Myth QuoraWorld Mythology Encyclopedia

Traditions/Egyptian Mythology/Ra

deityancientRank 1/5

Ra

rꜥ(Ancient Egyptian)

Also known as: Re, Ra-Horakhty, Atum-Ra, Amun-Ra

Burial chamber of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II, Scene: The God Re-Harakhty and Amentit, the goddess of the West, DetailArchive

Mythological Narrative

Ra is usually shown as a man with a falcon's head, crowned by a red solar disk encircled by a rearing uraeus cobra. His cult was centered at Heliopolis in Lower Egypt, where priests merged him with the primeval god Atum as head of the Ennead: Ra-Atum arose self-created from the waters of Nun, stood upon the first mound of earth, and engendered Shu and Tefnut, from whom the rest of the pantheon descended. From the Fourth Dynasty onward, pharaohs bore the title 'Son of Ra' as a fixed element of the royal titulary for the next three thousand years.

Ra's daily work is the voyage of the solar barque: by day he crosses the sky in the day-boat Mandjet, and at night he boards the night-boat Mesektet to travel through the twelve hour-regions of the Duat, where the chaos serpent Apep attacks the vessel and must be driven off before dawn. The Book of the Heavenly Cow preserves another famous episode: the aging Ra, learning that humanity plotted against him, sent out his Eye in the form of the lioness Sekhmet, whose slaughter was halted only when Ra flooded the fields with beer dyed red like blood.

In the New Kingdom Ra fused with the Theban god Amun as Amun-Ra, supreme deity of the empire, while his combination with Horus produced Ra-Horakhty, 'Horus of the Two Horizons.'

Scholarly Commentary & Evolution

## The Sun God

Ra is the supreme creator and king of the gods. He travels across the sky in his solar barque by day and battles the chaos serpent Apophis in the underworld by night.

### Aspects of Ra

Ra changes forms throughout the day: **Khepri** (scarab) at sunrise, **Ra-Horakhty** (falcon) at noon, and **Atum** (elder) at sunset. All life was believed to have been created from Ra's tears.

Cross-Pantheon Parallels & Archetypes

greek

apollo

Both are supreme solar deities associated with light and order

mesopotamian

shamash

Both are sun gods associated with truth, order, and justice

mesopotamian

anu

Both are the foundational sky/sun god of their pantheon's cosmic order

Global Antiquity Records

Classical Art & Museum Artifacts

59 Archival Artifacts Documented

High-resolution museum artifacts, classical sculptures, pottery reliefs, and bronze idols preserving authentic historical representations of Ra.

Bronze statuette of Herakles, bronze. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Italicca. 3rd–1st century BCE

Bronze statuette of Herakles

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Marble relief fragment with scenes from the Trojan War, palombino marble. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Roman1st half of 1st century CE

Marble relief fragment with scenes from the Trojan War

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Perseus with the Head of Medusa, marble. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Italian, Rome1804–6

Perseus with the Head of Medusa

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of Osiris with a tall crown and arms crossed over the torso. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Late Period664–332 BCE

Statuette of Osiris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Copper-alloy foundation figure of a man holding a basket above his head. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Neo-Sumerianca. 2112–2095 BCE

Foundation figure of Ur-Namma holding a basket

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Ibeji Twin Figure

Inspect Specimen

Yoruba peoples, Nigeria19th–20th century

Ibeji Twin Figure

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta hydria with a painted mythological frieze including Hecate. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, South Italian, Apulianca. 340–330 BCE

Terracotta hydria (water jar)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Illustrated folio showing Rama and Lakshmana searching a forest landscape for Sita. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India, Rajasthan, Mewarca. 1680–90

Rama and Lakshmana Search in Vain for Sita: Illustrated folio from a dispersed Ramayana series

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Textile hanging showing the combat of Rama and Ravana with armies in battle. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India, Coromandel Coastlate 18th century

The Combat of Rama and Ravana

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Illustrated folio showing the demon Marichi speaking with Ravana. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (Himachal Pradesh, Kangra)ca. 1780

The Demon Marichi Tries to Dissuade Ravana; Illustrated folio from a dispersed Ramayana series

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Cupreous metal statuette of the god Ptah in mummiform pose. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Ptah

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Cupreous metal statuette of the god Amun wearing a tall plumed crown. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Late Period–Ptolemaic Period664–30 BCE

Amun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Gold statuette of the god Amun standing in a striding pose. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Third Intermediate Periodca. 945–721 BCE

Statuette of Amun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Granodiorite head from a temple statue of the god Amun. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, New Kingdom, post-Amarna Periodca. 1328–1318 BCE

Head of the god Amun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Painted papyrus fragment showing deities including Shu riding in a solar boat. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Late Period or later664 BCE or later

Papyrus fragment with a painting of Khepri, Shu, Tefnut, Thoth, and Isis in a solar boat

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Glazed steatite cowroid seal-amulet naming the gods Re, Shu, and Tefnut. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, New Kingdom–Third Intermediate Periodca. 1550–664 BCE

Cowroid with Outward-facing Merged Lions and Sun Disk

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Plaster cast reproduction of the cuneiform Flood Tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Mesopotamian19th century, after 7th century BCE original

Cast reconstruction of Babylonian Flood Tablet

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta column-krater with a painted scene including Zeus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 460 BCE

Terracotta column-krater (vase for mixing wine and water)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta neck-amphora with a painted scene of Zeus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 460–450 BCE

Terracotta Nolan neck-amphora (jar)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Fragments of a marble sarcophagus with a relief frieze including a figure of Hera. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Roman3rd quarter of 3rd century CE

Marble sarcophagus with the contest between the Muses and the Sirens

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze statuette of a striding god, possibly Poseidon. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek3rd–2nd century BCE

Bronze statuette of a god, possibly Poseidon

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta hydria with a painted scene of Poseidon and seahorses. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Attic1st quarter of the 4th century BCE

Terracotta hydria: kalpis (water jar)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta kylix with a painted battle scene including Poseidon. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 540 BCE

Terracotta kylix (drinking cup)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta Panathenaic prize amphora with a painted figure of Athena. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 510 BCE

Terracotta Panathenaic prize amphora (jar)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze bust of the goddess Artemis. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Roman1st half of the 1st century CE

Bronze bust of Artemis

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze statuette of the god Hermes. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek or Roman1st century BCE–2nd century CE

Bronze statuette of Hermes

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta jug in the form of the head of Dionysos. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek or Roman1st century BCE

Terracotta jug in the form of Dionysos

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta column-krater with a painted scene of Dionysos, maenads, and satyrs. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 550 BCE

Terracotta column-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Marble relief fragments from the Great Eleusinian Relief showing Demeter and Persephone. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Romanca. 27 BCE–14 CE

Ten marble fragments of the Great Eleusinian Relief

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Renaissance bronze statuette of Neptune by Severo da Ravenna. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

European Sculpture and Decorative Artsmid-16th century

Neptune

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Renaissance bronze statuette of Minerva attributed to Benvenuto Cellini. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

European Sculpture and Decorative Artssecond half 16th century

Minerva

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze plaquette depicting Mars with shield and sword, by François Briot. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

European Sculpture and Decorative Artsca. 1610

Mars

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Limestone statue of Anubis as a recumbent black jackal. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, End of Late Period–Ptolemaic Period343–30 BCE

Statue of Anubis as a recumbent canid

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Glazed steatite scarab inscribed with a blessing formula naming the god Re. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, Middle Kingdomca. 1850–1640 B.C.

Scarab Inscribed with a Blessing Related to Re

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze statuette of the mummiform god Osiris holding the crook and flail. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian664–31 BCE

Bronze statuette of Osiris

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Copper-alloy processional bronze of the standing god Vishnu. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (Tamil Nadu)ca. third quarter 10th century

Standing Vishnu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, within a ring of flame. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Indian (Tamil Nadu)ca. late 11th century

Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of Shiva seated with Uma (Umamaheshvara). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (Bihar)10th century

Shiva Seated with Uma (Umamaheshvara)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figurine of the elephant-headed god Ganesha. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (South India)17th–18th century

Ganesha

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of the goddess Durga triumphing over the demon Mahishasura. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Indiaca. 1400

Durga Mahishasura

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Copper-alloy figure of the monkey god Hanuman in conversation. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (Tamil Nadu)11th century

Hanuman Conversing

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of the seated creator god Brahma. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Indonesia (Java)ca. late 9th century

Seated Brahma

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of the god Brahma with silver-inlaid eyes. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Indonesia (Java)9th century

Brahma with Silver Eyes

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Wood sculpture of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), dated 1282. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Chinadated 1282

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Gilt bronze figure of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

ChinaFive Dynasties (907–960)

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Hanging scroll depicting the sun goddess Amaterasu being lured from her cave. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Japanlate 19th century

Luring the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Out of a Cave with Music; Death of the Historical Buddha

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Fireman's jacket dyed with a scene of the deity Susanoo-no-mikoto. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Japanesemid-19th century

Fireman’s Jacket (Hikeshi-Banten) with Susanoo-no-mikoto Deity Scene

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Hanging scroll depicting the moon goddess Chang E. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

ChinaMing dynasty (1368–1644)

The Moon Goddess Chang E

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Cuneiform clay tablet inscribed with a hymn to the god Marduk. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Babylonian (?)1st millennium BCE

Cuneiform tablet: hymn to Marduk

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Marble grave stele with a sphinx-form finial. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 530 BCE

Marble stele (grave marker) with a youth and little girl, and a capital and finial in the form of a sphinx

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Granite sphinx bearing the face of Hatshepsut. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Egyptian, New Kingdomca. 1473–1458 BCE

Sphinx of Hatshepsut

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Sardonyx cameo fragment showing Hercules restraining Cerberus. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek or Roman1st century BCE–1st century CE

Sardonyx cameo fragment with Hercules tying up Cerberus

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta eye-cup with a painted scene of Theseus and the Minotaur. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 530 BCE

Terracotta kylix: eye-cup (drinking cup)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Terracotta skyphos with a painted scene of Theseus and the Minotaur. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Greek, Atticca. 470–460 BCE

Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Red sandstone figure of a standing Nagaraja, a serpent king. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

India (Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh)ca. mid- 5th century

Standing Nagaraja (Serpent King)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Gilt bronze finial in the form of the bird-man Garuda. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Thailandlate 12th–early 13th century

Garuda Finial

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Bronze figure of a striding Garuda. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Thailandthird quarter of the 10th century

Striding Garuda (The Royal Solar Bird)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Woodblock print showing a mirror decorated with a nine-tailed fox. Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

JapanEdo period (1615–1868)

Mirror With the Design of a Nine-Tailed Fox

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Illustrated handscroll from the Tale of the Fox (Kitsune no soshi). Photograph: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Inspect Specimen

Japan1669

Tale of the Fox (Kitsune no sōshi)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art→

Scholarly Symposium & Field Notes

Academic Discussion & Critique

Exchange peer-reviewed hypotheses, comparative Indo-European etymologies, and archaeological field interpretations regarding Ra.

Cross-Tradition Discovery

You Might Also Like

Based on shared domains & archetypes

Amun

The Theban god whose name means 'the Hidden One'; fused with Ra as Amun-Ra, he became Egypt's state god, housed at Karnak, and Alexander the Great sought his oracle at Siwa.

Explore Lore→

egyptiancreature

Bennu

The sacred bird perched on the primeval mound at creation, shaped like a heron with two long crest plumes, whose first cry set time in motion; the Greek phoenix legend grew from it.

Explore Lore→

Horus

The falcon sky god whose eyes are the sun and moon. Posthumous son of Osiris, he contested the throne with Set for eighty years and won; every living pharaoh was his incarnation.

Explore Lore→

Maat

The goddess wearing a single ostrich feather, personifying truth, justice, and cosmic order; at the judgment of the dead the heart is weighed against her feather.

Explore Lore→