The Egyption pantheon is a combination of many different deities who arose from different regions of the land and as political winds shifted. As battles were one and regions were combined with other religions of their conquerors, deities who held the same functions would be combined into one god or goddess. Over time, the Egyptian civilization became more unified and several of the combined gods began to rise and gain a more universal power in the region. Some of the most well known of these are Isis, Osiris, Horus, and Thoth. This is not to say they were all powerful for the remainder of the Egyptian civilization. Civil and political conflict often caused their divine popularity and importance to fluctuate.
Association, visual representations and details surrounding the deities also morphed and changed over time as the years continued. As the ancient Egyptian era died, some of the region’s deities were morphed into Greek beliefs as the Greek began their control of the empire. Isis is, perhaps, the most popular of the deities to be morphed into Greek beliefs and was worshipped long into the beginning of Christianity.
The Egyptians believed in a constant universal unrest between order and chaos. Ma’at is the state of order, truth, and justice and is the responsibility of humans and gods, alike, to keep the order. It was necessary to maintain a constant commitment to this responsibility as chaos and disorder threatened to overcome. The gods control nature which allows human life to thrive and the humans were devout in their faith to ensure that the gods worked in harmony. The Pharaoh, with their divine power, was responsible for making offerings and performing rituals within the temples, assisted by priests.
These rituals were considered to be a form of magic manipulating heka; the natural force that created the universe. Heka was how the gods manifested their desires and could also be used by individuals to overcome obstacles and influence events in their favor. It could also be used for spells, incantations, sympathetic magic, or for protective objects such as amulets.
A brief on the most popular gods:
BAST
Bast, represented by a lioness, was portrayed as a goddess of war in the delta region of the Nile river. As mentioned above, cultures began to merge so ultimately, Bast ended up being represented by a cat as a goddess of protection.Cats, as I am sure you are aware, were highly revered in Egypt; hundreds of thousands of mummified cats were laid to rest in the temple of Bast despite her power diminishing over time.
As cats are a popular familiar among witches, Bast is held in high regard amongst Wiccans. Also, since cats are known for their mothering nature, Bast has taken on an additional role as a fertility goddess and model of motherhood. Since cats are also known for their unmatched abilities at stalking and killing rodents and vermin, Bast has also been considered a protector of disease and evil spirits. She is also a goddess of joy, music, dancing (after a cats trait of playfulness) and of perfume, healing ointments, music, and magic.
Bast’s name was eventually altered to Bastet, reflecting her diminished power. She is referred to as Bastet by many scholars but is still called Bast by many of her contemporary followers. Every year though, a festival held in her honor is held with singing, dancing, feasting, and the playing of flutes and rattles.
She is the daughter of Ra, the sun god, sharing his chariot as he rides through the sky daily. At night, she guarded her father while he rested against the serpent Apep. Ancient Egypt considered her a goddess of the sun, like her father, but the merge of cultures with Greece transformed her into a goddess of the moon.
Bast can be called upon for conception, childbirth, motherhood, prevention of illness, and protection during travel. An altar to her can consist of cat and lion images (most notably an image of a mother cat and her kittens), carvings and images of of baskets and sistrums (the ancient egyptian rattles), milk, honey, sweet foods, and perfumes. An utchat, an amulet of the evil eye, can be placed over your doorway for Bast’s protection from thieves and those with ill intentions.
Singing, dancing and/or chanting is a perfect way to invite Bast to your circle. Cats Eye or Tiger’s Eye are the crystals associated with her so you may keep one or both in your pocket to carry her protection with you. Bast also helps with animals, overcoming hostile opposition, and finding humor and joy in everyday life.
Colors: Red
Images/Symbols: cats, tigers eye, baskets, sistrum
Offerings: sweet foods, perfume
Types of magic: Protection, motherhood, joy
OSIRIS
Osiris is the most important influence in the Egyptian views of life, death, the afterlife, and the importance of order within the world throughout the many myths surrounding his death and resurrection.
There are many versions of the story, including the following: In one, the god of disorder, Set, could not bear Osiris and his success and adoration. Set tricked him into entering a large chest which Set locked and threw into the Nile, floating out to sea. One myth states that Isis searched the world until she found the chest and resurrects Osiris long enough to conceive Horus. Anubis then embalms Osiris’ body, setting the Egyptian precedent of mummification. Another myth runs parallel to this with the exception that the truck eventually finds its way to shore and grows into a tree trunk before Isis discovers it.
Another version of the myth alleges that Set hacked Osiris’ body to pieces after he discovered Isis’ resurrection and she must once again, rescue her husband’s remains. Another legend claims that Set destroyed the body first before Isis’ began her search. Either way, Osiris became the protector of the dead, awaiting the deceased as they travelled from the land of the living.
The flooding of the Nile has been compared to the death and resurrection of Osiris. One myth states that the flooding is associated with the tears of Isis after discovering her husband’s remains. Others compare the waters to the resurrection itself. The water, much needed for the people and the land, caused the Egyptians to view Osiris as also the god of abundance and life as well as death and the underworld. Some even compare the dismemberment of his body to that of cutting and threshing grain and see him as a god of the harvest as well.
Osiris’ story runs parallel to that of the God in Wiccan beliefs.
Osiris is often called upon to assist with new beginnings, ends and difficult transitions. He is helpful with work focusing on regeneration, restoring order, peace harmonizing relationships ( specifically where there has been a harboring of resentment), and assisting to help make the positive aspects of a negative situation clearer.
He can be represented with depictions of a pharaoh holding a crook and flail, and the colors black and/or green to represent soil and rebirth.
Colors: black, green
images/ symbols: pharaoh, crook and flail
Offerings: bread, incense
Types of Magic: Regeneration, peace, restoring order
ISIS
Isis is arguably the most well known Ancient Egyptian goddess. She was worshipped universally throughout Egypt, a strange occurrence as most popular deities were the result of the lands and cultures merging. Her followers continued to worship long after Christianity and the Roman empire began to ravage the land. SHe was revered as the mother goddess and a queen of magic.
She is often represented wearing a throne headdress (her name translates to “throne”) and holding an ankh, representing eternal life.
She is Osiris’ twin and, like her brother, represents both life and death due to the legend of her resurrection of her dead husband for the purpose of bringing new life, Horus, into the world. In the story of Bast, it is mentioned that Bast protected her father, Ra, at night from a mighty serpent. This serpent is believed to have been created by Isis in order to attempt to gain control over the sun god. In myth, the serpent succeeds in biting Ra and Isis promises to heal him in exchange for his true name.
She is associated with motherhood as her son Horis ascended to the throne, making her a mother of a pharaoh. She is also considered a mother of Egypt from her teachings of the ways of civilization with her devotion to Osiris. As soon as she gave birth to Horus, his uncle, Set, required her to protect Horus from him, making her a goddess of protection and she is believed to be a goddess of protection for the dead as well. She is also believed to be a goddess of love, faithfulness, spirituality, dreams, inner wisdom, and destiny.
Though she is now seen as a goddess of the moon, she was once considered a goddess of the sun. In modern wiccan practices, she is comparable to the triple goddess and her symbolism of maiden, mother, and crone as Isis is recognized for her representation of birth, life, and death.
She is connected with magic, itself, and aids in creative magical workings. She is especially helpful with workings of fertility, growth, healing, and protection.
She can be connected with in a dream state with rose petals under one’s pillow. When praying to her, wear white and/or silver and keep amethyst or bloodstone on her altar. Myrrh and jasmine incense, flowers, milk, and honey are the best offerings.
Colors: Black, blue
Images/Symbols: moon, hawk, amethyst, bloodstone
Offerings: milk, honey, flowers, myrrh
Types of magic: magical power, fertility, growth, fertility, healing, protection
HORUS
Horus has been known as a sky god, a god of war, hunting, protection, and represented the link between Pharaohs and gods. As the years progressed, it became common belief that the line of pharaohs were direct descendants of Horus, himself.
The son of Isis and Osiris, Horus is sometimes depicted as an infant on a lotus petal, intertwined his story with that of his mother’s mother and protector roles. Due to his mother’s connection to magic, his energy is considered to be especially strong, forceful, and aggressive. As wiccans, we shun negative workings, but the energy of Horus can be particularly useful for positive intentions as well, particularly with problem solving and helping someone in need.
He can assist with interpersonal conflict and hunting.
Horus is believed to protect Egypt at his mother’s request. Many legends depict him constantly at was with his uncle, Set, who murdered his father. Eventually Horus and Set were brought before Ra to debate a claim to the throne of Egypt and Ra ultimately chose Horus and was considered, as a result from his years of conflict with Set) a hero.
As a falcon god of the sky, festivals are held to honor him, which it is said he attends. At these festivals, a live falcon is crowned to honor his role as the king of pharaohs.
A popular symbol of Horus, is the ‘Eye of Horus’. It is thought to bring positive energies and good health and many wear the design on clothes and even as tattoos. He can also be represented with images of falcons, hawks, and birds of prey.His offerings include raw meat, bread, iron, and other symbols of weaponry.
Colors: black, gold
Images/symbols: falcon, hawk
Offerings: raw meat, bread
Types of magic: hunting, justice, triumph
THOTH
Thoth is one of the earliest known deities of ancient Egypt, but did not achieve fame as one until late in the history of the empire. Rather than being born or made of another god, Thoth is said to be “self-made”. He is honored for his contributions to magic, civilization, medicine, and writing.
Thoth is easily recognizable by his head of either an ibis (a sacred Egyptian bird) or the head of a baboon. He may appear with a crescent on his head, symbolizing his ties as a lunar god. Often he is depicted with a nod towards his connections with writing, communication and language and can be seen holding a scroll and a reed pen.
Thoth was the voice of Ra and, with his wife Ma’at, stood beside Ra in his boat that held the sun as he drove across the sky day after day. Some legends say Thoth took the form of an ibis, laying an egg that produced the sun, itself and, therefore, created Ra. It is also said that Thoth provided Isis with the magical incantations needed to resurrect Osiris. He is also believed to have introduced instruction to the arts and sciences as Osiris developed civilization.
Thoth may be called upon for workings related to learning, acquiring new knowledge, clarity, communication, mediation, healing, and improving mastery with magic. He can be honored with lunar shaped candles, water, beer, bread, images of an Ibis, baboons, parchment, and/or writing implements. Reading and becoming familiar with ancient Egyptian culture is also a way to honor Thoth as he receives the credit for creating it.
Colors: black, white
Images/Symbols: Ibis, Baboon, parchment scroll
Offerings: water, beer, bread
Types of magic: Knowledge, communication, magical skills
Learning Wicca and the Tradition of the Craft 