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Which ancient Egyptian gods were connected with the sun?

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In ancient Egyptian religion, several deities were associated with the sun, reflecting its cycle and power. The primary solar deity was Re (or Ra), who was considered the creator god and the dominant figure among the high gods.123

The Egyptians conceptualized the sun’s daily journey through different manifestations:

  • Khepri: Represented the morning sun and the transformational power of resurrection, often depicted as a scarab beetle.24
  • Re: Represented the full-grown sun at its zenith during the day.2
  • Atum: Represented the setting sun in the evening.2

Over time, these solar aspects were often syncretized with other deities to form powerful composite gods. For example, Amon-Re became a national god and the "king of the gods" during the New Kingdom. Additionally, the pharaoh Akhenaton promoted the worship of the Aton, the solar disk itself, as the sole god during the Amarna period. Many other gods, such as Horus, also held solar associations through their falcon-headed forms.1562