by priests. His movements about the enclosure foretell the future. A piece of triangular silver is affixed to the bull's forehead. Once the bull dies, the hunt for his reincarnation spans the entire country. The Apis bull is the foremost oracle of Ægypt. Description: Hapy is the powerful god of the Nylle. His influence extends to all water, and the sustaining of life through his providing of drinkable water. Hapy is one of the only Gods that the people choose to honour personally and directly. Most worshippers bring the sacrifices to the Nylle themselves, not to the priests. Henkhiseui Minor God (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Henkhisesui. God of the moist eastern wind. He is shown as a snake headed man with four wings. Horus Major God (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Heru(q.v.), Harsiesis. Avatars: Harakhty, (Sunlight) "Horus on the horizon". This is the form of Horus which most often combines with Ra. He is a hawk-headed man. Har-en-yotet "Horus, avenger of his father". In this form he sets things right between a father and his son. Har-wer "Horus the great". In this form, he is the hawk-headed man, wearing the triple crown. Heru (Moonlight) "He who is above" is worshipped as a god in his own right. Also called "The elder", some of his priests claim that he predates his own birth. He is a personification of the daytime sky and sun. Heru appears as a golden, winged sun disc. (Uatchti) Heru-p-khart "Horus the child". In this form he is the innocent child. He is a boy with the lock of youth, sucking his thumb, carrying the crook and flail. Sacred Animal: Hawk:, The Olive tree at Innu Consort: Hathor Description: Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis, and rightful King of Ægypt. Pharaoh contains a part of Horus within him, and cannot remain in power without his approval. He battled Set for the kingdom of his father Osiris and brought Set in chains before Ra. With his mother Isis, he fathered four gods: Amset, Duamutef, Hapi and Khebsenef, which protect various organs of the deceased in the Duat. Hutchaiui Minor God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Sacred Animal: Ram God of the dry, sand-laden west wind. He is shown as a ram-headed beetle Maat Major Goddess (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Maa, Maet, Maht, Maut. Avatars: Maa (pl. Maati) The goddess is triple in this form, one body for each of Upper, Middle and Lower Ægypt.The Maatiu, therefore, are the goddesses which preside over the 42 assessors and Judges in the ceremony of the "Negative Confession" where each deceased soul must deny having perpetrated 42 crimes ranging from eavesdropping to murder. Sacred Animal: Cat Description: The goddess of law and justice, Maat is more than a goddess, she is the embodiment of a concept that law must be moral. She is responsible for "clarifying the vision of the Eye of Ra", allowing it to see through any falsehood. She charts the daily course of the sun barge through the daytime sky. Maat is "the way things should be", and conversationally "Maat" can mean: correct, genuine, incorruptible, real, right, righteous, steadfast, straight, true, truth or unalterable. Maat is shown wearing a headband with an ostrich feather. It is this feather which is used to weigh the heart of the deceased. Mert Minor Goddess (Benign, Intermediate) Other names: Merseger, Mert-Sekert, Mertseger. Avatars: Merseger "The lover of he who makes silence" is Osiris' lover. She has the body of a woman, and the head of a cobra. Description: Human-headed snake goddess. She extends her protection to confessors, her priesthood assists Ægyptians to take responsibility for their actions. Nefertem Lesser God (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Iphtimis. Nefertem is a god of creativity, accepting any offerings of dance, poetry and fine food. He is the Lord of Perfume, for whom the lotus is sacred. He is the son of Ptah and Sekhmet. Nekhbet Minor Goddess (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Nekhebet, Mut. Sacred Animal: Vulture Consort: Ra Description: Vulture-headed goddess of nature and childbirth. Mother of Khnemu. Ouebi Minor God (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Qebui. Sacred Animal: Ram Description: God of the cool, moist north wind. He is shown as a man with four ram heads. Setem Demigod (Benign, Intermediate) Description: Demigod of the sense of hearing. His symbol is the ear, which is displayed above his head to indicate his divinity. Shai Lesser Goddess (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Description: Goddess of fate. Close associate of Renenet, she maps out a person's life, and after death she stands near the heart's balance in the hall of Maati to observe how the life turned out. Shehubi Minor God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Other names: Shehbui. Sacred Animal: Lion Description: He is the god of the hot, south wind. He has a lion's head and four wings. Shu Great God (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Sacred Animal: Consort: Tefnut Description: God of the air, who separates his children Geb and Nut, providing the space in which birds fly and men live. Sia Demigod (Benign, Intermediate) Description: Demigod of the sense touch, and understanding. Shown as a man with fringed headband. Tefnut Great Goddess (Agathocacological, Chaotic) Consort: Shu Description: Lion-headed goddess with a disc. She is the mother of Geb and Nut. Tefnut, goddess of rain and moisture, is strange and distant, sometimes helping Shu support the sky, often leaving Ægypt entirely. Peaceful at most times, but savagely ferocious for no good reason at other times. When angered her face "Glows like the sun" and her mane "Smokes with fire". Tem Major God (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Nun, Temu. Description: He is the water of nothingness from which Ra emerged, according to his priests. His priesthood is very small and attracts precious few followers, since the god, in effect, stands for nothing in particular. He is self-created. Shadowy Darkness Amemt Lesser Goddess (Malign, Intermediate) Other names: Amam, Amamet, Am-mit. Description: "The Devourer" is the monster waiting below the scales of judgement, to eat the heart of those who fail to pass the test. He has the hind of a hippo, the body of a lion and the head of a crocodile. Amset Lesser God (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Imsety, Mesthi. Description: Mummiform god, protector of the liver in the Duat. He is one of the four sons of Horus and Isis. Anubis Major God (Agathocacological, Ordered) Other names: Anpu. Sacred Animal: Jackal Description: The jackal-headed god. Anubis presides over the mummification rituals. He is the foremost guardian of the dead at judgement, and guide to all the departed. He moves freely between the Abyssal and Astral, appearing alternately with a pitch black and a shining gold face. Son of Osiris and Nephthys. Dedun Minor God (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Tatunen, Tanen, Tatun. Description: Very similar to Ptah, this worker deity is a craftsman of weapons. He is shown with two feathers and flat ram's horns. Highly regarded by Nubians. Duamutef Lesser God (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Tuamutef. Sacred Animal: Jackal Description: Mummiform jackal-headed god, protector of the stomach in the Duat. He is one of the four sons of Horus and Isis. Hapi Lesser God (Benign, Ordered) Sacred Animal: Dog. Description: Mummiform dog-headed god, protector of the lungs in the Duat. He is one of the four sons of Horus and Isis. Isis Great Goddess (Benign, Chaotic) Other names: Ast, Eset and see below. Dwelling place: The star known as Sept. Avatars: Ament. Isis the restorer of the dead to life in the kingdom of Osiris. Ankhet(Ankhat). Isis the Life Giver, nourisher of fields. She wears a feather crown. Kekit. Isis the watcher of fields upon Kemet. Black lady of the Black land. Khut. As Khut, she directs the way for the yearly floods. Light giver. Renenet. In this aspect, Isis watches over the harvest, and the festivities that follow. She is the goddess of fortune. Tcheft. As Tcheft, she is the goddess of sacrificial offerings. Plundering the gods brings her wrath. Thenenet. In this aspect she rules by Osiris' side, in the Duat. Satis(Anquat). When she brings the bounty that follows the flood, she is Satis, the water fertility goddess. Usert. In this aspect, she is the earth mother. Attendants: 7 scorpion gods and goddesses: Tefen, Befen, Mestet, Mestetef, Petet, Thetet, Maatet. Sacred animals: Swallow, The Sycamore tree Description: Isis is the mother goddess, the devoted wife of Osiris, and mother of Horus. She raised young Horus to avenge Osiris, though Horus has not yet fully succeeded. She is always portrayed as a normal woman, with only a uræus to indicate her divinity. She often holds an ankh and a papyrus sceptre. Her symbol is the Thet. (a.k.a. knot of Isis) Despite Isis' apparent simplicity, her names and forms are many. Each temple worships a different aspect, except Thebes, which embraces all her many forms. Khebsenef Lesser God (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Qebsnuf. Sacred Animal: Hawk Description: Mummiform hawk-headed god, protector of the intestines. He is one of the four sons of Horus and Isis. Maftet Minor Goddess (Benign, Ordered) Sacred Animal: Lynx Description: Sacred Lynx goddess that protects the mummy against serpents, and assists with the defeat of Aapep. Osiris Great God (Benign, Ordered) Other names: Åsar, Åusar. Sacred Animal: Description: God of the dead and resurrection. While other gods may be able to bring back to life the body of a dead man, none but Osiris can bring it back, once the soul has reached his kingdom. Killed by his brother, Set, he was mummified, and so took his place as the god of the afterlife. In his kingdom which lies past the Duat live all the souls of the deceased Ægyptians since his own death. (Before Osiris created the afterlife, souls simply died.) Ptah Great God (Agathocaological, Intermediate) Consort: Sekhmet Description: Ptah is the chief craftsman of the gods, he is the metal worker, who fashions anything by casting or sculpting. He is the god of smiths, artisans and sculptors. His head priest is named Khorp Hemtiu, "Chief of the Artificers". Ptah is shown as a bearded, bald man with a sceptre. He has a son with Sekhmet by the name of Nefertem. Gloomy Darkness Aapep Major God (Malign, Chaotic) Other names: Aaapef, Apophis, Apep. Allies / Servants : Sebau, Nak Description: A gigantic demon serpent and ally of Set, he battles Ra each night to prevent him from rising the next day. Sebek Major God (Malign, Chaotic) Other names: Sebk, Sobek. The fierce crocodile god, god of evil and accidental death. He sends his crocodile minions to snatch and drown careless boatmen on the Nylle. Though he is an ally of Set, he has disagreed with him on occasion, and is clearly unconcerned by Set's foul temper, having held his own against him. Sacred Animal: Crocodile, (Especially Megadile). Seker Major God (Malign, Intermediate) Other names: Seger, Sokare. Avatars: Sokare. In this aspect Seker is the god of assassins, murderers and those who have sinned beyond repair. For him, the most evil gain position in the Duat, though they will never approach the kingdom of Osiris. He saves them from Amemt, only to be served by them forever. Description: God of death and utter darkness. He is responsible for the evil that comes in the night. Protector of those who kill during the night. Serqet Lesser Goddess (Agathocacological, Intermediate) Other names: Selket, Salkis. Avatars: Salkis This is the benevolent Serqet. Sufficient sacrifices to her will protect a tomb, or prevent scorpion bites in the desert. Sacred Animal: Scorpion Description: Scorpion goddess of poisons, toxins and death. Though she kills with her scorpion's poison, that same poison preserves the internal organs forever, and so those dying by her hand, live forever. Set Great God (Malign, Ordered) Other names: Baba, Nubti, Suti, Seth, Sutekh. Animals: Antelope, Ass, Donkey, Hippopotamus(fierce male) Avatars: Akhekh, a griffin-like animal with the body of an antelope and the head of a bird adorned by three uraei and wings. Nubti (Set-nubti). In this most powerful form of Set, he is shown with one body and three heads: ass, warthog, and okapi. Allies: Amemt Servants: Iubeni, his foremost Demon. Description: Set is the son of Geb and Nut, brother of Osiris. He killed Osiris, and tried to obtain for himself the kingdom of Ægypt, which should have gone to Horus. He is the god of evil, drought and perversity. The cause of all that is malign in Ægypt. Pharaoh contains a part of Set within him, where Set continually attempts to seduce the Pharaoh into misusing his power. The colour Red is "of Set" because of Set's red mane. Men with red hair or beards are considered evil, or under the influence of Set. The priests of set advance that he is not evil, but rather feared, and for good reason, as he is the god of deserts, drought and foreign things. In this way they seek to play on Ægyptian emotions to further Set's plans. Appendix A: Composite Gods Herein is a list of known mergings Aah-djuhty A merging between Aah and Thoth. God of pure, analytical thought. Amun-Ra Other names: Aman, Amon, Par. Merged often in the past, recently there has been a rift between Amun and Ra, created by Amun's priesthood, in their attempt to bring more power to Amun. This means the Amun and Ra will not likely be joined in the near future. The composite god Amun-Ra is one of the most powerful on Ærth. It is fortunate for nearby lands that he has no interests outside Ægypt. Avatars: Par. Par is a mischievous god, one who can assume any appearance, and whose appetite for fine things knows no bounds. He descends upon the Ærth and indulges in the best food, drink and women available in all of Ægypt. His skins are of many colours. Sacred Animal: Hawk Heru-em-anpu Composite of Horus and Anubis. Identical in appearance to Anubis, the composite god has considerably more power. Horus-Aah Combination of Horus and Aah. Impulsive god, he makes the mistakes of youth. Khensu-Ra Chons and Ra. The shining sun of Pure Good. No creature of Evil can behold Him and live. He is the destroyer of undead, scourge of demons, healer of the hopelessly ill. Mau-Taui This is the name of Thoth-Maat, in his capacity of the judge of the dead, in the hall of Maati. He watches Set most carefully, as the ass-headed one sometimes attempts to tip the scales. Menu-Ra The glorified sun. Menu-Ra is the sun at its most destructive. The sun which burns the crops in the fields. Osiris-Aah Osiris with the crescent moon of Aah. Osiris-Geb God of burial. Symbol of enclosing the body within that of Geb, and handing over the immortal parts of the deceased to Osiris. Osiris-Horus The shining sun at dawn, gleaming from Sekhet-Aaru. The father and son reunited, albeit for only a moment. Osiris-neb-heu The lord of forever has the head of a Bennu to symbolize that he never does, as the Bennu, but is otherwise indistinguishable from Osiris himself. Osiris-Seker God of death, as a force of punishment. In this form, Osiris brings final and complete death to all who oppose him. Ptah-Dedun The complete craftsman. In this form, Ptah and Dedun can create anything, living or inanimate. Ra-Harakhty The joining Ra and Horus, he is presented as a hawk-headed god with the triple crown of Ægypt. Appendix B: Magickal Items Common Items and Uses Aakhui Amulet made of red stone and red paste representing the sun rising in the east. It gives the wearer strength from Ra himself. Achet Amulet made of red stone and red glass representing the sun rising in the east. It symbolises renewed life after death, and provides the wearer with a chance to escape or at least delay death. Adze Hoe-like carpenter's tool used in the "Opening of the mouth" ceremony. Gives voice to the speechless. Ankh The sign of the Ankh means "Life". Each god focuses his power through the Ankh, symbolizing their control of it. Ankhs are commonly worn by Ægyptians for luck. Each deity can create an ankh which contains power relating to the deity's sphere of influence. These ankhs are highly prized, rarely seen, and dissipate when their usefulness ends. Book of the Dead A scroll containing a set of instructions and guidelines for the successful crossing of the Duat. More expensive version contain incantations, hymns and formulas ranging from safe passage through certain difficult areas, to being reserved passage on Ra's boat. It is placed in the sarcophagus, or coffin, so as to be readily available when needed. Book of the Pylons A scroll describing the geography of the Duat, assisting the deceased in orientation for the journey. It contains entries for all twelve hours of the Duat. Crown of Ægypt The Triple Crown is the combined crown of all Ægypt, which Pharaoh wears as a symbol of his ruling all Ægypt. The crown is a combination of the upper, middle, and lower crowns, containing all their elements. It has a red lower portion, with a high back, a golden sphere and a white, rounded tip centre. It is adorned with a wicker stinger, a uræus, and a pair of white wings. The entire assembly requires a PMPow of no less than 12 to remain erect while wearing it. Crown of Upper Ægypt A red, high backed crown, with a wicker stinger at its front. Crown of Middle Ægypt A golden, spherical crown, with white wings on either side. Crown of Lower Ægypt A white, rounded tip crown, with a uræus at its front. Heket Frog-shaped amulet which enhances one's ability to father multiple offspring. Nekhekh Symbols of power held by Pharaoh. The Flail. A replica of a wheat-beating flail, it is said to strike terror in the enemies of Pharaoh. The Crook. A replica of a shepherd's crook, it is said to inspire obedience in those who behold it. Sa The stylized life preserver, symbol of Taurt is the standard form of lesser amulets of protection. These amulets take on anything from drowning to fire, despite their common appearance. Glyphs on the mid- portion of the Sa is the only way to learn the function of the amulet. Scarab The scarab is the standard greater amulet of protection, and like the Sa has a variety of uses. The glyphs are inscribed on its belly, and it is worn with wings displayed for maximum effect. Sceptre Sceptres are used mainly in Ægypt and take on three major forms. 1. The Set sceptre is used by the evil practitioners, and it consists of a stylized head of Set, upon a shaft ending in a downturned crescent moon. It increases the user's speed and effect when using offensive castings only. 2. The Lotus sceptre is used by good practitioners, and it consists of a stylized lotus set upon a long shaft. Its power is to keep away evil creatures and maximize effect, though only against evil. 3. The Papyrus sceptre is used by all other practitioners, to moderately increase the duration of their castings, and reduce their chance of failure. Sceptres are seldom seen outside Ægypt because they preclude the use of a staff, wand or rod. Sistrum The sistrum is a rattle used to frighten away netherlings. The rattle's sound inflicts serious spiritual damage, sufficient that unprotected netherlings will flee if at all possible from its sound. Tet Symbol of Osiris. The Tet is an amulet of durability which has two forms: 1. Longevity, the extension of life is achieved the first form: Stability. 2. Prevention of harm is achieved by the second form: Durability. Ur-Uatchti The Ægyptian secret service (Merit-F) manufactures these pins shaped as the winged sun-disk, flanked by snakes for its agents. Each pin is magicked with glyphs to be uniquely identifiable, and to avoid forgeries. Possession of one such pin, genuine or forged, by persons other than an agent is likely a death sentence. Utchat The Ægyptian secret police (Utchatu) manufactures these badge medallions in the shape of the Eye of Ra for its agents. Each badge is magicked with a number, and glyphs to identify it as genuine. Possession of a badge, genuine or forged, by anyone other than an agent is likely a death sentence. Appendix C: Ægyptian Concepts Unraveling obscure terms Aa-nefer Other names: Onuphis. The bull which contains the soul of Osiris. Af The dead, setting sun, personified by a ram with a sun disc overhead. Af-Osiris Flesh of Osiris. A form of the god Osiris Af-Tem Flesh of Tem. A god. Akhem-sek Special celestial beings who "never go down". This refers to stars that never set in the sky, the northern circumpolar stars. The deities represented by these special stars are believed to be eternal. Akhemu- seku (Stars which never go down) Akhem-urtch Special celestial beings who "never rest". This refers to stars that set in the sky, dying and being reborn. The deities represented by these stars work hard, and are highly involved with mankind. Akhemu-urtchu (Stars which never rest) Amkihiu Those fortunate enough to have amassed the necessary formulas to be admitted on Ra's barge at Amentet. They can choose to disembark at Sekhet-Aaru, and live forever, or return to Ærth with Ra, and be born once again the next dawn. Benty A species of monkey which screeches at dawn. The Ægyptian equivalent of a rooster, many are kept about to signal dawn. Bennu The Phoenix, or fire bird, appears every 500 years. With a huge hawk- like body and a heron's head. The Ægyptian symbol of resurrection. Birthdays The birthdays of the gods are known, and celebrated at the beginning of each new year. 1st of Undec: Osiris, 2nd: Horus, 3rd: Set, 4th: Isis, 5th Nephthys. Each individual celebrates his birthday in the same fashion, with a special meal and entertainment, rejoicing in the respect that increased age brings. Cat Of the many animals in Ægypt, one of the most sacred (or tabu) is the cat. This is not only because the cat is sacred to Bast, but also because cats are considered a personification of Ra. Cats must be allowed to move about freely and unmolested. Anyone harming a cat may find himself stoned to death by an angry mob. Cats are mummified when they die, at the expense of the owner of the property upon which it died. The family shaves their eyebrows, and the cat is sent to Bastu for mummification and burial. Children Children are thought to possess the gift of divination. Harming a child is tabu. Demotic A form of writing. Developed from hieratic, it has become the common form of writing, understood by those with some schooling. (elementary level) Deshret Red Land (the desert beyond the Nylle) Origin of the word desert. Hieratic Hieratic is the official written language of Ægypt. Important documents, wills, contracts etc. are written in Hieratic. Scribes must usually be employed to make a scroll in Hieratic. It is taught at institutions of higher learning. (High-school level) Hieroglyphs This language is the pictographic representation of words, and the original language of the Ægyptian pantheon. It is very expensive to produce a document in hieroglyphs, and such is almost exclusively used in tombs and on temple walls. Also known as Hiero-Aegyptian, it is the tool of many Dweomercræfters, and it is taught in only the most select of institutions in Ægypt. (College level, monastery or priestcræft training program) Incense Incense is widely used to carry the petitioner's request to the gods. Maat Beyond the usual categories of guilty and innocent, Maat introduces right and wrong in the law, making it possible for someone to be guilty but right, and thereby escape legal punishment. Maat is the concept of Karma, written especially for Ægyptians. If one follows Maat (the principle), his heart, it must follow, will inevitably pass the test of the feather in the afterlife. The 42 items which must be disavowed in the afterlife will be listed in another volume. Menat Necklace counterweight. The large golden necklaces are extremely heavy, but more importantly they mostly hang in front of the wearer, with very little weight in the back. The Menat redistributes the weight by providing a counterweight at the back, preventing the wearer from being drawn forward, and ultimately falling over. Priests Priests have several orders. The most often seen had the simple name Uab, meaning "pure", and their responsibility is to meet with the population and collect the offerings and prayers and bring them inside the temple. Less seen by commoners are the prophets, or interpreters of the wishes of god. These are called Hem-neter "servant of god". The priest officiating at a funeral is called Sem ("image") as he represented the god Anubis. The high priest of Ptah is called "chief of the artificers" (Khorp- Hemtiu), the others are called simply War-Mau ("great of sight"). Of all high priests, one is chosen by pharaoh, based on pharaoh's personal beliefs and opinions, to serve as the archpriest of all Ægypt. The priesthood of the chosen deity enjoys a special status during the entire time of pharaoh's favour. Losing favour is unthinkable. Pylons Great towers flanking the entrance of temples. Pyramid More properly called "mer", the structure is a magickal tomb. Its abilities go beyond being a tomb, even beyond its obvious Heka reservoir application. Whatsoever remains inside will not decay, and this is the key ingredient that interests the Ægyptian pharaohs. Scarab The scarab is very common in both religion and magick. He represents anything from fertility to longevity. The magick of the scarab comes from the Ægyptian belief that there are no female scarabs, only males, and magickally they produce offspring. They are eaten, prepared into poultices and have countless uses. Sed Pharaoh's 30th coronation anniversary. A country-wide festivity in which everyone prays for the pharaoh's renewed strength and vitality, making him his own successor. No expense is spared for the Sed, as it occurs, on average, less than once a century. In Memphis, the pharaoh must perform physical tasks such as running, jumping and swimming to prove his fitness to continue ruling Ægypt. Although in modern times these are just ceremonial, in the past a pharaoh who failed these tests was put to death and buried with pomp and ceremony, so his successor could take his place. Sekhti Field laborer. (pl. sekhtiu) The bulk of the workforce in Ægypt. Slave A slave's rights are very specific. A slave can own property, except land, which he can use toward his release. A slave can inherit land, which he must sell, or otherwise convert into other property. A slave can marry anyone he/she wants. A slave may have servants. Tabu A prohibition to touch, speak of and interfere with the prohibited person, creature or object. Failure to obey a tabu will bring the wrath of gods on the offender and anyone who happens to be near him. Uræus It is a divine snake, usually associated with Buto. It is a protector of the crown, and tombs. Its presence means "beware". Uatchti The winged sun disc, symbol of Heru. Ur-Uatchti The winged sun disc, flanked by two uræii representing Buto and Nekhbet. It is the symbol of the Merit-F, the espionage branch of the Utchatu, the Pharaoh's secret service. See Magick Items. Utchat The eye of Ra. Anywhere this symbol is displayed, the attention of Ra is focused. It is the bane of evil, and even an unconsecrated Utchat can be used to turn undead. It is the symbol of the Utchatu, the secret police. See Magick Items. Appendix D: Mystic Places The coming and going of Ra Amentet Known as the land of the setting sun, Amentet is that place due west of Ægypt where Ra, the sun, enters the Duat to begin his night crossing. It is here that the dead spirits go after judgement, to wait for Ra's barge to deliver them to Sekhet-Aaru. Those fortunate enough to afford the secret formulas will embark and be transported there by Ra's barge. The rest must make their own way, following the path of the barge, and avoiding the many dangers awaiting them on the way. Duat Other name: Tuat. This is the land between Amentet and Sekhet Aaru. A dark, dismal place through which the deceased must pass to reach the final resting place. Those who pass the judgement are allowed to enter it, but this does not assure them success. They must be ready for the journey, unless they were able to afford passage on Ra's barge, which is priced beyond the range of anyone but princes. The Duat is fraught with dangers. In some places, the deceased must hide, in others run, in yet others, confront the enemy with the proper responses to challenges. It is a journey that can last months. While making this crossing, a soul can be recalled to the body. Once it reaches Sekhet-Aaru, the soul will not return without Osiris' personal approval. Sekhet-Aaru Meaning Field of Reeds, this is the island where the souls live. In the middle of the island there is a door through which Ra appears each day, guarded by Aker, the lion god. The island's location is not known. Some believe it is in the Nile delta, others far beyond a large expanse of water. The island can only be reached by the personal intervention of a god. Only a minor god or better can transport a mortal to Sekhet-Aaru. FORMAT FOR DEITIES: NAME: Gender: Rank: Avatars: Ethos: Nature: Consort(s): Principal Creative/Concern Attribute: Other Concerns: Allies: Foes: Other Data: Sacred Animal/Item: Dwelling Place: Special Abilities and Powers: Weapons: Armor: Attendants: Descriptive & Miscellaneous Information: