Ra
In the beginning, there was only Nun, a vast mass of watery chaos filling the universe. No land existed yet, and no life stirred within that dark expanse. Then emerged the Benben, a pyramid-shaped mound rising from those primal waters. A lotus flower grew upon this mound, and when it blossomed, Ra appeared. He declared himself Atum when alone in Nun, and Ra once he dawned to rule what he had made. This moment marked the transition from formless water to ordered creation. Ra created Shu, god of air, and Tefnut, goddess of moisture. These two siblings symbolized universal principles of life and justice for humans. All forms of life were believed to have been created by Ra calling them into existence through their secret names. Some accounts state humans sprang from Ra's tears and sweat, leading Egyptians to call themselves the Cattle of Ra.
Every night Apophis attacked Ra in an attempt to stop the sun-boat's journey. This enormous serpent tried to consume the vessel or halt its progress with a hypnotic stare. During evening hours, Egyptians believed Ra set as Atum or transformed into a ram-headed figure. The night boat carried him through the underworld back toward the east for rebirth. Twelve gates and regions filled the subterrestrial Nile where Ra traveled on his Mesektet Barque. He would transform into his Ram-headed form while navigating these dark waters. After defeating the snake, Ra left the underworld at dawn, lighting the day once more. He traveled across the sky in his falcon-headed form on the Mandjet Barque during daylight hours. Then he switched to the Mesektet Barque in his ram-headed form to descend into darkness. Various deities accompanied him including Sia, Hu, Heka, Set, and Mehen who defended against monsters.
Ra was portrayed as a man with the head of either a lanner or peregrine falcon. A sun disk sat atop his head surrounded by a cobra representing the Eye of Ra. Other common forms included a man with the head of a beetle known as Khepri. Sometimes artists depicted him as a full-bodied ram, beetle, phoenix, heron, serpent, bull, cat, or lion. In some literature, Ra appeared as an aging king with golden flesh and silver bones. His hair was described as lapis lazuli blue. Most commonly featured with a ram's head in the Underworld, he was called the ram of the west. This ram-headed form served as evening manifestation of Ra alongside Khnum. The scarab beetle rolling up the Sun represented morning appearance as Khepri. Midday saw Ra at his peak when the sun reached its highest point.
As cults of Amun and Ra became increasingly popular in Upper and Lower Egypt respectively, they were combined to create Amun-Ra. References to this new deity appeared in pyramid texts as early as the Fifth Dynasty. The most common belief states Amun-Ra was invented as a state-deity by Theban rulers around the 18th Dynasty. They sought to unite worshippers of Amun with the older cult of Ra. Worshippers gave the combined deity the official title King of the Gods. Images show the merged figure as a red-eyed man with a lion's head surrounded by a solar disk. Atum shared more similarities with Ra than did Amun since both were creator gods of the Ennead. Both deities were regarded as fathers of other gods and pharaohs. In later Egyptian mythology, Ra-Horakhty functioned more as a title linking Horus aspects to Ra rather than forming a composite deity.
Ra's local cult began growing from roughly the Second Dynasty establishing him as a sun-deity. By the Fourth Dynasty, pharaohs were seen as Ra's manifestations on Earth called Sons of Ra. His worship increased massively during the Fifth Dynasty when Ra became a state-deity. Pharaohs had specially aligned pyramids, obelisks, and sun temples built in his honor. Rulers told followers they were sons of Ra himself and wife of the high priest of Heliopolis. These pharaohs spent much of Egypt's money constructing sun-temples dedicated to their father god. The first Pyramid Texts arose giving Ra increasing significance in the journey through the Duat. During Middle Kingdom times, Ra affiliated increasingly with Osiris and other chief deities. Worship grew complicated and grander during New Kingdom periods when tomb walls featured detailed texts depicting Ra's underworld journey.
Many acts of worship included hymns, prayers and spells designed to help Ra overcome Apophis. Priests recited these incantations while performing temple ceremonies to aid the solar barque. The walls of tombs contained extremely detailed texts showing Ra's nightly passage through darkness. Ra carried prayers and blessings of living people alongside souls of the dead on his sun-boat. The idea that Ra aged with the sun gained popularity during rise of the New Kingdom. Sekhmet served as an instrument of vengeance sent by Ra against humanity plotting rebellion. Hathor danced naked before Ra until he laughed to cure his sulking fits. When Ra fell into deep depression without Hathor, priests worked harder to restore balance. Bastet sometimes decapitated Apophis to protect Ra from his sworn enemy. Beer dyed red was poured out to intoxicate Sekhmet and prevent her from killing all humanity.
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Common questions
How did the god Ra appear in ancient Egyptian creation myths?
Ra appeared when a lotus flower blossomed on the Benben mound rising from the primal waters of Nun. He declared himself Atum when alone and became Ra once he dawned to rule his creation.
What forms does the sun deity Ra take during day and night journeys?
During daylight hours Ra travels as a falcon-headed figure on the Mandjet Barque while at night he transforms into a ram-headed form on the Mesektet Barque. Artists also depicted him as a beetle known as Khepri for morning appearances or as an aging king with golden flesh and silver bones.
When were the cults of Amun and Ra combined to create Amun-Ra?
References to this new deity appeared in pyramid texts as early as the Fifth Dynasty but most common belief states Amun-Ra was invented by Theban rulers around the 18th Dynasty. They sought to unite worshippers of Amun with the older cult of Ra to establish a state-deity titled King of the Gods.
Which dynasty saw pharaohs become manifestations of Ra called Sons of Ra?
By the Fourth Dynasty pharaohs were seen as Ra's manifestations on Earth called Sons of Ra. His worship increased massively during the Fifth Dynasty when Ra became a state-deity and rulers built specially aligned pyramids and sun temples.
How did ancient Egyptians help Ra defeat Apophis during his nightly journey?
Many acts of worship included hymns prayers and spells designed to help Ra overcome Apophis. Priests recited these incantations while performing temple ceremonies to aid the solar barque and poured beer dyed red to intoxicate Sekhmet and prevent her from killing humanity.