Also called Tem, Atum-Ra, Lord of Heliopolis, the Complete One.
Their story
At Heliopolis Atum was said to have risen by himself from the dark waters of Nun onto the first mound of land. Alone, he brought forth Shu and Tefnut, by sneezing and spitting in one telling and by his own hand in another, and from them came the rest of the Ennead. He was seen as the sun in the evening, completing the day that Khepri began and Ra crossed. In Book of the Dead spell 175 he tells Osiris that one day he will undo creation and return, with Osiris, to the form of a serpent in the waters.
Their day
Sunday. In modern practice, some honour him on Sunday as a solar god.
Best times to give to them
- sunset
- Wepet Renpet
- the epagomenal days
What they like being given
- bread
- water
- incense at dusk
- a candle or lamp
How to honour them
- Greet the setting sun as Atum, the sun grown old and complete.
- Use the end of a day or a project to give thanks for what has been finished.
How they can help you
- finishing things
- accepting endings
- new beginnings after rest
- wholeness
Symbols
- Double Crown
- primeval mound
- benben stone
- serpent
- ichneumon
Sources
- Pyramid Texts, Utterances 527 and 600
- Book of the Dead, Spell 175
- Bremner-Rhind Papyrus (British Museum EA 10188)
- Pinch, Egyptian Mythology
More Egyptian gods
- Osiris Lord of the afterlife and new growth
- Horus The falcon, protector of the rightful king
- Ra The sun who sails the sky
- Thoth Scribe of the gods, lord of wisdom
- Anubis Guardian and guide of the dead
- Khonsu The Traveller, the moon who heals
- Amun The hidden king of the gods at Thebes
- Ptah Creator by word and patron of craftsmen