Peeking Through Glass at Ancient Deities

An interior view of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Gazing at the tiny statues symbolising ancient Egyptian deities is no short-lived task. I could have spent HOURS in there looking at them. They are simply magnificently carved, some bigger than others. Every household usually had a deity which they kept in their home. Religion was very important to ancient Egyptians. For instance, the dwarf “Bes” was a popular household god responsible for protection of the home and safe pregnancies and births. There were hundreds of gods and goddesses worshipped by the ancient Egyptians.

Statues of deities and gods from ancient Egypt

What are deities?

Although they are famous for their giant statues, the Egyptians also carved smaller, more ornate sculptures. They used various materials including alabaster, ivory, limestone, basalt, wood gilded with gold, and sometimes even solid gold. Above is an example of the intricate work of Ancient Egyptian sculptures.

Local areas had local gods, with each city or region often having their own deities that they worshipped. If a city came to prominence under a ruler or powerful official, then the local gods rose alongside them. These became ‘state’ gods, worshipped by the wealthy and elite in the temples. However, the general population continued to worship their local gods as well. Some gods, therefore, were preferred by certain classes of people, some were only worshipped in certain areas, and others prominent only in certain periods. In later times, different deities were frequently combined or merged.

Ancient Egyptian deities are the gods and goddesses worshipped in ancient Egypt. … Deities represented natural forces and phenomena, and the Egyptians supported and appeased them through offerings and rituals so that these forces would continue to function according to maat, or divine order.

Some mainstream idols were

AMUN-RA: The Hidden One.
MUT: The Mother Goddess.
OSIRIS: The King of the Living.
ANUBIS: The Divine Embalmer.
RA: God of the Sun and Radiance.
HORUS: God of Vengeance.
THOTH: God of Knowledge and Wisdom.
HATHOR: Goddess of Motherhood.

Some lesser known idols were

Human-headed Imsety, a son of Horus, was the protector of the liver.

Baboon-headed Hapy, a son of Horus, was the guardian of the lungs.

Falcon-headed Qebehsenuef, a son of Horus, protector of the intestines.

Jackal-headed Duamutef, a son of Horus, keeper of the stomach.

Nephthys was the sister of Isis and Osiris and a protector of the dead.

I made the video below so you could take a rare look inside the museum, as well as the gilded “Royal Mummy” room. The first mummy that visitors encounter is that of King Seqenenre Taa II, followed by those of Queen Ahmose Nefertari, King Amenhotep I, King Thutmose I, King Thutmose II, Queen Hatshepsut, King Thutmose II, King Amenhotep II and Thutmose IV.

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