About this deity
Atum is one of the oldest Egyptian deities in the world and was worshiped heavily in Heliopolis. He gave birth to the other primary Egyptian deities (the Ennead).
Sourceaeon.coRetrieval date03/20/2020 Source record No.Obelisk of Sesostris IMediumPhotographOrientationSideImage date2010CreatorDidia (David Schmid)Source notesObelisk of Sesostris I, 12th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom in Heliopolis
Source record No.Inv.-No. 14145MediumSteleMaterialLimestoneOrientationObverseImage dateUnknownSource notesA small stele, probably used as a home altar, depicts Akhenaten and Queen Nefertiti with their three eldest daughters. Aten is represented as a sun-disc with the Sun’s rays ending in hands proffering Ankh signs to the royal couple. Amarna period, c1340 BCE. Courtesy the Neues Museum, Berlin
Also known as
"Lord of Heliopolis"ⲁⲧⲟⲩⲙ (Coptic)Atoum, Atem, Tem"The finisher""The complete one"
Parent belief system
The religion of ancient Egypt represents a cultural identity that lasted from ca. 3500 BCE to 300 CE, and included hundreds of myths, deities, and customs.
Top myths
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Egyptian Memphis | Egyptian Thebes | Egyptian Hermopolis | Egyptian Heliopolis | |
Creation myth | Creation myth | Creation myth | Creation myth | |
Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | |
Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | |
More myths |
The "Lord of Heliopolis"
Atum played an important role in Egyptian mythology. In particular, the city of Heliopolis worshiped him as the creator of the universe and as a sun deity.