The Heliopolitan Ennead & Cosmogony
Nine gods in a single family tree — the theology that frames the story of Osiris.
At Heliopolis, near modern Cairo, Egyptians told of the creator Atum, who arose from the waters and brought forth the first divine pair, Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture). From them came Geb (earth) and Nut (sky), and from those Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys. This family of nine gods, the Ennead, organized much of Egyptian theology and frames the Osiris story.
How it traveled
- The Pyramid TextsSaqqara · -2350explains
Key passages(3)
The Pyramid Texts · 2350 BCE
[Utterance 213] 134a. O N., thou didst not depart dead; thou didst depart living, 134b. (so) thou sittest upon the throne of Osiris, thy ‘bȝ-sceptre in thy hand, thou commandest the living; 134c. (thy
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The Pyramid Texts · 2350 BCE
[Utterance 601] 1660a. To say: O Great Ennead, who are in Heliopolis, make N. endure; 1660b. make this pyramid of N. endure, and this his temple, for ever and ever, 1660c. as the name of Atum, chief o
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It happened that the majesty of Re, the god who created himself, ..., after he had exercised kingship, and mankind and gods were (still) united. Mankind then conspired against him, while His Majesty (
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