The Great Ennead
Ancient Egyptian deities in a science fiction world
Two thousand.
Ancient Egyptians worshiped a pantheon of gods that included 2,000 deities. Such a mind boggling number. Major or minor deities quite literally covered every aspect of Egyptian life. Known details on each of these gods would dwarf the world-building efforts of the most prolific epic fantasy author.
Each ancient Egyptian deity possessed an extensive backstory rivaling any dynamic well-rounded fictional character.
individual names and personalities.
Unique clothing.
Sacred objects associated with their powers.
Spheres or domains of influence.
Their stories and roles within Egyptian society and culture naturally evolved as Egypt went through various dynastic periods under the pharaohs. Sometimes in dramatically opposite directions from where they started. Set changed from a heroic protector to a murderer of Osiris. Neith transformed from a war goddess to a wise mother goddess who settled disputes between other deities.
You could write a long series of Charles Dickens-sized books fully recounting every ancient Egyptian deity. A specific grouping – the Great Ennead – stands out to me because of how they directly connect to ancient astronaut theories and influence the development of modern science fiction.
Who are the Great Ennead?
The Great Ennead earn a special distinction as a group of nine deities worshipped at Heliopolis. They were not the only grouping of nine prominent deities, but are the one who would be most familiar to people in modern times.
Deities forming the Great Ennead include:
Atum: the Sun god
Shu: god of peace, wind, and lions.
Tefnut: rain goddess.
Geb: the Earth god and father of snakes.
Nut: goddess of the sky and the stars.
Osiris: god of agriculture, life, death, and the afterlife.
Isis: goddess of magic, wisdom, fate and the sky.
Set: god of deserts, storms, violence, disorder, and foreigners.
Nephthys: goddess of mourning, night, service, childbirth, embalming, and beer.
This pantheon formed from the family tree of Atum. Shu and Tefnut were his children. Geb and Nut were children of Shu and Tefnut. Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephthys were children of Geb and Nut.
Each pairing forms a component in the Egyptian creation myth. Atum, the sun god, brought forth Shu (air) and Tefnut (rain). These two in turn brought forth Geb (Earth) and Nut (the night sky). Geb and Nut brought forth Osiris and Isis (life and order) as well as Set and Nephthys (chaos and death).
Ancient Gods in Science Fiction
Ancient deities have left their fingerprints all over modern science fiction stories. Gods as folklore arising from ancient extraterrestrial astronauts is a popular concept thanks to Ancient Aliens and similar TV shows.
Aliens with centuries-long lifespans masquerading as ancient Egyptian gods forms a cornerstone of many Stargate SG-1 episodes. These beings enslave less advanced planets by employing ancient technology and function as the main antagonists for the popular sci-fi series. Their worshippers’ eyes are only opened when military teams sent from Earth defeat the alien rulers one by one while using modern weaponry and technology.
Powers and abilities of ancient deities like the Great Ennead are ascribed by ancient astronaut theorists to ancient people misunderstanding advanced technology and the origins of human civilization. Mythology and folklore surrounding the deities sprang up to explain space battles, colonization of Earth, and other ancient events according to these theorists.
I incorporate ancient alien mythology into the fictional world encompassing my science fiction tales. In Among Hidden Stars, a supporting character named Eliah worships a god named Neabu. Eliah hails from the Ursat tribe — one of 17 tribes forming the Confederation of Northern Tribes on Lathos. Ursatans regard Neabu as a creator god who formed the Milky Way Galaxy and created all life within the galaxy. Neabu leads the Eternal Nine — a ruling council of ancient aliens with lifespans lasting thousands of years. (Minor spoiler: The Eternal Nine will fill an antagonistic role in a few of my future stories.) I drew inspiration for Neabu and the rest of the Eternal Nine directly from the Great Ennead pantheon and can’t wait to bring to life those moments where they fully step out of the shadows.
Advanced aliens interacting with lesser beings is a common trope in science fiction that essentially started with tales of ancient gods governing every aspect of day-to-day life. What keeps these stories alive from generation to generation is their promise of answering deep questions and shedding light on the mysteries of the universe.
