3.2.2: The Egyptian Creation Myth

The Egyptian’s Creation story is narrated by the god Neb-er-tcher, “Lord to the uttermost limit,” an epitaph that references his omniscient power, reach and knowledge. When he sought to create the world, he adopted the persona of Khepera, a god everafter known as the Creator, and held in regard above the subsequent gods of the Egyptian pantheon. At the time of this transition, the earth and heavens did not yet exist, but a world ocean–Nu–did exist, and it was from this primordial element that life evolved, starting with Khepera who birthed himself from the inert liquid, speaking his name and in doing so, sparking the energy of life. He spoke the land into being, providing solid ground for him to stand upon. Needing offspring, he then united with his own shadow and begat Shu and Tefnut, the personifications of air and dryness, and water, respectively. These two gods provided the celestial construction materials for the heavens and earth, and their first creative act was the generation of two more essential offspring, Keb (or Geb), the god of Earth, and , the goddess of Sky. This creative energy heralded the sun to rise out of Nu, providing the first day and securing the placement of Shu, Tefnut and Nut [nOOt].

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Detail from the Greenfield Papyrus (the Book of the Dead of Nesitanebtashru), depicting the air god Shu, assisted by the ram-headed Heh deities, supporting the sky goddess Nut as the earth god Keb/Geb reclines beneath. (Photographed by the British Museum; original artist unknown. Public domain. Wikimedia)

Throughout the daylight hours, Nut (the Sky-goddess) dwelt over the earth, being supported by Shu, her partner. When the sun set, she floated down to earth, where she reposed upon the body of Keb/Geb, the Earth-god.

The union of Keb and Shu issued the third generation of gods, Osiris, [Horus], Set, Isis, and Nepthys. Prior to their birth, Osiris and Isis married and gave birth to their son Horus, while Set and Nephthys followed suit and produced their son Anpu/Anubis, though he isn’t explicitly mentioned in this portion of the myth. Osiris is of significant importance, and Neb-er-tcher the narrator speaks his name as Ausares, or “he who is formed of the same elemental matter as Neb-er-tcher”, and as such is the reincarnation of the aforementioned. Thus, the two are aligned as kindred benefactors and champions of humans. Osiris serves in a dual capacity as protector of humanity whilst he resided on earth, and protector of souls when in heaven.

Having secured the primary pantheon, the sun, now known as the Eye of Khepera (for it sees all), experiences some catastrophe which blunts its light. The catastrophic event may have been an eclipse, or simply the emergence of night. This then led the god to create another Eye, the moon, which the god gifted some of the luminance of the sun, and secured it to the earth where it ruled along with the sun. The moon was given special provinces–the production of trees, plants, and vegetative life–forever linking it with the life-giving fertility of earth.

In his final significant act of creation, Khepera crafted humans from his own body, and gifted life upon them with his own tears.

Such is the story of Creation as it is found in the Papyrus of Nes-Menu (Wallis).

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The Rosetta Stone, housed in the British Museum, contains a single decree written in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic and Demotic scripts, in addition to Ancient Greek, allowing linguists the necessary key to decipher hieroglyphics (Lockyer 13). (Public Domain; Project Gutenberg)