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Osiris
In the underworld, Osiris sits in his throne, where he is praised by the souls
of the just. If a person says to Osiris "I have not stolen and I have not lied", then he would decide if he/she had directed
a respectful life. All those who pass the tests of the underworld become worthy to enter The Blessed Land, the part of the
underworld that is like the land of the living, but without sorrow or pain.
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Anubis
Anubis, who was the original god of the dead before Osiris took
over, became the god of mummification and of the underworld. He watches over mummification processes to ensure that no
mistakes are being made. He also conducts souls through the underworld. After
being interrogated, a person's heart is weighed on a scale called the Scales of Justice. If honest, the person is granted
a safe passage to the afterlife. The hearts of the dishonest are eaten by the goddess known as the Devourer of the Dead, who
is part crocodile, part lion and part hippopotomus.
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Bes
This overweight bearded dwarf who is the protection of childbirth
is not Egyptian at all. During the birth of a child, Bes would dance around the room, yelling to frighten away evil spirits
who might put a curse on the child. After the baby was born, he would entertain the child. It was believed that whenever a
child laughed, Bes was somewhere in the room.
Here is some brief information about each Egyptian God and Goddess...
Atum: the sun god (later on known as Atum-Re, then Ra)
Anubis:
god of embalming and the dead
Aten: form of the sun god Ra
Bastet: cat goddess
Bes: protector of pregnant women, newborn babies and families
Geb:
the god of the Earth
Hapy: god of innundation
Hathor: goddess of love and
joy
Horus: the god of the sky
Isis: protective goddess (used magic spells
to help others)
Khepri: the god of creation, movement of the sun and rebirth
Khnum:
creator god and the god of innundation
Ma'at: the God of truth and justice
Nephthys:
protective goddess of the dead
Nun: the waters of chaos
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Thoth
This great god of wisdom is unusual. Some people say he created
himself through the power of language. He is the inventor of magic, creator of music and the messenger of gods.
He questions the dead's souls about their deeds in life before their heart is weighed against the feather of Maat. He
is also the great counselor and the other gods often went to him for advice.
Nut: the sky-goddess
Osiris: god of the dead and the ruler of the
underworld
Ptah: the god of craftsmen
Ra: the sun God
Ra-Horakhty:
combination of the gods Ra and Horus; the god of the rising sun
Sekhmet: the goddess of war
Seshat:
goddess of writing and measurement
Seth: the god of chaos
Shu: god of the air
Sobek:
a Nile god
Tawaret: goddess who protected pregnant women during pregnancy and childbirth
Tefnut: goddess of moisture
Thoth: god of knowledge
and scribes
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