Ancient Egyptian origins legends

Ancient Egyptian origins legends are myths that can be categorised by the religious or cult centre.

Memphis

The creator god Ptah dreamt of the creation of a world in his heart. By using his tongue to speak the thought, it was made real.

Hermopolis

Hermopolis has two main variations of its creation legend.

Thoth variant

From the primeval waters a mound rose. The god Thoth gave the mound a present, an egg. The egg opened and from it broke free a young sun. The sun immediately rose up into the heavens and stayed there. Everything else in the world was created after a long interval of rest.

Horus variant

From the primeval waters a Lotus bud rose to the surface and floated there. The petals slowly opened to reveal an infant sun called Horus who sat upon the primeval flower and spread his beautiful, bountiful rays upon the world.

Heliopolis

From the primeval waters represented by Nun a mound appeared. Upon the mound sat Atum who had begotten himself. After this he went on to create air represented by Shu and moisture in the form of the goddess Tefnut. Shu and Tefnut in turn gave birth to the earth god Seb and the Sky goddess Nuit. Shu lifted Nuit into her place in the sky.