Egyptian Mythology

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

This glossary introduces characters from the stories and legends of Egyptian Mythology.

• Aaru: Abode of the blessed dead.
• Amen (Amon, Ammdn): One of chief Theban deities; united with sun god under form of Amen-Ra; husband of Mut.
• Amenti: Region of dead where souls were judged by Osiris.
• Anubis: Guide of souls to Amenti; son of Osiris; jackal-headed.
• Apis: Sacred bull, an embodiment of Ptah; identified with Osiris as Osiris-Apis or Serapis.
• Geb (Keb, Seb): Earth god; father of Osiris; represented with goose on head.
• Hathor (Athor): Goddess of love and mirth; cow-headed.
• Horus: God of day; son of Osiris and Isis; hawk-headed.
• Isis: Goddess of motherhood and fertility; sister and wife of Osiris.
• Khepera: God of morning sun.
• Khnemu (Khnum, Chnuphis, Chnemu, Chnum): Ram-headed god.
• Khonsu (Khensu, Khuns): Son of Amen and Mut.
• Mentu (Ment): Solar deity, sometimes considered god of war; falcon-headed.
• Min (Khem, Chem): Principle of physical life.
• Mut (Maut): Wife of Amen.
• Nephthys: Goddess of the dead; sister and wife of Set.
• Nu: Chaos from which world was created, personified as a god.
• Nut: Goddess of heavens; consort of Geb.
• Osiris: God of underworld and judge of dead; son of Geb and Nut; brother and husband of Isis.
• Ptah (Phtha): Chief deity of Memphis.
• Ra: God of the Sun, the supreme god; son of Nut; Pharaohs claimed descent from him; represented as lion, cat, or falcon.
• Serapis: God uniting attributes of Osiris and Apis.
• Set (Seth): God of darkness or evil; brother and enemy of Osiris; brother and husband of Nephthys.
• Shu: Solar deity; son of Ra and Hathor.
• Tem (Atmu, Atum, Tum): Solar deity.
• Thoth (Dhouti): God of wisdom and magic; scribe of gods; ibis-headed.