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Re (or Ra) is the god of the sun, originally considered the Power of Creation because he would create other gods and goddesses.  Egyptians thought the sun was either his body or his eye.  The daily rising and setting of the sun was believed to be Re coming up in the eastern sky, moving across the sky and falling into the western sky.  Re helped the underworld god, Osiris, by judging the kings’ actions.

The Egyptians believe that the sun god, Re, lived in kings’ bodies.  When a king died, he was judged by his actions by Osiris.  Re brought the subject of telling the truth, and the goddess of truth, Ma’at, to the Egyptians.  Telling the truth helped the Egyptians come up with the idea of civilization.  When he was young, Re could transform to other forms of the sun god.  He could change into Shu, Geb, and Osiris.

The sun god is also considered Ra-Horakhtoy.  Ra-Horakhtoy is represented as a god with a human body and falcon head who wears a crown in the form of a sun disk.  The disk is surrounded by a cobra.  All these forms represent Re coming back to life.

Re was the father of Shu and Tefnut, grandfather of Nut and Geb, and great grandfather of Osiris, Seth, Isis and Nephthys.  

People say Re created himself by lotus blossom or on a mountain that came out of water.  He also created Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture).  Hu (authority) and Sia (mind) were made from his own blood.

Since the sun is fire, in order to travel through the waters of heaven and the underworld, a boat was required.  During Re’s travels he had many other gods for company.  Horus, who was considered the captain, steered the boat.  In front of the boat swam two pilot fish, Abtu and Ant.  It was not an easy trip because monsters kept trying to tip and stop the boat.  The journey of the sun would continue as long as the worship of Re was respected.

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