Question about the Egyptian gods

[David19]

I've got a question, i was reading a book in a bookshop today about Egyptian mythology, which i think i'll get. Anyway, it mentioned something about where the gods resisded/lived and i was wondering where do they live, i've heard some say earth, and others say a supernatural realm, or is it another place.

Also I read that the Egyptian belief was that the gods were on earth then went to their supernatural realm and the underworld in their true, deity forms but could still influence earth and humans, is this true and do you believe that they once were on earth (i've heard some say that they were aliens, but i don't believe that) and why do you think they went back to their realm.

What are Kemetic views on the afterlife, do you have an underworld or is it multiple realms, kind of like in Asatru, there are multiple halls humans can go to.

I've heard that in Kemetic belief, there's one unknowable creater who trancends the universe/multiverse and it/he/she created an infinite amount of deities, humans, animals, etc, is this true? and do the gods have weaknesses since i've heard they can die (like i think Isis got her head cut off and lived) but they come back again, except Osiris couldn't.

Are the gods, gods of just an area of life (like love gods, war, etc) or, this was in the book, are they gods of power and can be asked for almost anything like could Isis bring war and also bless someone with love, etc.

And just one more thing, besides the gods, what other beings are in the Kemetic belief system like demonic beings, other spirits, etc?

Thanks, and hope that wasn't too many question :).

[Zephyrstorm]

Hi David, how are you doing? :D :wave:
I've got a question, i was reading a book in a bookshop today about Egyptian mythology, which i think i'll get.
You wouldn't happen to know the name of the book? A lot of books rely on Budge as a main source, and his translations aren't very good.

Also I read that the Egyptian belief was that the gods were on earth then went to their supernatural realm and the underworld in their true, deity forms but could still influence earth and humans, is this true and do you believe that they once were on earth (i've heard some say that they were aliens, but i don't believe that) and why do you think they went back to their realm.

:) First, keep in mind that the people of Kemet didn't mind if they had myths that contradicted each other. There are more creation stories than I care to even think about.
One story goes that Ra used to rule Kemet directly. But He grew old, and the people began to rebel against the ways of Ma'at. Uncertain of what to do, He consulted a variety of the Names. Finally, He determined to send out His Eye as punishment. He sent out Sekhmet, and She began punishing those who were not serving Ra. But She found that She liked the feeling of using Her Power upon the people, and She liked the color of the blood She spilt. She began to kill too many, and was no longer careful to kill only those who had transgressed. Ra spoke to Her, trying to dissuade Her from Her destructive actions.
He consulted the Names again. Then He ordered the priests to brew beer, and added mandrake root or pomegranate juice to it, to make it red as blood.
He made so much that, when they poured it across the land, it seemed a lake of blood.
Sekhmet came upon the beer, and marvelled at the red beauty of it, got lost in the red reflection of her face in it, and began to drink it, believing it to be blood. Soon, she was drunk. She drank. She was incoherently plastered, and passed out.
When She did, Her father, Ra came out and Sekhmet turned into HetHert, her quieter half.
Yet, Ra realized that He needed to move elsewhere, so He called forth His barque and ascended into the sky with His entourage, where He remains today.

I may have gotten some of that a little off, but it's the gist of that particular story. Many of our Gods live in the sky, but not all. However, this world is Their Realm. There are two worlds in Kemetic thought - the Seen world - the one that we are best equipped to percieve, and the Unseen world - which co-exists with this one. The Gods exist in both simultaneously, and so, I must add, do we.


What are Kemetic views on the afterlife, do you have an underworld or is it multiple realms, kind of like in Asatru, there are multiple halls humans can go to.

There is the Duat, which is the Unseen realm of the Dead, of Dreams. When we die, we journey to the Duat, where our hearts are weighed against the feather of Ma'at (Truth, Justice, Harmony -doesn't translate very well). Yinepu guides us there, checks the results, and Djehuty records it. If we are heavier than the feather (and deeds against the Harmony of the universe make our hearts heavier) we are destroyed by Ammit, a monster who is part hippo, lion and crocodile. If our hearts are lighter, we are welcomed before Wesir into His land, where life is much the same as here - only better.

That said, some of us are also reincarnationists. Like me. I believe that I will eventually be reborn. Not everyone agrees.


I've heard that in Kemetic belief, there's one unknowable creater who trancends the universe/multiverse and it/he/she created an infinite amount of deities, humans, animals, etc, is this true? and do the gods have weaknesses since i've heard they can die (like i think Isis got her head cut off and lived) but they come back again, except Osiris couldn't.


There's a good bit of debate about the existence of the One creator between Egyptologists. You would want to read Eric Hornung's The One and The Many to get the concept down pat.
Kemetic Orthodoxy does hold that there's the One - Netjer, and the Many who are both One and unique Individuals.
Sure the Gods have weaknesses - Take the story above, Sekhmet had to learn how to use Her abilities appropriately - She had to learn control. Wesir didn't come back for a reason, IMO. He stayed in the Duat so that our afterlife would be better.


Are the gods, gods of just an area of life (like love gods, war, etc) or, this was in the book, are they gods of power and can be asked for almost anything like could Isis bring war and also bless someone with love, etc.


The Egyptian Gods aren't easily pinned to one specific task. HetHert is more than just a Goddess of Love and Music - She's beauty, wealth, and She can be violent.
Yinepu is the Guide, but He's also a remover of Obstacles.
Now, that said, I recently began learning to knit, and Nit is associated with weaving - so I offered Her my needles and yarn - and I hope that She's offering me Her insight into the task. I wouldn't go to Aset necessarily to learn this, though I could - She would give me a different insight into the skill - in fact, She'd probably direct me to a local knitting or crochet class.

You can ask Them for help with a wide variety of things, but as Each of Them is unique in personality - Each approaches the task in a different way.


And just one more thing, besides the gods, what other beings are in the Kemetic belief system like demonic beings, other spirits, etc?


In Kemetic Orthodoxy we believe in honoring our Ancestors, our Akhu. There are also Netjeri - the spirits that serve the Names - think of them as Nature Spirits. And then there are the Muet, the angry dead and other creatures - these are the dangerous ghosts and the like.


Thanks, and hope that wasn't too many question :).
The way we learn is to ask questions. :) Keep them up. I hope that helps.
and of course, this is just my perspective on such things - I'm by no means an expert. :hehehehe:

[Qball]

Wow you are a wealth of knowledge. I'm like a sponge trying to take it in. Can you recomend some reading meterial on this subject please. Thank you very much.
Qball

[Zephyrstorm]

I'll be back later with some suggestions, Qball -
I've got class shortly, and a sick dog to baby before I can leave the house so that she doesn't get sick while I'm gone. bleh.


Back and here's some suggestions:
George Hart A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses Routledge, 1986
Erik Hornung Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and The Many Cornell Univ. Press, 1982.
Meeks and Favard Daily Life of the Egyptian Gods Cornell Univ. Press
Byron Schafer Religion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths and Personal Practice Cornell Univ. Press, 1991.

Maybe I'm biased, but I have to introduce Hemet's books - these are by the woman who founded Kemetic Orthodoxy.
Rev. Tamara Siuda The Neteru of Kemet, Eschaton Prod. 1994.
Rev. Tamara Siuda The Egyptian Prayerbook, 2005

That's a good start.