Who were the Ogdoad in ancient Egyptian mythology?
The Ogdoad were eight primordial deities worshiped at Hermopolis, arranged into four male-female pairs believed to represent forces that existed before the world took shape.
Questions about Ogdoad (Egyptian)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What does the name Ogdoad mean?
The name Ogdoad comes from a Greek word meaning "the Eightfold," reflecting the group's eight members.
When is the Ogdoad first mentioned in Egyptian records?
The earliest certain reference to the Ogdoad appears in a dedicatory inscription carved by Hatshepsut at Speos Artemidos during the Eighteenth Dynasty.
Where were the Ogdoad worshiped?
The Ogdoad were worshiped at Hermopolis, the ancient Egyptian city associated with the concept of eight.
Why were the Ogdoad gods depicted as frogs and serpents?
Late Period Egyptian texts describe the four male gods with frog heads and the four female goddesses with serpent heads, an image carved repeatedly into Ptolemaic Kingdom temple reliefs.
What did each pair of Ogdoad gods represent?
Nu and Naunet stood for the primordial waters, Heh and Heuhet for unlimited number or the atmosphere, Kek and Kauket for darkness, and Amun and Amunet for invisibility or hiddenness.