Ogdoad facts for kids

In ancient Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad were a special group of eight gods and goddesses. They were worshipped in a city called Hermopolis. These gods were often shown as humans with animal heads, or sometimes as snakes and frogs. They were arranged in four pairs, with a male frog god and a female snake goddess in each pair. Their story is a big part of the Egyptian creation myth, explaining how the world began.

The Ogdoad: Ancient Egyptian Gods

What Were the Ogdoad?

The ancient Egyptians believed that before the world existed, there was only a huge, dark, watery mess called chaos. In this endless chaos lived the Ogdoad of Khmunu (another name for Hermopolis). These were four male frog gods and four female snake goddesses. Together, they represented the perfect balance within this original, unformed universe.

Who Were the Eight Gods?

The Ogdoad were made up of four pairs, each representing a different part of the original chaos:

• Nun and Naunet: They represented the watery depths. Think of the vast, endless ocean that was there before anything else.
• Amun and Amaunet: They stood for invisibility or hiddenness. This was the unseen, mysterious force within the chaos.
• Heh and Hauhet: They symbolized infinity, meaning endlessness or eternity. They showed that the chaos stretched on forever.
• Kek and Kauket: They represented darkness. This was the deep, original darkness that existed before any light.

Kek and Kauket were especially important because they symbolized the complete absence of light. They also stood for the mystery and obscurity that came with such deep darkness and the eternal night.

Their Role in Creation

The Ogdoad were seen as the very first great gods. People in a city called Iunu (also known as On or Heliopolis) believed these gods helped create the world. After their work was done, they were thought to have died. They then went to the land of the dead.

Even in the afterlife, the Ogdoad continued their important work. Egyptians believed they helped the Nile River flow every day. They also made sure the sun rose each morning, bringing light to the world. Their presence ensured the ongoing cycle of life and creation.

Images for kids

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  Depiction of the Ogdoad with serpent and frog heads (Roman-era relief at the Hathor temple in Dendera).

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  Drawing of a representation of the Ogdoad in the temple of Philae.