Ra, the ancient Egyptian sun god, was one of the most important gods in Ancient Egypt. He was considered the creator of everything. His influence spanned generations, and he was worshipped for over 3,000 years. But what was his true name? Let’s explore this question and uncover the origins and mythology surrounding Ra.
Who was Ra?
Ra was the ancient Egyptian deity of the sun. He was considered the creator god, the father of kings, and the patron god of Heliopolis, the center of his cult. According to Egyptian mythology, Ra emerged from the primordial waters of Nun as a child, assuming the role as the sun and creator god. Ra then created Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture. They in turn created Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky.
Ra was believed to travel across the sky during the day in his solar barge and then descend into the underworld at night to defeat the serpent Apep. At dawn, Ra would be reborn from the underworld to bring light and warmth to the earth again. This daily cycle represented Ra’s role as the sun traversing the heavens and symbolized the triumph of order over chaos.
As a creator god, Ra was seen as the father and protector of the Egyptian pharaohs. Pharaohs were believed to be descendants of Ra and human incarnations of the god on earth. When a pharaoh died, he was thought to ascend to the heavens to join the sun god.
The Many Names of Ra
Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Ra was known by many different names and epithets over the millennia he was worshipped. This reflects how Ra took on different roles and attributes in Egyptian mythology. Some of his key names and aspects include:
Ra
The most common name used for the sun god. “Ra” means “sun” in ancient Egyptian. The name is thought to derive from early Egyptian words for “light” and “heat”.
Ra-Horakhty
“Ra, who is Horus of the Two Horizons”. Refers to Ra’s aspect as a sky god, representing the sun’s journey from horizon to horizon.
Atum
Means “the Complete One”. Ra was seen as the completion of the world, having arisen from the chaos of the primordial waters. Atum was also a creator god, said to have created the world through masturbation or spitting.
Khepri
Means “He Who is Coming into Being”. Refers to the dawn aspect of Ra when he is reborn each day. Khepri was pictured as a scarab beetle rolling the sun across the sky.
Amen-Ra
During the New Kingdom period, Ra became combined with the ancient god Amun as Amun-Ra. This reflected Ra’s supreme status in the Egyptian pantheon during this era.
Ra-Atum
In some regions like Heliopolis, Ra was merged with his aspect as Atum to become Ra-Atum. This combination god represented creation and the cyclical nature of the sun.
The Secret True Name of Ra
According to Egyptian magical texts and mythology, Ra had a secret true name that granted the god ultimate power. Knowing Ra’s true name gave the ability to wield divine magic and authority. This name was said to be “Renenutet” or “Renenet”, meaning “bringer of plenty”.
In the story The Contendings of Horus and Set, Ra grows old and weak on earth. The other gods plot to learn his secret true name in order to gain his powers. Isis, the goddess of magic, tricks Ra into revealing his hidden name. With this knowledge, she gains authority over him for a time.
Rituals and spells in ancient Egypt also invoked the mysterious true name of Ra to commune with the god’s hidden aspects and powers. Magicians used this name to heal the sick, curse enemies, and alter destinies.
Knowing Ra’s secret name meant tapping into the fundamental creative power that brought the world into being. Thus it gave control over the god who invented existence itself.
The Rise of Ra Worship
The cult of Ra emerged in ancient Egypt during the Fifth Dynasty, around the 25th century BCE. His worship grew as he became associated with the pharaohs and the sun. Here is a timeline showing the rise of Ra to supreme deity of Egypt:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Fifth Dynasty | Ra worship begins emerging, centered in Heliopolis |
| Old Kingdom | Ra grows in power across Egypt, associated with pharaohs |
| Middle Kingdom | Amun surpasses Ra as the dominant god |
| New Kingdom | Ra returns to supremacy as Amun-Ra |
| Late Period | Ra worship declines following the rise of Osiris and Isis |
During the Old Kingdom, Ra’s association with the all-powerful pharaohs helped him overshadow older gods like Horus. Temples dedicated to Ra were built from Heliopolis to Abu Simbel. Ra reached the peak of his influence during the New Kingdom era from around 1500 BCE to 1000 BCE. His combining with Amun reflected Ra’s status as the supreme deity in Egypt during this period.
Depictions of Ra
In ancient Egyptian art, Ra was depicted in a variety of ways reflecting his different aspects. Some common representations include:
- As a falcon-headed man wearing a sun disk and uraeus snake – His most iconic image as a hawk-headed human merges his sun aspect with Horus.
- As a ram-headed man – Linking Ra with ram gods like Khnum and representing fertility.
- As a beetle – The scarab beetle specifically symbolizes the morning form of Ra as Khepri.
- As a lion-headed man – Associating Ra with power and rulership.
- As a snake – Representing Ra’s journey into the underworld at night to battle Apep.
- As a pharaoh – Emphasizing the close link between Ra and the king.
Ra was frequently depicted holding the ankh, symbolizing life, along with a scepter to represent his divine authority. The sun disk itself served as one of Ra’s supreme symbols across Egyptian art and architecture, emphasizing his dominion over the heavens.
Temples to Ra
As the preeminent deity of Egypt for long stretches of its history, Ra was worshipped at temples across Egypt. Major temples to Ra include:
Heliopolis
The cult center for Ra during the Old Kingdom. The high priests of Ra, who gained wealth and influence, were based here. Heliopolis housed the sacred ben-ben stone associated with the sun god.
Abu Simbel
Built by Ramses II in southern Egypt, this imposing rock temple featured four massive statues of the pharaoh facing the sun. It emphasized Ra’s connection to the king.
The Great Temple at Karnak
Dedicated to Amun-Ra during the New Kingdom period, this vast temple complex is one of the largest ever constructed for ancient Egyptian gods.
Pi-Ramesses
This grand imperial capital built by Ramses II was dedicated to Ra in his combined form as Amon-Re. It marked Ra’s prominence in the 19th Dynasty.
Ra in the Afterlife
Ra was central to the ancient Egyptian afterlife as well. In the underworld, Ra was thought to battle against the evil serpent Apep each night. The dead pharaoh, as the embodiment of Ra, would join this fray. The souls of dead commoners could also join Ra’s solar barge to assist him and be revived each dawn.
The Book of the Dead, funerary texts placed in tombs, provided spells to invoke Ra’s power in the afterlife. Magical formulas helped the soul unite with Ra in order to be reborn. Chants like the Hymn to Ra offered praise to activate Ra’s guidance and protection in the afterlife.
Decline of Ra Worship
While Ra reigned supreme at the height of Egyptian history, his popularity gradually faded over the millennia:
- Ra was too distant and aloof to provide comfort to ordinary Egyptians struggling with life’s hardships.
- Osiris and Isis became more appealing to commoners as intercessors with the gods.
- Isis took on the role of maternal nourisher that Ra lacked as a paternal sky deity.
- The Greek occupation of Egypt brought new gods that absorbed Ra’s attributes.
Though in decline, Ra’s legacy lived on. The reign of the sun god left an enduring mark across the mythology, magic, and iconography of ancient Egyptian civilization for 3000 years.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun deity who served as the dominant state god for much of Egypt’s history. Though Ra had many aspects and names like Atum and Amun-Ra, his hidden true name of Renenutet gave him divine creative power. Ra’s cult emerged at Heliopolis before spreading across Egypt. His worship peaked during the New Kingdom era. Ra’s image as a hawk-headed figure topped by a solar disk became ubiquitous, symbolizing his eternal path across the sky. From magic spells to elaborate temples, the ancient Egyptians invoked and honored Ra more than any other god. His enduring legacy as the sun and creator shaped Egyptian religion, kingship, and culture over three millennia.