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Egyptian creation myth
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Egyptian creation myth
Egyptian creation myth. 19th-century artwork of a story from the Egyptian creation myths from the third and second millennia BC. The Egyptians told the stories of creation as a series of births and cosmic battles between the gods. Shu the air god (centre) is raising Nut the sky goddess (blue, forming the arch of the sky) to separate her from Geb the earth god (across bottom). Nut is adorned with stars, while Geb is adorned with leaves. The sky, to the Egyptians, was a heavenly Nile, along which the boat of the sun-god Ra (upper left and upper right) sailed from east to west. Artwork from Pioneers of Science (Oliver Lodge, 1893)
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Media ID 6418254
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Ancient Egypt Boat Cosmic Cosmological Cosmology Egypt Egyptology Goddess Gods Legend Legends Mythical Mythological Mythology Myths Origin Origins Religion Religious Sailing Universe Ancient Egyptian Creation Myth Second Millennium Bc Sky God Sun God Third Millennium Bc
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This 19th-century artwork transports us back to the ancient world of Egypt, where creation myths were woven into the fabric of their culture. The Egyptians believed that the universe was born through a series of extraordinary events, depicted here in vivid detail. At the heart of this illustration stands Shu, the air god, his powerful presence commanding attention. With outstretched arms, he raises Nut, the sky goddess, forming an arch above him. Adorned with shimmering stars against her celestial blue skin, Nut personifies the vastness and beauty of the heavens. Beneath them lies Geb, the earth god adorned with lush leaves symbolizing fertility and life. As Shu separates Nut from Geb's embrace, he creates space for existence itself to flourish between them. The artist skillfully captures another aspect of Egyptian cosmology - Ra's boat sailing across their heavenly Nile-like sky. This divine vessel carries Ra, the sun-god who brings light and warmth as it journeys from east to west each day. Through this mesmerizing artwork steeped in mythology and religious symbolism emerges a glimpse into ancient Egyptian beliefs about creation and cosmic order. It serves as a reminder that these legends continue to inspire awe and fascination even after millennia have passed.
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