Although the Ancient Egyptians had many different creation myths, they all agreed that the original god sprang from Nun who was the personification of the primordial waters that covered the earth. Nun was perceived as a limitless, turbulent, vast sea of watery chaos. Since Nun was older than all the other gods he was considered to be the father of the creator god.
Nun's qualities were believed to include boundlessness, darkness and turbulence. He existed in every drop of water, both inside and outside the universe as the Ancient Egyptians understood it. He was in the Nile River, in the temple pools, in the rain and in the ground water. The earth was perceived as floating on the waters of Nun.
Several creation stories feature a muddy hill (benben) which arose from the waters of this primordial sea. The creator god, Atum, appeared on the hill through his own power, and created the first gods, Shu and Tefnet from his spittle.
Nun had no priesthood, nor temples to honor him, but he was represented by the pools present at many temples The people believed the entire earth was floating on the waters of Nun. His water surrounded the earth and welled up through holes in the soil. When a new temple was being built, the workmen dug down to the water table. Thus it could be said that the temple arose from the primeval waters of Nun.
The Nile itself was said to have sprung from two holes in the earth and thus it contained primeval water. Nun reaffirmed his existence each year when the river flooded the land and provided moisture and nourishment for an abundant harvest.
Nun was portrayed as a man, although sometimes he had female breasts. He was shown as clean-shaven or alternately, as having a beard. His body was blue or green to symbolize water and fertility. In one hand, he was often holding a palm frond, meant to symbolize long life, with another in his hair.
It was believed that at some future time, the earth would sink into the waters of Nun again, thus destroying all humanity. At a later time still, the benben would reappear and the cycle would begin again.
The citizens of the Egyptian city of Hermopolis had a distinctive version of the creation story. They worshipped eight deities called the Ogdoad, whom they believed lived in the dark mass of directionless chaos before the earth was formed.
The four pairs of gods were depicted as having human bodies with animal heads. The males had frog heads; the females, snake heads. These deities were Nun and Naunet, (water), Amun and Amaunet, (invisibility), Heh and Hauhet, (infinity) and Kek and Kaukek (darkness).
These gods were thought to have helped with creation, then died and departed for the land of the dead. However, they continued to be active; they made the Nile flow and the sun rise every day.
What is the significance of these ancient myths which were prevalent about 3,000 B.C. in Ancient Egypt? From them we can surmise some facts about this early civilization.
(a) They believed life originated in the sea.
(b) They knew the importance of water in sustaining life, and growing food.
(c) They had at least a basic knowledge of zoology; the gods who inhabited the waters were depicted as snakes and frogs, both of which could survive in a watery environment.
(d) They believed that the earth was not eternal; it had a beginning and an end was anticipated.
(e) They sensed the existence of transcendent beings, although the nature, appearance and characteristics of these varied considerably.
It is interesting to study the beliefs and practices of early civilizations. Although they may seem primitive to us now, who knows what our descendants, looking back at us from three thousand years in the future, will think about our beliefs and practices?
It's probably better that we don't know.
