Legends and Myths of Ancient Egypt

Myths and legends of Ancient Egypt are characterized by unsystematic and incomplete presentation. Many of them were recreated on the basis of later texts. The main sources of information that reflect the Egyptian view of the world are religious texts, such as prayers and hymns to the gods, a description of funeral rites that were found on the walls of the tombs. The most significant are the "Pyramid Texts", left on the walls of the inner rooms of the pyramids of the pharaohs of the fifth and sixth dynasties; "The texts of sarcophagi", "The Book of the Dead", compiled over a huge period of time (from the New Kingdom to the very end of the history of Egypt).

Myths of Ancient Egypt began to appear already in 6-4 millennium BC. E. In those days, class society was not even in sight. In each area of people's lives, a cult of gods developed, which embodied in stones, birds, celestial bodies, trees. Myths of Ancient Egypt allow scientists to understand and study religious ideas about the world of people of that time. Thanks to them you can trace the history of the birth and development of Christianity. Archeological evidence suggests that the myth of the cosmic gods attributed to the creation of the world arose shortly before the unification of Egypt. According to this version, the Sun was the result of the union of Heaven and Earth.

Myths of Ancient Egypt briefly retold almost impossible, so they are interesting and diverse. Another version of the creation of the world appeared in several cult centers almost simultaneously. These were the cities of Hermopolis, Memphis, Heliopolis. Each proclaimed his god, who was the father of all other gods that existed in the world. Common to all was the idea that the world arose as a result of the chaos of water, plunged into darkness. The way out of this chaos was accompanied by an unprecedented light. Thus the Sun appeared. The representation of ancient people about the water element is closely related to their daily life. Myths of Ancient Egypt say that from the water expanse first appeared a small hill, and then gradually opened and the whole earth. Similarly, the Great Nile was flooded every year, immersing all the surrounding territory in its waters. After a while, the water left, leaving fertile soil for people.

Myths of Ancient Egypt do not represent a whole story. Often, the same events are described in different ways. Gods and heroes appear in different guises. A noteworthy fact is that the creation of the world has been paid much attention, while the creation of man is described very briefly. On the basis of available information, it can be concluded that the Egyptians believed that a man owed his appearance to the gods. As a gratitude, he must bow to them and indulge them in every possible way.

One of the most important was the Sun God - Ra. He also had other names: Atum, Khepri. According to myths, he created himself out of chaos. After the appearance of Ra created the first land site - Ben-Ben hill - and began to create other gods. Thus there was a land and many gods ruling on it.