Ra
(Ancient Egyptian God)
Ra or Re, in ancient Egyptian mythology, sun god depicted
with a human body and the head of a hawk. Ra was usually
considered the creator and controller of the universe, his chief
symbols being the sun disk and the obelisk. Originally a local
cult, the worship of Ra first became widespread during the Old
Kingdom in Egypt. The chief temple of Ra was at the city of
Heliopolis, which became an important center when the cult was
adopted as a state religion. Ra later became associated with
other important deities, particularly Amon and Horus.
Suggested Reading:
Legends of the Egyptian
Gods ; by Sir E.A.Wallis Budge, Dover
Publications, Inc. (1994).
The Book of the Dead
; by Sir E.A.Wallis Budge, Arkana Publishing (?).
Ancient Egyptian Magic
; by Dr. Bob Brier, Quill Publishing (1981).