| “ | I am the Maker of heaven and earth, I am the Establisher of the mountains, I am the Creator of the waters, I am the Maker of the secrets of the two Horizons, I am Light and I am Darkness, I am the Maker of Hours, the Creator of Days, I am the Opener of Festivals, I am the Maker of running streams, I am the Creator of living flame. I am Khepera in the morning, Ra at noontide, and Atmu in the evening. | „ |
| ~ Ra in "Ancient Egyptian Legends, by M. A. Murray". |
Ra, transcribed as Ra or Re (pronounced [ˈɾiːʕuw] in ancient Egyptian), is the sun god in Egyptian religion and is considered one of the oldest and most prominent deities in the pantheon. His worship began to grow during the Second Dynasty, but reached its peak in the Fifth Dynasty (the 25th–24th centuries BC), where he was primarily identified with the midday sun.
Some historians argue that Egyptian religion may have been monotheistic, with Ra as the sole god, although this is a subject of debate.
Ra is often associated with Heliopolis (Iunu, "City of the Sun"), a religious center where the ben-ben—a pyramidal stone symbolizing the primeval mound of creation—was located. His name, "Ra," simply means "sun" in Egyptian, reflecting his intrinsic connection with light and life.
Religious roles[]
Origin[]
Ra (Ancient Egyptian: Rꜥ, pronounced [ˈɾiːʕuw]; Copto: Rē) is the central sun god of the Egyptian pantheon, revered since the beginning of Egyptian civilization (circa 3000 BC). His name means "sun," and he was primarily associated with the sun at noon, symbolizing power, life, and order. Ra ruled the sky, earth, and underworld (Duat), and was considered the first mythical pharaoh, with later pharaohs seen as his "sons" or earthly manifestations. His cult grew significantly during the Second Dynasty and reached its apogee in the Fifth Dynasty (25th-24th centuries BCE), when he became a state deity, with sun temples and pyramids built in his honor
Ra was commonly depicted as a falcon-headed man, surmounted by a sun disk surrounded by a cobra (uraeus), symbolizing protection. He sometimes merged with other gods, such as Horus (Ra-Horakhty, "Ra, Horus of the Two Horizons") or Amun (Amun-Ra), especially during the New Kingdom. His importance transcended social classes, being worshipped by nobles and commoners as the giver of life
The Journey of the Sun[]
Ra's daily journey through the sky and the underworld was a central narrative in Egyptian mythology, reflecting the solar cycle and the struggle between order (Measure) and chaos (Isfet). Every day, Ra sailed in two solar boats: the Basket (Boat of Millions of Years) during the day and the The Mesect during the night. This journey symbolized the constant renewal of life.
- Sunrise (Khepri): At dawn, Ra emerged from the eastern horizon as Khepri, the scarab god, symbolizing rebirth. Khepri, whose name means "the one who comes into existence," pushed the sun like a dung beetle moves dung, representing creation and renewal. The Egyptians saw the dawn as the victory of Ra over the forces of chaos.
- Noon (Ra/Amun-Ra): At noon, Ra reached his zenith as Ra or Amun-Ra, the king of the gods, radiant and powerful. At this time, he communicated with the pharaohs, considered his children, and received prayers and sacrifices from millions of faithful.
- Sunset (Tuna): At dusk, Ra transformed into Atum, a frail old man, and entered the western horizon (akhet), descending into the underworld. This step marked the beginning of his nocturnal journey.
Ra was accompanied by deities such as Sia (perception), Hu (command), Heka (magic), and sometimes members of the Ennead, such as Set, who protected him from Apophis, the serpent of chaos. This daily journey reflected Egypt's dependence on the sun for agriculture and life, and its narrative inspired rituals to ensure Ra's return each morning.
The Sun as Creator[]
In the Heliopolitan cosmogony, Ra (often identified with Atum as Atum-Ra) is the creator god who gave rise to the universe. According to the myth, in the beginning there was only Nun, a chaotic and infinite ocean. From this chaos emerged the I-I, a primordial hill, on which Ra/Atum appeared. Recognizing his loneliness, Ra joined his shadow to create Shu (god of air) and Tefnut (goddess of moisture). These gave birth to Geb (earth) and Nut (heaven), who begat Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys, completing the Heliopolitan Ennead.
Ra also created humanity from his tears. In one legend, when Shu and Tefnut were lost, Ra sent his eye (the Eye of Ra, sometimes associated with Hathor) to search for them. Upon returning, he found that Ra had created a new eye, and cried in pain, giving birth to humans from the tears that fell into the eye. This act reinforced his role as a "life-giver", controlling the ripening of crops and growth, which made him one of the most worshipped gods.
In other cosmogonies, such as the Memphite, Ptah disputes the title of creator, but Ra maintained his preeminence due to his association with the sun, the source of life. His secret name, which contained his power, was coveted by other gods, such as Isis, who obtained it through deception, strengthening the power of her son Horus.
Ra in the Underworld (Duat)[]
Ra's nocturnal journey through the Duat, the Egyptian underworld, is a detailed narrative in funerary texts such as the Amduat, which describes the twelve hours of the night, each with regions, gates, and challenges. At sunset, Ra entered the Duat through the western horizon, transforming into a ram-headed figure, symbolizing vulnerability. He sailed in the The Mesect by the underground Nile, facing dangers and assisting the souls of the dead.
- Early hours: In the early regions, Ra was guided by night goddesses such as Sau ("Head-Beater") and the "Wise Protector of her Lord". The deceased greeted him, but only those with magic formulas could approach his boat (Web:19).
- Central Hours: In the third hour, Ra arrived at Amentet, the realm of Osiris, where souls faced judgment. In the fourth and fifth hours, he was traversing the domain of Sokar, a burial god in the form of a hawk or snake, facing quicksand and darkness. Here, the boat was sometimes transformed into a snake to sail.
- Battle with Apophis: Every night, Apophis, the serpent of chaos, tried to devour Ra or stop his boat with a hypnotic gaze. Deities such as Set and Mehen, along with the justified dead, defended him, ensuring his victory. This battle symbolized the struggle between order and chaos.
- Union with Osiris: At midnight, Ra joined Osiris, god of the underworld, in a mystical fusion that represented death and rebirth. This union ensured the regeneration of Ra as Khepri at dawn, while Osiris remained lord of the dead.
- Renaissance: In the twelfth hour, Ra emerged from the Duat, reborn as Khepri, pushed by Khepri to start a new day. This cycle of death and rebirth was a model for the Egyptian belief in eternal life.
The Amduat details that Ra carried the prayers of the living and the souls of the dead in his boat, connecting the worlds of the living and the dead. The pharaohs, when they died, continued this journey to join Ra eternally.
Later Life and Decline[]
According to one myth, Ra ruled the earth as pharaoh until he grew old and lost the respect of humans. Enraged, he sent his Eye (Hathor/Sekhmet) to punish them, but stopped her by getting her drunk with red-dyed beer to prevent an all-out massacre. Tired, he gave up the throne to Horus and retired to the heavens, devoting himself to his solar journey. During the reign of Akhenaten (1353-1336 BCE), the cult of Ra was temporarily eclipsed by the monotheism of the sun god Aten, but after the restoration of Tutankhamun, Ra regained his prominence.
The cult of Ra declined with the advent of Christianity in the Roman Empire, when its worship was replaced. However, his influence endured into Greco-Roman culture, where he was associated with Zeus and Jupiter.
Legacy[]
The cult of Ra had its main center in Heliopolis (Iunu, "The House of Ra"), known as the "City of the Sun". Sun temples, obelisks and pyramids were erected there, like those of the Fifth Dynasty, symbolizing the rays of the sun. The pharaohs, especially since the Fourth Dynasty, proclaimed themselves "Sons of Ra", reinforcing their divine authority. Texts such as the Pyramid Texts and the Amduat detailed their journey through the Duat, influencing burial practices and belief in eternal life.
Ra influenced other gods, such as Amun (Amun-Ra) and Horus, and his mythology inspired concepts of reincarnation that impacted Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Plato. His narrative of the solar journey also reflected the Egyptian vision of universal harmony (Measure), maintained by the gods and pharaohs.
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