Ra (Re)

Pronounced Ra or Re, he is the Sun god of creation in Egypt. He is also a central god in Egyptian pantheon, influencing all other gods. 

Who is Ra? ~

As connected with the solar deity, he was connected with the sun and always you ll recognize him by the solar disk encircled by cobra above his head. He was connected with Atum –as Atum-Ra. He represented the Sunlight, creation and warmth of world.

Appearance of Ra? ~

He appeared in a human form with head of falcon in dark blue and crown of the Sun disk in red color. The disk is always encircled by Uraeus – the sacred cobra. He also wears collars, bracelets and short dress, in his right hand he carries ankh, and in left –scepter. Some other variations in appearance of Ra are with head of beetle and head of Ram (as god Amun-Ra). As a main god he had the privilege to be depicted as all kind of symbolic animals – bull, lion, ram, hawk, heron, serpent, cat and phoenix. But always the sun disk is his main attribute.

The myth behind? (Solar boat)

Ancient Egyptians myth is telling that Ra sails through the skies with his Solar boat (called “Baraque of millions of years”) with his companions gods, giving light to the world. In the morning his boat appeared from the East and it was called “Madjet” meaning “becoming strong”. In the morning manifestation of the boat, Ra appeared as a beetle, know as “Khepri, the scarab God”.  In the evening the boat reached to the west horizon, where it was called “Semektet” (or becoming weak”). The evening appearance of Ra was as Khnum –ram headed god.

At the end of the day Egyptians believed Ra “died”, swallowed by Goddess of the sky Nut, where he went to the Underworld. He left the moon on his place to spread the light on earth in the night. Ra was always reborn on the next day. In some legends he is fighting with the evil serpent Apep –symbol of the Chaos, and defeat it.

Family of Ra?

As a supreme god, Ra created himself from the Primal chaos (or the dark ocean of the beginning called NUN) (as Amun, Atum). His children were: SHU (God of dry air and sky), TEFNUT (goddess of the moisture and rain), Bastet and MAAT.

His companions were: Isis, Sekhmet, Hathor.

There are many creation myths with god Ra, one of them talks about Isis taking power from him with a smartness and using one snake. Another myth includes the Tree of Life.

The tree was situated in the Sun Temple of Ra in Heliopolis and it was sacred. The fruit from the tree was available only to pharaohs and priests –as representation of Gods power of earth, so only they could taste it, have eternal life and knowledge of the Divine Plan. On the Tree of life was seated the mythological bird BENNU, which represented the soul of Ra. This bird is phoenix, had red and golden feathers and symbolized resurrection and rising sun. Bennu always turn to ashes and was reborn again (similar to the Solar boat of Ra, that went to Underworld and then was reborn for new day).

Another important symbol is Benben stone. It had the pyramid shape (sacred shape of fire element) – and was place on obelisk inside the Ra Solar temple. The stone was a beacon (light) for the Bennu bird.

Temple of Ra?

There are many temples, dedicated to Ra. They don’t contain statues of god, but are made in a special way, showing the sun light in a special time of the year and day. This is the Heliopolis temple called “Bennu Phoenix”.

Ra and other gods ~

Ra was connected with many powerful deities like Atum (Atum-Ra), Amun (Amun-Ra), Horus (Ra-Horakhty –meaning Ra of the Horizon);

During the New Kingdom were build many Solar temples, dedicated to Ra.

Sacred Symbols of Ra~

The EYE of Ra is one of the most important symbols. It represents the sun disk (the right eye of Ra), with two Uraeus (coiled cobras) around it, next to the white and red crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. This eye was also a strong amulet against all evil.

The left eye was symbol of the moon.

The cobra on the sun disk is symbol of divine authority, royalty.

Esoteric signs of Ra ~

Crystals ~ Quartzite, Golden Topaz

Color ~ golden

Number ~ six (Hexagram)

Scent ~ Frankincense

Animal ~ Falcon

Flower ~ carnation

Tree ~ acacia

Herb ~ Rosemary

Food ~ sunflower seed