The Ancient Egyptian Gods: A Beginner's Guide

History · 6 min read · Published 2025-05-12

Ra, Isis, Anubis, Horus. Here's a friendly introduction to the gods you'll meet on every temple wall.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped hundreds of gods, and you'll meet them everywhere on your trip, carved into every temple and tomb. You don't need to learn them all, but knowing a handful makes the walls click into place. Here are the ones to know.

Ra, the sun god The supreme creator and sun god, often shown with a falcon head crowned by a sun disc. Ra sailed across the sky by day and through the underworld by night. Much of Egyptian religion revolved around the daily rebirth of the sun.

Osiris, Isis and Horus This is the great family story. Osiris, god of the afterlife, was murdered by his jealous brother Seth. His devoted wife Isis, a powerful goddess of magic, restored him long enough to conceive their son Horus, who later avenged his father. Horus, the falcon-headed god of kingship, was associated with every living pharaoh.

Anubis, the jackal The jackal-headed god of mummification and the guardian of tombs, Anubis weighed the hearts of the dead against the feather of truth. You'll spot him constantly in tomb paintings.

How to recognise them Most gods have a giveaway: an animal head, a crown, or an object they carry. Once your guide teaches you a few, you'll start identifying them yourself across the temples, which is one of the quiet joys of an Egypt trip.

Where you'll meet them The temples along the Nile, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Philae, are essentially houses of the gods, and the stories are carved into their walls. See our <a href="/blog/nile-cruise-guide">Nile cruise guide</a> for the route. With an Egyptologist, the mythology turns a wall of symbols into a living story. Browse our <a href="/tours">tours</a>.