11 Evil Egyptian Gods: Learn About The Dark Deities
Greetings to a trip into the dark parts of old Egyptian tales. In this, we will look at the interesting and often scary gods that were thought to show chaos, ruin, and the underworld. Not only storytales have bad guys, but also the group of Egyptian gods has characters whose parts were far from kind.
Key Points:
- Set is known as the god of chaos and violence in ancient Egyptian tales.
- Apophis, the serpent god, represents chaos and destruction, threatening the balance of the universe.
- Ammit, the devourer of the dead, judges souls in the afterlife based on their deeds.
- Sekhmet, the warrior goddess, symbolizes both healing and war in Egyptian mythology.
- Anubis is the guardian of the dead and oversees the mummification process in ancient Egypt.
- Babi, the god of baboons, represents aggression and protection, linked to life and death.
- Nephthys, the mistress of the house, is a god of grief and guardian of the dead in Egyptian beliefs.
Picture them as the bad guys in a big tale, much like those in your best-loved films or books. As a result, we will tell the tales of eleven such evil Egyptian gods, starting with Set, the god of chaos and hurt, then going to Am-heh, the eater of millions.
Hence, each of these gods had a main part in how the old Egyptians made sense of the world around them, shaping their practices, thoughts, and daily doings. Whether you are new to these tales or already love them, this trip will give you a fuller grasp of the complex and many-sided nature of these dark gods.
So then, let us start this curious trip and learn the secrets of Egypt’s most bad gods.
Evil Egyptian Gods: Overview and Key Facts
God | Area | Main Things | Job in Stories |
---|---|---|---|
Set | Mess and Fighting | God of stormy weather, deserts, and messes; drawn with a strange animal head | Enemies with Osiris and Horus; part of tough battles; sign of mess and trouble |
Apophis | Mess and Breaking | Snake god; shows mess; not friends with Ra | Tries to mess with Ra when he goes through the underworld at night; special doings to keep him away |
Ammit | Eater of the Dead | Monster with lion, hippo, and croc parts | Eats souls not good enough in the judgment; shown in the Book of the Dead |
Sekhmet | Sickness and Fighting | Lion-headed goddess; linked to sickness and getting better | Two-sided as healer and fighter; in old tales; prayed to for both fighting and healing |
Sobek | River and Growing | Crocodile god; sign of help and danger | Keeper and sign of danger; worshipped in Faiyum; tied to the Nile’s growth |
Anubis | Caretaker of the Dead | Jackal-headed god; tied to wrapping dead bodies and the afterlife | Keeper of dead; part of burial doings; key figure in Egyptian tales |
Babi | Monkeys and Fighting | Monkey god; known for being aggressive | God of energy and the underworld; tied to fighting |
Nephthys | Sadness and Keeping Safe | Sister of Isis and Osiris; linked to sadness and keeping dead safe | Job in tales as a crier; keeper of dead; key in burial doings |
Serqet | Poison and Healing | Scorpion goddess; power to heal and hurt | Keeper against poisonous creatures; prayed to for her two sides |
Shesmu | Killing and Drink | God of killing and wine; two-sided as taker of life and giver of wine | Linked to both killing and fun; shown in old Egyptian culture |
Am-heh | Eater of Many | Lesser-known god; lives in the underworld | Eats souls of the bad; part in afterlife; seen in old Egyptian beliefs |
The Dark Gods of Ancient Egypt
So, let’s look closer at the separate tales and traits of these dark gods, beginning with the known for god of mess and fighting, Set.
1. Set: The God of Chaos and Violence
Set, also Seth is a god in old Egyptian tales, known for being a god of chaos and fighting like bad weather that messes up a nice day. His picture often showed him as the god of bad weather, the dry land, and mess, showing the wild and harmful power of nature. Set is important in old myths because of his wild battles, especially his big trouble with Osiris and Horus.
His actions in these tales often led to huge messes, which matches his chaotic nature. For instance, Set killing Osiris and then fighting Horus are key tales in Egyptian myths, showing the never-ending fight between order and mess. In old Egyptian culture, Set was shown in many forms, often with a strange animal head combining parts of different creatures, showing his special and scary character.
Set, or Seth, is a prominent god in ancient Egyptian mythology known for his chaotic nature, symbolizing the constant battle between order and disorder.
2. Apophis: The Serpent of Chaos and Destruction
Apophis, also Apep, is the form of mess and breaking things in old Egyptian tales, like a sneaky hunter that threatens a trip’s peace. This scary snake god used to threaten the sun god Ra at night during his trip through the underworld, showing the never-ending fight between order and mess.
Apophis’s importance in myths is big because he shows the powers that try to mess up the universe’s balance. Fighting with Ra, his stories are famous every night bringing a fresh fight where Ra has to push back Apophis to make sure the sun comes up again. To stop Apophis, old Egyptians did different acts, including saying words and doing symbolic acts, to help Ra in his nightly fight.
These doings show the deep cultural need to keep cosmic order and the strong power given to Apophis.
3. Ammit: The Devourer of the Dead
Ammit, the scary demon with the head of a crocodile, the front part of a lion, and the back part of a hippopotamus, was known as the eater of the dead in old Egyptian tales. See her as the final judge in the next world, where she did a significant job in the weighing of souls.
When someone died, their heart was weighed against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and justice. If the heart was heavier because of a life full of bad deeds, Ammit would eat it, punishing the soul to be not peaceful forever. This process was shown clearly in the Book of the Dead, where Ammit’s place shows the importance of living a good life.
Ammit stood for the final result of being morally bad, acting as a warning against wrongdoing. She reminded people of the moral rules kept by the gods.
4. Sekhmet: The Warrior Goddess of Healing and War
Sekhmet, the lioness-headed goddess, shows an interesting double side as both a wild fighter and a kind healer. Think of her as a strong power of the world, able to let loose terrible sicknesses but also having the ability to make them better.
In story, Sekhmet’s wildness can be seen, like when Ra sent her to punish people for their bad behavior, only for her to change and become a healer. This double side made her a complicated god, respected and feared at the same time. Ancient Egyptians worshiped Sekhmet by doing acts and giving gifts, asking for her help in battle and her healing touch during sickness.
Her temples, especially in Memphis, served as places for both fighting and medical activities, showing her important role in their community.
5. Sobek: The Crocodile God of the Nile
Sobek, the crocodile god, is an interesting character in Egyptian tales, showing the life-giving and destructive powers of the Nile. Think of Sobek as a protector of the river, his being there made sure the land grew but also brought fear because of his wildness. This double duty is like a strong protector who can help and also be dangerous.
Sobek was especially worshiped in the Faiyum area, where the Nile’s water was key for farming. Temples for him, like the one at Kom Ombo, show his importance in making sure the land was wealthy. In pictures and tales, Sobek is often shown with a crocodile head, representing his link to the Nile and its changeable ways.
His picture highlights the old Egyptians’ regard and admiration for the nature’s powers that kept them alive and could also hurt them.
6. Anubis: The Guardian of the Dead
Anubis, the jackal-headed god, acts as the watcher of the dead and the god of mummification, a job that throws a dark but important side on his character. Think of Anubis as a very careful leader, making sure that the dead are properly prepared for their trip to the world after death. His tasks included leading spirits through the world after death and managing the steps of mummification, which was important for keeping the body and ensuring the spirit’s safe trip.
In burial ways, Anubis was often shown helping the dead, showing his protective and guiding role. His importance in Egyptian tales is deep, as he was believed to weigh the hearts of the dead against the feather of Ma’at, deciding their outcome in the world after death. Here are some key things about Anubis’s job:
- Guardian of the Dead: Making sure the safe trip of spirits to the world after death.
- God of Mummification: Leading the embalming steps to keep the body.
- Weigher of Hearts: Judging the spirits of the dead to decide their worthiness.
Anubis’s being in tales shows the old Egyptians’ deep worry with the world after death and the careful actions they took to make sure a good journey for the dead.
Anubis played a crucial role in ancient Egyptian beliefs, overseeing the safe passage of spirits to the afterlife, managing mummification, and judging the worthiness of the deceased through the weighing of hearts.
7. Babi: The God of Baboons and Violence
Babi, the baboon god, is a strong character in Egyptian tales, known for his wild and mean way. Think of Babi as a fierce protector, showing pure power and uncontrolled meanness, much like a strong soldier who commands both fear and respect. He was thought to be the god of manliness, showing strong life force, and had an essential job in the world after death.
In the second life, Babi was thought to rule the darkness and eat the souls of the undeserving, adding a part of fear to his frightening being there. His picture in old Egyptian beliefs often showed him as a baboon, an animal linked with both smarts and wildness, showing the two-sided parts of his character.
Babi’s being in tales shows the old Egyptians’ deep know of the powers of life and death, and the balance between building and breaking.
8. Nephthys: The Mistress of the House
Nephthys, the female sibling of Isis and Osiris, has a special spot in Egyptian tales as a god linked with grief and the guarding of the dead. Think of Nephthys as a kind watcher who, while not bad, is strongly connected to the dark parts of death and the world after death.
Her job in tales often involves helping her sister Isis in the coming back to life of Osiris, showing her helping and guarding nature. Nephthys’s connection with other gods, especially her siblings, shows her key spot in the divine family ties.
In burial traditions, she was called on to protect the dead, making sure their safe trip to the second life. Her being in grave sites and burial texts shows the old Egyptians’ respect for her guarding traits and her important role in the customs around death and grief.
9. Serqet: The Scorpion Goddess of Venom and Healing
Serqet, the stinging creature god, shows an interesting two-sided nature as both a guard and a giver of poison. Picture Serqet as a protector who, like an experienced doctor, can give both life-saving cures and strong poisons. This two-sided nature made her a respected and feared god in old Egypt.
Serqet was believed to have the power to make better those hurt by venomous stings and bites, while also having the power to cause harm through her own poison. Her job carried to keeping people safe from dangerous animals, mostly stinging creatures, which were usual in the Egyptian land.
Worship of Serqet was broad, with many calling for her safety in daily life and at important times of weakness. Her picture in art often showed her with a stinging creature on her head, showing her rule over venomous animals and her power to use both harm and making better.
10. Shesmu: The God of Execution and Wine
Shesmu, the god of killing and wine, shows an interesting two-sided nature in Egyptian tales as both a giver of death and a supplier of wine. Picture Shesmu as a person who can give out fairness with one hand and offer a drink with the other, showing the balance between strictness and celebration.
In tales, Shesmu was known for his job in killing the bad, often shown as a wild god who would smash the heads of the bad ones. Yet, he was also respected as a god of wine and oil, important parts in both everyday life and religious customs.
This two-sided nature made Shesmu a complicated and many-sided god, showing the old Egyptians’ knowledge of the connection of life and death, punishment and celebration. His picture in old Egyptian culture often showed him with a lion’s head, showing his wildness, and holding wine jars, showing his job in giving both food and items for religious customs.
11. Am-heh: The Devourer of Millions
Am-heh, a less-known god in Egyptian stories, is a scary figure known as the eater of millions. Picture Am-heh as a scary watcher of the world after death, whose main job is to eat the spirits of the cursed, making sure they don’t find peace. This scary part made him a sign of the biggest payback in life after death.
Am-heh’s traits are hard and dark, showing the old Egyptians’ fears of forever curse. His job in the life after death was to make the end of decision clear, eating those not good enough by the gods. In old Egypt beliefs, Am-heh was often shown as a huge figure, showing his job as an eater and keeper of godly payback.
His being in stories serves as a reminder of the results of bad deeds and the need to live a good life to avoid such a bad end.
FAQs
1. Who Was Considered The Most Evil Egyptian God?
Set was considered the most evil Egyptian god due to his association with chaos, violence, and his role in the murder of Osiris.
2. Did Ancient Egyptians Worship Evil Gods?
Ancient Egyptians did worship gods with dark aspects, but they were not considered purely evil.
3. How Did Egyptians Protect Themselves From Evil Gods?
To protect themselves from evil gods, Egyptians performed rituals, used amulets, and recited specific prayers and spells.
4. Can These Gods Be Considered Purely Evil?
These gods cannot be considered purely evil as they often embody dual aspects of both destruction and protection.