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Egypt: Worshipping the Sun God Ra represented by a red disk supported by an ankh symbol representing Life

Egypt: Worshipping the Sun God Ra represented by a red disk supported by an ankh symbol representing Life

Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the midday sun. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it is thought that if not a word for 'sun' it may be a variant of or linked to words meaning 'creative power' and 'creator'.

The chief cult centre of Ra was Heliopolis (called Iunu, 'Place of Pillars', in Egyptian), where he was identified with the local sun-god Atum. Through Atum, or as Atum-Ra he was also seen as the first being and the originator of the Ennead, consisting of Shu and Tefnut, Geb and Nut, Osiris, Set, Isis and Nephthys.

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