In Ancient Egypt, there were three main versions of creation myths, all mutually exclusive. Yet, all three beliefs of how the world was created still managed to co-exist harmoniously, even despite their differences.
Heliopolitan Myth:
The most well-known version, centered around the sun god, Re-Atum.
This myth originated from the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts.
This version features the “Great Ennead”, a group of nine gods including Ra, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys.
Shu, Tefnut, Geb, and Nut were considered to be personifications of the elements required to allow creation. Shu was air, Tefnut moisture, Geb the earth, and Nut the sky.
This myth sees Ra transforming into a bennu bird (an Ancient Egyptian form of the phoenix) and landing on a pillar associated with the sun god.
Memphite Myth:
Unlike the Heliopolitian version, the Memphite version of creation centres around Ptah. It was in this version they believed Ptah was originally Nun, the personification of Chaos (i.e. the emptiness existing before creation).
Ptah was worshipped as the supreme creator god at Memphis.
Ptah/Nun begets a daughter, Naunet, and copulated with her to produce Ra himself.
In this version, creation was thought to have been brought about by Ptah’s thoughts and his will. Basically it was Ptah’s word that created everything.
This version never really had widespread appeal during Ancient Egypt.
Hermopolitan Myth:
This one centres around Thoth, who was the god of wisdom.
There were several versions of this alternate creation myth.
One version features the Hermopolitan Ogdoad, a group of eight gods, with gods paired with consorts. The four male gods were Nun (primeval water), Huh (eternity), Kuk (darkness), and Amun (air). Their consorts, respectively, were Naunet, Hauhet, Kauket, and Amaunet.
Each male in the Ogdoad had the heads of frogs and the females had heads of serpents.
The pre-existing Ogdoad eventually passed from this mortal coil, and continued living in the underworld, where they ensured the Nile’s continual flowing and the sun’s rising each morning.
A second version had a cosmic egg rather than the primordial ocean as the source of life. Either a goose (“the great cackler”) or an ibis (Thoth) laid this egg on the island.
On cracking open, the egg contained either air or Ra in the form of a bird.
A third version of this myth has the Ogdoad creating a lotus flower that rose from the “Sea of Knives”. On opening, the petals revealed the child Ra, who created the world, or a scarab that morphed into a weeping boy whose tears became men and women.
Theban Cosmogony:
Emerged in the New Kingdom, developing in Karnak at the Temple of Amun-Ra.
Claimed that the origin of creation was sited at Thebes, where the creator god–Amun Ra–had created all mankind and other gods.
A later myth detailed Khnum modelling men and women on his potter’s wheel.
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