ABSTRACT
The Egyptians worshipped a bewildering number of gods. They themselves said there were too many to count. Evidence indicates that the Egyptians were worshipping sun gods from very early in their history, which is hardly surprising given the importance of sun in their lives. They also worshipped moon and sky gods, fertility gods, and gods of wisdom, truth, and motherhood. Sometimes one god became more important than others. When a cult center, such as Heliopolis or Memphis, rose to importance, so too did its local gods. Some local gods, such as Ra or Atum, became national gods. The Egyptians sometimes then fused them into one, making Atum-Ra, for instance. Egyptians inscribed images of their gods on temples, tombs, coffins, and papyrus. They also made statues. They incorporated the natural world into their religion, giving the gods animal forms or features. Gods carried symbolic objects or had headdresses to display their status.
