This paper examines Ancient Egyptian beliefs about the creation of the world, tracing how Egyptian tradition understood the universe as emerging from a formless, dark primordial water known as Nu. The paper explores the central concept of Maat — cosmic order — and its role in distinguishing creation from chaos. It discusses key deities including Nu, Ra, Atum, Amun, and Osiris, analyzing how their roles in creation mythology were recorded in sources such as the Papyrus of Ani. The paper also considers how pharaohs were associated with divine figures at death, reflecting the deep interconnection between Egyptian cosmology, governance, and everyday religious life.
Egyptian tradition relates the creation of the world as the result of the universe emerging from an amalgam of chaos and darkness. Before the creation of the world, everything consisted of dark water that had no form and could not be described using concepts that mankind is accustomed to. Egyptian tradition encompasses a wide range of stories concerning the moment of creation, and with the culture being very complex it is difficult to verify particular accounts. There is, however, a widely accepted framework for the story of creation, and by identifying common elements across several accounts one can gain a better understanding of Egyptian history.
The idea of Maat is meant to address the order in the universe as an essential concept keeping society together. Maat made it possible for the world to evolve and for people to become actively involved in the social order. The world previously stood in a condition of chaos and is still dominated by this chaos, with Maat being the main element distinguishing between disorder and order (Allen & Manuelian 2005, p. 435).
The Ancient Egyptians considered Maat to be very important because it kept the world in order; without it, everything would revert to the chaos that once existed. Time is closely related to Maat, with the concept of cosmic order undergoing a periodical renewal process as a result of time's cyclical pattern. Elements such as the sun completing a daily journey through the sky and the Nile flooding the land once every year contributed to people's understanding of time's cyclical nature. As Assmann writes, "Time — or more precisely put — the continuity of reality had its origin in the cyclical uniting of neheh and djet, 'virtuality' and resultativity" (Assman 2001, p. 109).
The chaos and the water that once existed were referred to by the name Nu. Nu is also described as having the form of a goddess of supreme power. "In prehistoric times it seems clear that a great goddess, sometimes called Nun (the Primordial Waters), reigned supreme and was responsible for creation out of herself" (Adams Leeming 2010, p. 103). Nu was apparently responsible for creating herself, as she reigned over the world and her powers could not be understood from an earthly perspective.
A primordial hill emerging from the watery chaos was the first element that put an end to the nothingness and gave meaning to the world. This primordial hill was shaped in the form of a pyramid and was intended to serve as a place where the sun god of Heliopolis could reside. The sun god of Heliopolis was also created by Nu, who intended to use him as a tool to create the universe.
"Competing creator god traditions in Egypt"
"Papyrus of Ani as source on Ra and Osiris"
"Pharaohs associated with gods upon death"
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