RA

Ra (often spelled Re) is the divine personification of the sun. His name is the most fundamental word in the Egyptian language: "Sun."

Ancient Egyptian Name	𓂋𓏤 (Rꜥ)
Phonetic Pronunciation	Rah
Literal Meaning	“The Sun” or “Creative Power”
Cosmic Role	Visible Light, Warmth, and Life

Unlike abstract gods, Ra was visible to every Egyptian every single day. His existence was undeniable proof of divine power.

Ra’s cult originated in Heliopolis (Egyptian: Iunu, the City of Pillars). From the Old Kingdom (Pyramid Age) onward, he became the supreme state deity.

• The Creator: He was viewed as the self-generated god who rose from the waters.
• Royal Father: Starting from the 4th Dynasty, Pharaohs adopted the title Sa-Ra ("Son of Ra"), establishing their right to rule as a divine mandate.

In the Heliopolitan creation myth, Ra (merged with Atum) stood upon the Benben Stone (the first mound of earth). Through his divine will, he created the Ennead, the nine gods who formed the structure of the world:

• Shu & Tefnut: Air and Moisture (spat out or sneezed by Ra).
• Geb & Nut: Earth and Sky (children of Shu and Tefnut).
• Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys: The forces of life, death, and chaos.

Ra does not just exist; he acts constantly. His daily cycle is the heartbeat of the Egyptian cosmos.

Day: The Mandjet Barque

Ra travels across the sky in his solar boat (The Barque of Millions of Years), bringing light and upholding Ma'at (order).

Night: The Mesektet Barque

At sunset, Ra dies and enters the Duat (Underworld). Here, he must battle the giant chaos serpent Apophis (Apep) who tries to swallow the boat. Ra’s victory each night ensures the sun rises the next morning.

Ra maintains a cyclical relationship with Nun. Every night, the exhausted sun god returns to the watery abyss of Nun to be rejuvenated. He is washed and reborn, emerging from the waters at dawn just as he did at the beginning of time.

In the New Kingdom, the hidden power of Amun (Thebes) merged with the visible power of Ra (Heliopolis). This created Amun-Ra, the most powerful deity in Egyptian history. He was the "King of the Gods," combining the creative force of the sun with the omnipresence of the wind.

• Falcon Head: Representing the sky and supreme vision.
• Sun Disk with Cobra: The disk represents the sun itself, while the cobra (Uraeus) spits fire to protect Ra from enemies.
• The Ankh: Ra holds the symbol of life, which he offers to the nose of the Pharaoh.

Ra is the father of Ma'at (Truth/Justice). A king's primary duty was to "offer Ma'at to Ra," proving that he was ruling justly and maintaining the cosmic order that Ra established. Without Ra, the world would fall into lawlessness.

The Eye of Ra is a separate, powerful entity representing Ra's destructive power. Often personified as goddesses like Sekhmet, Hathor, or Tefnut, the Eye is sent out to punish humanity when they rebel. It represents the burning heat of the sun that can both protect and destroy.

A famous myth tells how Ra grew old. Isis, wishing to gain his power, created a serpent to bite him. Poisoned and in pain, Ra was forced to reveal his Secret Name to Isis to be healed. This myth explains how magical power passed from the sun god to Isis, making her the "Mistress of Magic."

Primary Role	Sun God, Creator, King of Gods
Cult Center	Heliopolis (Iunu)
Forms	Khepri (Morning), Ra (Noon), Atum (Evening)
Enemy	Apophis (The Chaos Serpent)
Symbols	Sun Disk, Uraeus, Falcon, Benben Stone