The ancient Egyptians worshiped numerous gods and goddesses. The gods and goddesses were representations used to explain the natural and supernatural activities of the ancient people’s surroundings. The use of gods and goddesses helped them understand what they did not have the research and technology to comprehend. There were local and national gods. Each god and goddess symbolizes one principle aspect of the world. My gallery depicts Isis, Horus, Osiris, Bes, Hapy, and Amun. Isis is the goddess of protection. She utilized powerful magic spells to help those in need. Horus is the god of the sky. He watches over the Egyptian people from above, their protector. Osiris is the god of the dead and ruler of the underworld. Bes is the protector of pregnant women, newborn babies, and family. Hapy is the god of inundation. He brought on the yearly flooding of the Nile River. Then there is Amun, one of the most powerful gods. He is referred to as the King of Gods. When the Egyptian people combined Amun and Ra, forming Amun-Ra, he became even more powerful. These gods and goddesses were often depicted with human and animal features. Some were even associated with more than one animal species. The animals were also extensions of the deity’s mood or their role. For example, an angered god could be illustrated as a ferocious lion and when calm, a gentle cat. Horus is the god of the sky, so he has the head of a falcon. Typically, the gods had human bodies and animal heads. The gods and goddesses were very important to the ancient Egyptians. Daily rituals occurred at local temple to cater to the gods and goddesses. Private homes also had shrines where families praised household gods, those that protected the home and its inhabitants. These sculptures of the gods and goddesses help create a vivid idea of the ancient Egyptian socioeconomic status and belief system.
