Spanning ancient Egyptian culture (ca. 3200 B.C.E. to C.E. 400), the Handbook of Egyptian Mythology is the only complete survey of Egyptian mythology of its kind available in English.

Chronology

xi

Introduction

1

(56)

What Is a Myth?

1

(1)

Myth and Geography

2

(2)

History and the Sources of Egyptain Myth

4

(1)

Protodynastic (Dynasty 0) and Early Dynastic Periods (Dynasties 1--2): c. 3200--2686 BCE

5

(3)

Early Kings

5

(1)

The King and the Goods

6

(2)

Old Kingdom (Dynasties 3--6) and First Intermediate Period (Dynasties 7--11): c. 2686--2055 BCE

8

(4)

The Pyramid Builders

8

(1)

The Pyramid Texts

9

(3)

Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate Period (Dynasties 11--17): c. 2055--1550 BCE

12

(7)

The Coffin Texts

13

(3)

Literature

16

(1)

Magic and Popular Religion

17

(2)

New Kingdom (Dynasties 18--20) and Third Intermediate Period (Dynasties 21--24): c. 1550--747 BCE

19

(12)

Temples and Kings

21

(3)

Underworld Books

24

(2)

The Book of the Dead

26

(2)

Mythology in Literature

28

(2)

The End of the New Kingdom

30

(1)

Late Period and Ptolemaic Period (Dynasties 25--30 and the Ptolemies): 747--30 BCE

31

(9)

The Memphite Theology

32

(2)

Persians and Greeks

34

(1)

Alexandria and Memphis

35

(2)

Priests and Temples under the Ptolemies

37

(2)

Isis and Horus

39

(1)

Roman Period: 30 BCE--395 CE

40

(5)

Plutarch's Osiris

41

(1)

Demotic Literature

42

(1)

Land of Magicians

43

(2)

Post-Pharaonic Egypt

45

(12)

Mythical Time Lines

57

(42)

Linear Time

57

(32)

Chaos

58

(1)

Emergence of the Creator

59

(2)

Creation

61

(7)

Period of Direct Rule by the Creator Sun God

68

(8)

Period of Rule by Other Gods

76

(9)

Period of Rule by Kings

85

(4)

Return to Chaos

89

(1)

Cyclical Time

89

(10)

The Egyptian Year

90

(1)

The Solar Cycle

91

(2)

The Journey of the Soul

93

(6)

Deities, Themes, and Concepts

99

(116)

Aker

99

(1)

Akhet

99

(1)

Ammut

100

(1)

Amun (Amon, Ammon, Amen)

100

(2)

Anat (Anath, Antal)

102

(1)

Andjety (Anedjeti)

102

(1)

Anti (Anty)

103

(1)

Anubis (Anpu, Inpw)

104

(1)

Anuket (Anukis)

105

(1)

Apis

105

(1)

Apophis (Apep)

106

(2)

Arsaphes

108

(1)

Ash

108

(1)

Astarte (Ashtarte)

108

(1)

Aten (Aton)

109

(2)

Atum (Atem)

111

(1)

Baal

112

(1)

Babi (Baba)

112

(1)

Baboons

113

(1)

Banebdjedet (Banebdjed)

114

(1)

Bastet (Bast, Boubastis, Pasht)

115

(2)

Bat

117

(1)

Bata

117

(1)

Benu Bird (Phoenix)

117

(1)

Bes and Beset

118

(2)

Birds

120

(1)

Boats

121

(2)

Cattle

123

(3)

Crocodiles

126

(1)

Djed Pillar

127

(1)

Ennead of Heliopolis

128

(1)

Eye of Ra

128

(3)

Eyes of Horus

131

(1)

Feline Deities

132

(3)

Geb

135

(1)

Hand of Atum

136

(1)

Hapy (Hapi)

136

(1)

Hathor (Hwt-hr)

137

(2)

Hatmehyt

139

(1)

Heh Gods

139

(1)

Heka (Hika)

139

(1)

Heqet (Heqat, Hekat)

139

(2)

Heryshef (Arsaphes, Harsaphes)

141

(1)

Hippopotamus Goddesses

141

(2)

Horemakhet (Harmachis)

143

(1)

Horus (Hor)

143

(3)

Horus the Child (Harpokrates, Harpocrates)

146

(1)

Hu

147

(1)

Ihy

148

(1)

Imhotep (Imouthes)

148

(1)

Ipet (Opet)

149

(1)

Isis

149

(3)

Iusaas

152

(1)

Khentamentiu (Khentamenti)

152

(1)

Khenty-Khety

152

(1)

Khepri (Khepry, Khopri)

152

(1)

Khnum (Chnum)

153

(2)

Khonsu (Khons, Chons)

155

(1)

Kings and Princes

156

(2)

Lotus

158

(1)

Maat (Ma'et)

159

(2)

Mafdet

161

(1)

Magicians

161

(2)

Mahes (Mihos)

163

(1)

Mehet-Weret (Mehurit, Methyer)

163

(1)

Mehit (Mehyt, Mekhit)

164

(1)

Meretseger

164

(1)

Meskhenet

164

(1)

Min

164

(1)

Montu (Mont, Month)

165

(1)

Moon

166

(2)

Mut (Mout)

168

(1)

Nefertem (Nefertum)

169

(1)

Nehebkau

169

(1)

Neith (Neit)

169

(1)

Nekhbet

170

(1)

Nemty

171

(1)

Neper (Nepri)

171

(1)

Nephthys

171

(1)

Nun (Noun, Nu)

172

(1)

Nut (Nout)

173

(2)

Ogdoad of Hermopolis

175

(2)

Onuris (Anhur, Inhur, Inhert)

177

(1)

Osiris

178

(2)

Pakhet

180

(1)

Primeval Mound

180

(1)

Primeval Ocean

181

(1)

Ptah

181

(1)

Ra (Re, Pre)

182

(3)

Raet-Tawy (Raiyet)

185

(1)

Ra-Horakhty

185

(1)

Renenutet (Ernutet, Hermouthis, Thermouthis)

185

(1)

Satet (Satis) and Anuket (Anukis)

186

(1)

Sekhmet (Sakhmet)

187

(2)

Serqet (Serket, Selkis)

189

(1)

Seshat (Sechat)

190

(1)

Seth (Set, Sutekh)

191

(3)

Seven Hathors

194

(1)

Shai (Shay)

194

(1)

Shed

195

(1)

Shentayet

195

(1)

Shezmu

195

(1)

Shu (Schu, Chou) and Tefnut (Tefenet)

195

(3)

Sia and Hu (Hw)

198

(1)

Snakes

198

(2)

Sobek (Suchos)

200

(2)

Sokar (Soker, Sokaris)

202

(2)

Sons of Horus

204

(1)

Sopdet (Sothis)

205

(1)

Sopdu (Sopedu, Soped)

205

(1)

Sothis

206

(1)

Souls of Pe and Nekhen

206

(1)

Sphinx

206

(1)

Stars and Planets

207

(2)

Tatjenen (Tatenen)

209

(1)

Taweret (Tweret, Taurt, Thoeris)

209

(1)

Tayet

209

(1)

Tefnut

209

(1)

Thoth

209

(2)

Two Ladies

211

(2)

Wadjyt (Wadjet, Ouadjet, Uto)

213

(1)

Wepwawet (Upwaut)

213

(1)

Weret-Hekau

214

(1)

Wosret

214

(1)

Egyptian Myth: Annotated Print and Nonprint Resources

215

(12)

Print Resources

215

(9)

General Works on Egyptian Culture

215

(2)

Egyptian Religion and Myth

217

(3)

Books and Articles on Egyptian Myth in other Languages

220

(1)

English Translations of Ancient Texts

220

(2)

A Selection of Literature Influenced by Egyptian Myth

222

(2)

Nonprint Resources

224

(3)

Videos

224

(1)

Web Sites and CD-Roms

224

(3)

Glossary

227

(6)

Appendix: Primary Sources

233

(6)

Index

239

(18)

About the Author

257

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