Amun

Amun (also written Amon or Amen) was one of the gods of ancient Egypt. His name is generally translated as "the hidden one" or "he who is concealed," referring to the idea that his power was invisible yet present everywhere. Initially a minor deity associated with air and breath, he later became the greatest god of the Egyptian state.

The principal centre of his worship was the city of Waset, known to the Greeks as Thebes, particularly the temples of Karnak and Luxor. When Egypt was unified and Theban kingship became dominant, Amun gained national status. At certain periods, the priests of Amun at Karnak wielded economic and political power comparable to that of the king.

The Union of Amun and Ra

Amun was merged with Ra, the sun god of Heliopolis, to form Amun-Ra. This fusion was a common practice in Egyptian religion: the attributes of two gods could be combined without either losing his name. Amun-Ra thus united the hiddenness of Amun with the visible form of the sun, becoming a universal god from whom the king derived his power.

Appearance and Symbols

Depictions of Amun typically show a man wearing a tall crown with two feathers, sometimes with a blue-black complexion. He is also associated with the ram, particularly the ram with curved horns, and with the goose. The ram-headed avenues at Karnak are a famous example of this symbolism. His consort was Mut, his son was Khonsu; the three formed the Theban triad of gods.

The Amarna Period and Revival

King Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) attempted to elevate the worship of Aten to primacy, and Amun's temples were closed and his name erased from many inscriptions. Following his death, during the reigns of Tutankhamun and later kings, the worship of Amun was restored and Karnak regained its financial power.

Diffusion and Legacy

The worship of Amun spread beyond Egypt's borders, especially into Nubia, where Jebel Barkal became a major religious centre; Kushite kings patronized it. The Greeks identified Amun with Zeus, and the Romans with Jupiter, leading to the composite name Zeus-Ammon. The oracle site at Siwa in the western desert became famous for consultations concerning Amun.