Amun is the king of the Egyptian pantheon, who was seen as a god of creation, sky, air and all things hidden.
He was originally the patron deity of Thebes, having replaced Montu by 21st century BC. After the rebellion of Thebes against the Hyksos and with the rule of Ahmose I, Amun was fused with Ra, becoming Amun-Ra and became the key deity within, often seen as a creator god and having the title "The Invisible One". He is sometimes even listed among the Ogdoad, the primordial gods of Egypt.
He is the husband of Mut and father of Khonsu, the moon god.
The Greeks and Romans later compared Amun to their chief gods, Zeus and Jupiter, which led to the combined gods Zeus Ammon and Jupiter Ammon.
Amun was also worshiped by the Berbers of Libya, most notably at the temple of the Oracle of Amun at Siwa oasis. The Berbers believed that Amun was the father of their principle deity, Gurzil.
Hymns to Amun[]
Hymn for forgiveness from Amun[]
“ | Amun who comes at the voice of the poor in distress, who gives breath to him who is wretched..You are Amun, the Lord of the silent, who comes at the voice of the poor; when I call to you in my distress You come and rescue me ... Though the servant was disposed to do evil, the Lord is disposed to forgive. The Lord of Thebes spends not a whole day in anger; His wrath passes in a moment; none remains. His breath comes back to us in mercy ... May your kꜣ be kind; may you forgive; It shall not happen again. | ” |
Hymn hoping for mercy from Amun-Re[]
“ | Who hears the prayer, who comes at the cry of the poor and distressed...Beware of him! Repeat him to son and daughter, to great and small; relate him to generations of generations who have not yet come into being; relate him to fishes in the deep, to birds in heaven; repeat him to him who does not know him and to him who knows him ... Though it may be that the servant is normal in doing wrong, yet the Lord is normal in being merciful. The Lord of Thebes does not spend an entire day angry. As for his anger – in the completion of a moment there is no remnant ... As thy Ka endures! thou wilt be merciful. | ” |
Hymn to Amun, Re and Ptah[]
“ | All gods are three: Amun, Re and Ptah, whom none equals. He who hides his name as Amun, he appears to the face as Re, his body is Ptah. | ” |
Leiden hymn to Amun for sailors caught in a storm on the sea[]
“ | The tempest moves aside for the sailor who remembers the name of Amon. The storm becomes a sweet breeze for he who invokes His name ... Amon is more effective than millions for he who places Him in his heart. Thanks to Him the single man becomes stronger than a crowd. | ” |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Amun is mentioned in the Bible (Jeremiah 46:25): The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh.
- In the epic poem Paradise Lost, John Milton compares the Egyptian god with Ham, the son of Noah, who was seen as the Biblical ancestor of several African and some Middle Eastern nations, such as Egypt, Cush, and Canaan. Amun is also nicknamed the "Libyan Jove" by Milton.
- The demon Aamon might be a demonised version of the Egyptian deity, while others try to refer to Baal-Hammon, a Phoenician patron god.
- Within the farther Cthulhu Mythos Amun is referenced as Amon-Gorloth (Creator of Nile and Universe's Equilibrium), one of the Great Old Ones. He was not created by H.P. Lovecraft himself, but later on by David Calvo.
- Amun referenced in the Hellboy-comics as Amon-Jahad, one of the Ogdru Jahad, who are the main antagonists of the comics. The gods Nun, Nergal and and Hadad are among the other Ogdru Jahad.
See also[]
Preceded by: |
Pharaoh of Egypt Mythic |
Succeeded by Atum-Ra |
Gods and goddesses of Egyptian mythology | |
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Gods | Ahy • Amun • Anedjti • Anhur • Anubis • Ash • Aten • Atum • Banebdjedet • Duamutef • Geb • Hapi • Hapi • Heka • Herishef • Horakhty • Horus • Imseti • Khepri • Khnum • Khonsu • Maahes • Montu • Nefertem • Nehebkau • Nemty • Nun • Osiris • Ptah • Qebehsenuef • Ra • Rem • Serapis • Set • Shu • Sobek • Sokar • Thoth • Wepawet |
Goddesses | Amentet • Anat • Ankhet • Bastet • Buto • Ernutet • Hathor • Hatmehit • Isis • Ma'at • Menhit • Meretseger • Meskhenet • Mut • Neith • Nekhbet • Nephthys • Nut • Satet • Sekhmet • Serket • Seshat • Sopdet • Tawaret • Tefnut • Wosret |
Gods and goddesses of Berber mythology | |
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Gods | Abora • Achamán • Achuguayo • Achuhucanac • Amun • Anigouran • Anubis • Anzar |
Goddesses | Chaxiraxi • Moneiba • Isis • Tanit • Tinjis |