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====The Memphite Creation Myth====

Memphis (Egyptian “Mennefer”) served as Egypt’s political capital for much of its history, and it was also the primary cult center of the god Ptah. Like Amun, Ptah was depicted in human form, but instead of wearing a feather crown, he was shown wearing a simpler skull cap. In many ways, Ptah was the most logical choice of all creator gods, as he was the god of metal workers and craftsmen. <ref> Wilkinson, p. 18</ref> Although Ptah was known to work with his hands, his act of creation was accomplished through thought and speech. The so-called “Memphite Theology” is articulated fully in a hieroglyphic text known as the <i>Shabaqa Stone</i>. The <i>Shabaqa Stone</i> is named for the Nubian king who ruled over Egypt in the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty (ruled 716-702 BC) and is dated to 710 BC, but is believed by most Egyptologists to be a copy of a Nineteenth Dynasty, or possibly even an Old Kingdom original. <ref> Lesko, p. 95</ref> The creation account of the text reads:

====The Heliopolitan Creation Myth====

The third and probably the most important of all the Egyptian cosmogonies were the Heliopolitan creation myth. The Heliopolitan myth was developed early in pharaonic history in the city of Heliopolis (Egyptian “Iunu,” biblical “On”), which was the cult center of the sun-god Atum. There are plenty of references in the <i>Pyramid Texts</i> to Atum and the Heliopolitan version of creation.

Atum then created Geb (earth) and his consort Nut (sky) before creation Osiris (Underworld/kingship) and Isis (Magic/Queenship) and Seth (Chaos) and Nephthys (Queenship). The Heliopolitan mythic cycle is considered to have been completed by the end of the Fifth Dynasty (2494-2345 BC). <ref> Tobin, p. 240</ref> However, its influence resonated throughout all periods of Egyptian history.

Elements of the Heliopolitan myth permeated Egyptian theology for centuries, namely, in three primary ways. First, the idea of the afterlife was implied in the Heliopolitan myth through Osiris. The cult of Osiris increased in importance and popularity as Egyptian history progressed, eventually eclipsing Atum and the solar-cult on many levels. The idea of divine kingship was also inherent in the Heliopolitan myth. Osiris was the original god of kingship, and after Seth slew him, the position passed to his son Horus, who became a substitute for his father in the Heliopolitan myth. <ref> Wilkinson, p. 79</ref> Atum was also directly associated with kingship in a number of the Utterances from the <i>Pyramid Texts</i> and art was also depicted in human form, usually wearing the Double Crown of Egyptian kingship. <ref> Tobin, p. 246</ref>

By the New Kingdom, Re was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon and had even eclipsed Atum at Heliopolis. <ref> Wilkinson, p. 101</ref> Despite Atum being subsumed by Re, for all of the reasons discussed above, the Heliopolitan myth remained the most essential cosmogony throughout ancient Egyptian history.

[[Category: Myths and Gods]] [[Category: Ancient Egyptian Mythology]] [[Category:Wikis]]