The sun gods of Egyptian mythology: Isis, Uroboros, Amun-Ra

Learn about Ra, the sun god who plays one of the most important roles in Egyptian mythology. Here, we'll explore Ra's travels, his relationship with Isis, his conflicts with Set, and his true nature, from his description of Uroboros to Amon-Ra and Odysseus.

Ra, the traveler across the sky

When the sun rises in the east and sets in the west each day, it's not just a natural phenomenon; it represents the sun god Ra's journey across the sky during the day. In this process of death and rebirth each night, we can see Ra as a symbol of life and rebirth. 

The process of Ra repeating death and rebirth each night goes beyond the concept of "day" and "night" and is connected to the cycle of human life. Sunrise symbolizes a new beginning and sunset symbolizes an end, and this cyclical pattern connects not only to natural laws but also to the human life cycle. 

Every night, we travel through the underworld on a giant ship called. When the sun disappears over the great ocean of the world, Ra enters the Underworld, marking the beginning of the white night (day). 

Power and deception - Isis and Rocky

Isis is known for her cunning and once gained some of her power by learning Ra's true name from him. This information was very important because names give the gods great power.

There is a legend about how Isis learned Ra's name. According to the legend, Isis transformed into a viper and bit Ra. She demanded to know his true name so she could remove the poison. With this information, Isis gained some of the power of the Rock and gave it to her son, Horus. Horus would later serve as the pharaoh's royal authorizer and protector. 

Chaos and Destruction - Set and Ra

The set is the god of chaos and destruction. At times, Set attacked Ra, causing chaos in the world. However, Ra always prevailed and restored peace in the end. The set is hostile to Osiris and Horus, the descendants of Ra. He kills Osiris and fights Horus several times. In this way, the conflict between Ra and Set is passed on to the next generation. 

The eternal confrontation - Apepi and Ra

Every night, the giant snake Apep would attack Ra and try to throw the world into chaos, but Ra would always defeat Apep and move on to a new day.

Every night, the sun god Ra's ship would go into the darkness. There he encountered Apep, a giant snake, and had to fight to protect himself and all life from her. If Ra wins the battle against Apep, he brings light to the world as it begins a new day. Apep is eventually defeated by Rock and the world finds peace again, but Apep never completely disappears and every night she returns to challenge Rock. This symbolizes the eternal confrontation between chaos and order, evil and good. 

 

Life and Regeneration - Ouroboros

Ouroboros is a large serpent with his tail coiled and often appears as a symbol of life, rebirth, and eternity. Ouroboros often appears alongside the sun god Ra, and together they symbolize the daily cycle and renewal. When the sun rises in the east and sets in the west each morning, it is as if Ouroboros has bitten his tail. 

Ouroboros also appears in the form of a circle, a circular shape that symbolizes the world or universe as a whole. This circular form symbolizes eternity because it is constantly spinning and unchanging. 
The concept of the Ouroboros is also connected to the cycle of human life. It is part of nature that people are born, grow, and die, which symbolizes the cycle of life that goes on forever. 

Gods of royalty - Horus and Ra

Horus is the god of the sky and is said to have given the pharaohs their royal seal of approval, so the relationship between Horus and Ra is also important. 
Isis gained some of her power by learning his true name from Ra, which she passed on to her son, Horus, and this was eventually used by the pharaohs to prove that they were descended from the gods. 

In one of the wars between Ra and Set, Set tried to attack Ra but failed. Instead, Set attacked Horus, Ra's son. This attempt also failed, proving that Ra had once again triumphed over the threats against him and his descendants. 
As seen in several works of art, including Palette Stella, Horus is often shown handing the pharaoh a crown. In doing so, the Ra-Horus connection is emphasized, and the authority of the sun god Ra is extended to human rulers. 

Death and Resurrection - Osiris

Osiris is said to have been resurrected from the dead, enabling him to offer people eternal life. Sometimes this is linked to Ra, who 'sets the sun every day and is reborn'. 
Osiris was killed by Set, but with the help of Isis, Osiris was resurrected, thus becoming the god of the afterlife. This is quite similar to Ra's nightly journey of death and rebirth. 
After death, Osiris becomes king of the world of darkness and offers eternal life to humans. This is similar to Ra bringing the sun every morning to sustain life. 
While Ra rules the sun and the journey through the day, Osiris rules the world of death and darkness. Both gods share a role in the life cycle and rebirth. 

 

Combined Gods - Amun-Ra

In Egypt during the New Kingdom period, Amun emerged as a national deity. Originally a protective deity of the Thebes region, he was elevated by the kings to become the most powerful deity. During this time, he was united with the sun god Ra to become Amun-Ra, placing him above all other gods. 
Amun-Ra was hailed as the 'king of kings' or 'the god who is the king of gods', which expanded and strengthened the authority and influence of the sun god Ra. 
During the Alexandrian period, Alexander the Great claimed himself as a descendant of Amun-Ra. By doing so, he sought to legitimize his rule and gain recognition from the Egyptian people. 

The Wayfarer - Upu-Aut

Upuaut, whose name means "the one who opens the way," is a deity who plays an important role in Ra's journey.
Every night, Ra's solar boat travels through the world of darkness. On this journey, Upuaut plays an important role by clearing the way for Ra's ship to pass. 
Upuaut's role in the dark world is not limited to making way for Ra's ship; he is also involved in maintaining order and harmony in the world by battling eerie beings and confronting chaos. He is depicted as a warrior, wielding a spear and fighting snakes and other creatures of chaos on Ra's behalf. 
Just as Upuaut paves the way for Ra, the pharaohs act as intermediaries between the gods and humans, guiding their people to act by the divine order. 

Summarizing

The sun god Ra is a complex being who symbolizes many different elements: life and renewal, power and deception, chaos and destruction. His travels and relationships with Isis and Set make him all the more interesting, and his connections to other gods like Uroboros and Horus reveal his role in mythology. Through the story of Amun-Ra and Odysseus, we can see how Ra was deeply rooted in Egyptian society and culture.