Chaos to Cosmos: Egypt’s Creation Myth

The Ancient Egyptians were one of the world’s earliest civilizations and left an incredible mark on the whole of humanity. Having endured in history for millennia, they never strayed too far from their lasting myths and beliefs. Their religion was virtually unchanged since its conception, and that fact just confirms how strongly the Egyptians believed in their deities. And at the very root of this religion is a complex creation myth, where all life emerged from primordial chaos.

Life Sprang from Nothingness: The Complexities of the Egyptian Creation Myth

The Egyptian creation myth is a complex and rich narrative that forms the cornerstone of ancient Egyptian cosmology and religious thought. This mythological framework is not only a story of origins but also an important reflection of how the ancient Egyptians understood the universe, the gods, and their place within this cosmic order. At the heart of this creation myth are the gods of chaos, representing the primordial forces that existed before the ordered world emerged. These chaotic deities played crucial roles in the Egyptian worldview, symbolizing the eternal struggle between order ( maat) and disorder ( isfet).

In the beginning, according to Egyptian mythology, there was only Nun, the primeval waters of chaos. Nun was an infinite, formless, and dark expanse, representing the potential of all that could be but was not yet manifest. This primordial ocean was both the source and the container of all life, embodying the concept of chaos from which order would eventually arise. Nun was not personified as a god in the traditional sense but was rather an abstract, omnipresent force. However, in some traditions, Nun was depicted as a bearded man with a blue-green complexion, symbolizing water and fertility. The idea of Nun encapsulated the Egyptians’ understanding of chaos as both a necessary precursor to creation and an ever-present threat to the established order.

Nun, god of the waters of chaos, lifts the barque of the sun god Ra (represented by both the scarab and the sun disk) into the sky at the beginning of time. (Public Domain)

“In the beginning there was nothing but the watery waste of Nun. There was no light, there was no darkness, there was nothing solid to rest upon. Then in the watery waste of Nun something stirred. It was the God Atum, in his form of Khepre the “Becoming One” who was the rising sun. At first, he had nothing to rest upon, so he created a solid bank. The Egyptians imagined this to be a muddy island rising out of the watery waste, which resembled the Nile flood when it was going down leaving small islands in its wake.”

Seton-Williams, M.V. 1999. Egyptian Legends and Stories. Barnes & Noble Publishing.

From the chaotic waters of Nun emerged the first god, Atum. Atum, often depicted as a man wearing the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolized the unity of the nation and the divine authority of the pharaoh. He was considered a self-created deity, generating himself through an act of will. In some accounts, Atum is described as emerging from a lotus flower, while in others, he arises from a primeval mound that appeared above the waters of Nun. Atum’s emergence marks the transition from chaos to order, as he begins the process of creation.

The God of Life from Whom All Arose

Atum created the first divine pair, Shu (god of air) and Tefnut (goddess of moisture), through an act of masturbation or spitting, reflecting the creative potential within himself. Shu and Tefnut then gave birth to Geb (god of the earth) and Nut (goddess of the sky). Geb and Nut, in turn, produced four children: Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys, who together with Atum, Shu, and Tefnut, form the Ennead of Heliopolis, a group of nine deities central to entire Egyptian cosmology. These gods represented fundamental elements of the world and human experience, establishing the framework for the ordered universe.

Among the Ennead, Osiris and Isis play pivotal roles in the mythological narrative, particularly in relation to the concept of chaos. Osiris, the god of the afterlife and resurrection, was seen as a benevolent ruler who brought civilization and order to Egypt. His sister and wife, Isis, was a powerful goddess of magic and motherhood, embodying the ideals of protection and nurturing. The myth of Osiris’s murder by his brother Seth, the god of chaos and violence, illustrates the perpetual struggle between order and disorder.

Anubis attending the mummy of the deceased. (Public Domain)

Seth, representing the destructive and chaotic forces, coveted Osiris’s throne and ultimately killed him, dismembering his body and scattering the pieces across Egypt. Isis, with the help of her sister Nephthys and the god Anubis, painstakingly collected Osiris’s body parts and used her magic to resurrect him. This act of resurrection symbolized the triumph of order over chaos and reinforced the idea of cyclical renewal, essential to the Egyptian belief in the afterlife. Osiris’s death and resurrection also highlighted the dual nature of chaos as both a destructive force and a catalyst for regeneration and rebirth.

The Role of Ra and the Solar Cycle

Another significant aspect of the Egyptian creation myth involves Ra, the sun god, who was often merged with Atum in the form of Atum-Ra. Ra’s daily journey across the sky and his nightly descent into the underworld (Duat) were seen as a continuous cycle of creation, death, and rebirth. This solar cycle represented the eternal struggle against the forces of chaos, as Ra had to battle the serpent Apophis (Apep) each night to ensure the sun’s rebirth and the continuation of life.

Atum on right side facing Apep with a spear, tomb of Ramesses I, 19th Dynasty (c. 1292–1290 BC) (Public Domain)

Apophis, a colossal serpent embodying pure chaos and evil, sought to devour Ra and plunge the world back into primordial darkness. Ra’s nightly victory over Apophis was not only a reaffirmation of his power but also a metaphor for the ongoing maintenance of cosmic order. The priests of Ra performed rituals to aid the god in his nightly battle, emphasizing the importance of human participation in the struggle against chaos.

In addition to the Heliopolitan creation myth, there was also the Theban version centered around the god Amun. Amun, initially a local god of Thebes, rose to national prominence and was eventually merged with Ra to become Amun-Ra, the king of the gods. According to the Theban creation myth, Amun existed in a state of hiddenness and invisibility within Nun before creating himself and the universe. This version highlights the theme of hidden potential within chaos, as Amun’s invisible presence in the primordial waters mirrors the unseen potential for order within the chaotic abyss.

Amun, along with his consort Mut and their son Khonsu, formed the Theban Triad. Mut, the mother goddess, and Khonsu, the moon god, complemented Amun’s creative power, symbolizing the nurturing and protective aspects of the divine. The Theban creation myth reinforced the idea of divine kingship and the god’s role in maintaining order, aligning with the political rise of Thebes and its pharaohs during the New Kingdom period.

The Memphite Theology and Ptah’s Role in Creation

The Memphite creation myth presents yet another variation, focusing on the god Ptah. According to this tradition, Ptah, the god of craftsmen and architects, created the world through the power of his mind and speech. In the Memphite Theology, it is said that Ptah conceived the universe in his heart and brought it into existence by speaking the divine words. This intellectual and verbal act of creation underscores the Egyptians’ reverence for the power of thought and language.

Ptah’s role as a creator also emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and artistry in shaping and maintaining the world. His association with the city of Memphis, an important political and cultural center, reflected the city’s status as a hub of intellectual and artistic activity. The Memphite Theology further integrated the concept of chaos by acknowledging that Ptah brought order to the primeval chaos through his divine craftsmanship, creating a harmonious and structured universe.

Head of Ptah (late 8th–mid 7th century BC) (Metropolitan Museum of Art/CC0)

Another significant creation myth comes from Hermopolis, which introduced the concept of the Ogdoad, a group of eight primordial deities representing the chaotic forces that preceded creation. These gods were Nun and Naunet (water), Amun and Amaunet (hiddenness), Heh and Hauhet (infinity), and Kek and Kauket (darkness). The Ogdoad symbolized the different aspects of chaos that existed in the primordial state, each pair embodying a specific element of the unformed cosmos.

According to the Hermopolitan myth, the interaction of these chaotic forces led to the emergence of a primeval mound or an egg from which the sun god, Ra, was born. This event marked the beginning of the ordered world, with the sun’s appearance bringing light and life to the cosmos. The Ogdoad’s role in the creation myth highlighted the Egyptians’ understanding of chaos as a necessary precursor to order, with the interplay of these primordial elements giving rise to the structured universe.

Ogdoad. The Place of Truth. Deir el Medina. (S F-E-Cameronderivative work: JMCC1/CC BY-SA 3.0)

A Complex Mythological Lens Through Which to View the World

The Egyptian creation myths, with their diverse versions and rich symbolism, offer a profound insight into the ancient Egyptian worldview. These narratives illustrate the complex relationship between chaos and order, emphasizing that chaos was not merely a destructive force but also a necessary precursor to creation and renewal. The gods of chaos, whether embodied by Nun, Seth, Apophis, or the Ogdoad, played crucial roles in these myths, representing the primordial forces that existed before the universe’s orderly structure emerged.

“The Egyptians’ understanding of the universe was limited by what they could see around them. According to ancient texts, the waters of chaos (thought to be devoid of life) surrounded their world, which was separated into three parts: the earth, the sky, the underworld (which was known as the Duat). The Sun journeyed into the perilous Duat at night which was why it could not be seen. This lucid but somewhat disturbing vision raised one crucial question: how had life been formed in the first place?”

Fleming, F. and Lothian, A. 1997. The Way to Eternity: Egyptian Myth. Duncan Baird Publishers.

By exploring these myths, we gain a deeper appreciation for the ancient Egyptians’ understanding of the cosmos and their place within it. The creation myths served not only as explanations for the origins of the world but also as reflections of the eternal struggle between order and chaos, a theme that permeated every aspect of Egyptian life and religion. The enduring legacy of these myths lies in their ability to convey universal truths about the nature of existence, the cyclical patterns of life and death, and the perpetual quest for harmony in the face of chaos.

Top image: In the Egyptian creation Myth, Goddess Nut is in the sky, arching over her brother, the God Geb, who is the earth. Source: Public Domain

By Aleksa Vučković