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The Ennead or Great Ennead was a group of nine deities in Egyptian mythology worshipped at Heliopolis: the sun god Atum; his children Shu and Tefnut; their children Geb and Nut; and their children Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.
- Ra. He is the supreme manifestation of the sun god in Heliopolis and a highly significant figure in the Egyptian pantheon. It is said that he emerged from a primordial mound rising from the waters of Nun and embarked on the act of creation.
- Geb. Geb is the Egyptian god of the earth and the brother and husband of the goddess Nut. He is the eldest son of Shu and Tefnut, the gods of air and moisture, respectively.
- Nut. Nut is the Egyptian goddess of the sky and the twin sister of the earth god Geb. When she defied the sun god Ra by marrying her brother, Ra became extremely angry and instructed Shu to separate the couple.
- Shu. Shu is the Egyptian god of air and the husband of the first divine couple. His name is sometimes translated as “Emptiness” or “He Who Rises Up.” Shu was born when the supreme sun god, under the name Ra-Atum, coughed or sneezed and ejected him from his mouth.
- Atum. Atum is the ancient Egyptian god of creation who sat on the primordial mound (benben) and began creating everything that there is in the universe.
- Shu. According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, Shu, the air god, was the child of Atum. His role in the Egyptian pantheon helped earn him epithets like “he who rises up”.
- Tefnut. Tefnut, also known as Tphenis to the ancient Greeks, is the chief consort/sister of the air god Shu. This makes her the daughter of the creator god Atum.
- Geb. Egyptian god Geb’s equivalent in the Greek pantheon would most likely be the Titan Cronus. The reason being that Geb, like Cronus, is the father of very important deities.
The Ennead (derived from the Greek word for nine) are the nine ancient Egyptian Gods and Godesses associated with the creation myths of Heliopolis (Iunu) in Lower Egypt. In the beginning, there was nothing ( Nun ). A mound of earth rose from Nun and upon it Atum (later Amun or Re) created himself.
- Atum – the Creator God. Atum was the first god who spontaneously emerged from the waters of Nun onto the first mound of dirt. That dirt was the first in the world, and from it and Atum, all life and all other gods sprung.
- Shu – God of Air. Shu was one of the two children born of Atum, and he was lord of the air. He separated the air and sky and brought breath to the world.
- Tefnut – Goddess of Moisture. Tefnut was the personification of dew, an important life-giving force to the Egyptians, and the wife and sister of Shu. When she cried, her tears caused plants to thrive and grow wherever they landed.
- Geb – God of Earth. Geb was often portrayed as a green man with plants sprouting from his back. He was married to his sister, Nut, who was the sky. Because of the children, the couple produced together, Geb was known as the “father of the gods.”
The Great Ennead was a grouping of nine (sometimes 10) gods of ancient Egypt. Each was descended from the creator god, Atum, and the group included him, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Jul 4, 2024 · Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys are the members of the Ennead. The Ennead explains the creation of the world and the divine order in Egyptian beliefs. Originating from Heliopolis, the Ennead’s story evolved over time, impacting various regions and other theological constructs.
