User:Cleo120/sandbox/Ra

Ra (/rɑː/;[1] Ancient Egyptian: rꜥ or rˤ; also transliterated rˤw; cuneiform: 𒊑𒀀 ri-a or 𒊑𒅀ri-ia)[2] or Re (/reɪ/; Coptic: ⲣⲏ, Rē) is the ancient Egyptian deity of the sun. By the Fifth Dynasty in the 25th and 24th centuries BC, he had become one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon sun. Ra was believed to rule in all parts of the created world: the sky, the Earth, and the underworld.[3]

Ra was portrayed as a falcon and shared characteristics with the sky god Horus. At times the two deities were merged as Ra-Horakhty, "Ra, who is Horus of the Two Horizons". In the New Kingdom, when the god Amun rose to prominence he was fused with Ra into Amun-Ra.

The cult of the Mnevis bull, an embodiment of Ra, had its center in Heliopolis and there was a formal burial ground for the sacrificed bulls north of the city.

All forms of life were believed to have been created by Ra. In some accounts humans were created from Ra's tears and sweat, hence the Egyptians call themselves the "Cattle of Ra". In the myth of the Celestial Cow it is recounted how mankind plotted against Ra and how he sent his eye as the goddess Sekhmet to punish them.

To the ancient Egyptians, the sun represented light, warmth, and growth. This made the sun deity very important, as the sun was seen as the ruler of all that he created. The sun disk was seen as either the body or the eye of Ra. Ra was the father of Shu and Tefnut, whom he created by his own power. Shu was the god of the wind, and Tefnut was the goddess of the rain. Sekhmet was the Eye of Ra and was created by the fire in Ra's eye. She was a violent lioness sent to slaughter the people who betrayed Ra, but when pacified she became the more benign goddess Hathor.

The sun[edit]
To the ancient Egyptians, the sun represented light, warmth, and growth. This made the sun deity very important, as the sun was seen as the ruler of all that he created. The sun disk was seen as either the body or the eye of Ra. Ra was the father of Shu and Tefnut, whom he created by his own power. Shu was the god of the wind, and Tefnut was the goddess of the rain. Sekhmet was the Eye of Ra and was created by the fire in Ra's eye. She was a violent lioness sent to slaughter the people who betrayed Ra, but when pacified she became the more benign goddess Hathor.

As creator[edit]
Ra was worshipped as the creator god among some ancient Egyptians, specifically followers of his cult at Heliopolis.[4] It was believed that Ra wept, and from his tears came man.[4] These cult-followers believed that Ra was self-created, while followers of Ptah believed that Ra was created by Ptah.[6] In a passage of the Book of the Dead, Ra cuts himself, and his blood transforms into two intellectual personifications: Hu, or authority, and Sia, or mind.[4] Ra is also accredited with the creation of the seasons, months, plants, and animals.

The sun and creator

The sun is the giver of life, controlling the ripening of crops which were worked by man. Because of the life giving qualities of the sun the Egyptians worshiped the sun as a god. The creator of the universe and the giver of life the sun or Ra represented life, warmth and growth. Since the people regarded Ra as a principle god, creator of the universe and the source of life he had much influence over the people which led to him being one of the most worshiped of all the Egyptian gods and even considered King of the Gods. At an early period in Egyptian history his influence spread throughout the whole country, bringing multiple representations in form and in name. The most common form combinations are with Atum (his human form) Khepra (the scarab beetle) and Horus (the falcon). The form which he usually appears as is that of a man with a falcon head which is due to his combination with Horus another sky god. On top his head sits a solar disc with a cobra which in many myths represents the eye of Ra. At the beginning of time, when their was nothing but chaos the sun god existed alone in the watery mass of Nun which filled the universe. ''I am Atum when he was alone in Nun, I am Ra when he dawned, when he began to rule that which he had made. '' This passage talks about how Atum created everything in human form out of the chaos and how Ra than began to rule over the earth where humans and divine beings coexisted. By having sexual intercourse with himself he spat out of his mouth the god Shu god of air and the goddess of moisture Tefnut. The siblings symbolized two universal principles of humans: life and right (justice). Ra was believed to have created all forms of life by calling them into existence by uttering their secret names. In some accounts humans were created from Ra's tears and sweat.   According to one myth the first portion of earth came into being when the sun god summoned it out of the watery mass of Nun. In the myth of the Celestial Cow (the sky was was thought of as a huge cow, the goddess Meht-urt) it is recounted how mankind plotted against Ra and how he sent his eye as the goddess Sekhmet to punish them. Extensions of Ra's power were often shown as the eye of Ra, which were the female versions of the sun god. Ra had three daughters Bastet, Sekhmet, and Hathor which were all considered the eye of Ra who would seek out his vengeance. Sekhmet was the Eye of Ra and was created by the fire in Ra's eye. She was violent and sent to slaughter the people who betrayed Ra, but when calm she became the more kind and forgiving goddess Hathor. Sekhmet was the powerful warrior and protector while Bastet, who was depicted as a cat, was shown as gentile and nurturing.

https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/egypt/egcr09e.html for creation of humans

https://www.ancient.eu/Egyptian_Mythology/ for creation of world myth

