Summary
The Ennead was a family of nine gods worshipped at Heliopolis, the city of the sun, and at the heart of the best-known Egyptian story of creation. It begins with the creator god Atum and runs through three generations to Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys, whose quarrels gave Egypt its most famous myth. “Ennead” comes from the Greek word for a group of nine; the Egyptians called it the Pesedjet.
The Nine Gods
| Generation | God | What they stand for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atum | The creator, the first being, later joined with Ra |
| 2 | Shu and Tefnut | Air and moisture |
| 3 | Geb and Nut | The earth and the sky |
| 4 | Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys | Kingship, magic, chaos and mourning |
Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis, is sometimes added to the group as the living king.
The Creation Story of Heliopolis
Before the world existed there was only Nun, a dark, endless ocean. From it rose the first mound of earth, the benben, and on it appeared Atum, “the complete one”, who created himself. Alone, Atum produced the first couple, Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture). They in turn had two children, Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky, who lay so closely together that nothing could live between them, until Shu lifted Nut high above Geb and made space for the world. Nut then gave birth to Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
The pointed top of the benben stone inspired the shape of the obelisk and the capstone of the pyramid.
Other Creation Stories
Egypt had no single creed, and each great city told its own version. At Hermopolis, priests spoke of the Ogdoad, eight primeval gods of water, darkness, infinity and hiddenness. At Memphis, Ptah created the world by thought and word. At Thebes, Amun was the hidden source of everything. The stories were not seen as competing: they were different ways of describing the same mystery.
8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure
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View This TripWhere Was Heliopolis?
Heliopolis, the Egyptian Iunu, stood in what is now the north-eastern Cairo district of Matareya. Little survives above ground except an obelisk of Senusret I, around 4,000 years old and the oldest still standing in Egypt, but statues and blocks from its great sun temple are displayed in Cairo’s museums. Explore the rest of the family in ancient Egyptian gods and see the sites on the map of ancient Egypt.
The Ennead: FAQ
What are the nine gods of ancient Egypt?
The Ennead of Heliopolis: Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
Who created the world in Egyptian mythology?
In the Heliopolis story, Atum created himself on the first mound of earth and then created the other gods.
What does Ennead mean?
A group of nine, from Greek; the Egyptians called it the Pesedjet.
Who separated the earth and the sky?
Shu, the god of air, who lifted the sky goddess Nut above the earth god Geb.
Is Ra part of the Ennead?
Ra was joined with Atum as Atum-Ra, the creator at the head of the Ennead.
