English
Spain
HELIOPOLITAN ENNEAD A popular creation myth developed by the priests of Re, the Heliopolitan Ennead was one of three myths that arose during the Old Kingdom (2686–2181 b.c.) in an attempt to explain the universe. The most complete source of information on the ennead is from the Pyramid Texts. They tell us that the Heliopolitan Ennead has two groups of nine gods: the Greater Ennead and the Lesser Ennead, a group of lesser gods ruled by Horus, who was associated with Re. At the beginning of the Greater Ennead, Atum the creator god willed himself into being, or he was created by Nun, the waters of chaos; several versions of the myth have been found. Atum emerged onto the primordial mound, the first bit of land, and since he was associated with the sun god Re, he became Re-Atum and brought light to the darkness. He created Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture. Their children were Geb, the god of Earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky. These five gods and goddesses were cosmic deities and personified the forces of nature. Geb and Nut were the parents of Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, and Set, who had human characteristics and had important cults of their own.
