Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

The ancient Egyptians believed in hundreds of gods and goddesses. Many of these gods had animal heads on human bodies. They controlled everything from the sun to the flooding of the Nile River. Egyptian religion lasted for over 3,000 years.

Gods with Animal Features

Egyptian gods often looked like a mix of humans and animals. Ra had the head of a falcon. Anubis had the head of a jackal. Thoth had the head of an ibis bird. The Egyptians believed these animals were sacred to those gods.

Temples and Worship

The Egyptians built enormous temples for their gods. Priests took care of the temples and performed rituals every day. They washed and dressed statues of the gods each morning. Ordinary people prayed to the gods for health, good harvests, and protection.

Fun Facts

• The Egyptians worshipped over 2,000 different gods and goddesses.
• Cats were sacred in Egypt because of the cat goddess Bastet.
• The Eye of Horus was a symbol of protection used by the ancient Egyptians.

Did You Know?

Ancient Egyptians shaved their eyebrows when their pet cat died to show they were sad. Killing a cat, even by accident, could be punished very harshly!