How do these cultural narratives (myths and laws) from Egypt reflect that culture’s identity?

The Egyptians were a people who greatly valued order. Their creation myth depicted a cosmic order and a natural symbiosis which the Egyptians dutifully cultivated in their own civilization. They identified as an ordered civilization that had a role to play on Earth, just as the gods had a role to play in the heavens. The Egyptians believed that they were masters of their surroundings, just as their gods were masters of their universe.

The Egyptian creation myth reflects this mastery and order with the birth of Atum, who comes into being by creating himself from his own thoughts. He goes on to create a place to stand, and then sets about the task of fathering children (by himself).

His children, Shu and Tefnut, then begin their primary task of bringing order to the world.

“Shu and Tefnut were given the task of separating the chaos into principles of law, order and stability. The chaos was divided into light and dark and set into place” (Egyptian Creation Myth).

Turning chaos into order is a common theme of many cultures’ creation myths. This being said, the Egyptian gods take it a step further. They bring law- the gods’ law- into being, even before the creation of man. They form chaos into its opposite: order, and even go so far as to institute stability. This cosmic organization was most certainly something that the Egyptians themselves valued, and believed that they were responsible for maintaining on Earth. Order was part of their cultural DNA; it was who the Egyptians saw themselves as.

This organization is taken several steps further as the myth unfolds. Shu and Tefnut go on to create two more gods, Geb (The Earth) and Nut (The Sky), who come into being as mates, tangled together.

Understanding that Geb and Nut have an important role to play in creation, Shu and Tefnut separate them so that they will fulfill their destiny of providing rain and crops on earth.

“They longed to be together, but in the name of Maat [Order] they had to be apart, to fulfil their functions. Nut produced rain for Geb, and Geb made things grow on earth” (Egyptian Creation Myth).

The Egyptians viewed this symbiotic relationship between Nut and Geb as instrumental to natural order. These gods were bound by their natural functions, fulfilling their roles even though they would have preferred to be together. It was their duty. The Egyptians folded this into their own identity. Like the dutiful gods, they too had a role to cultivate the land and adhere to the natural order.

This is who they saw themselves as: A civilization that lived by the same laws, under the same order, for the sake of cosmic stability that their own gods had created and lived by themselves.

1 This organization is taken several steps further as the myth unfolds. Shu and Tefnut go on to create two more gods, Geb (The Earth) and Nut (The Sky), who come into being as mates, tangled together.

2 This is who they saw themselves as: A civilization that lived by the same laws, under the same order, for the sake of cosmic stability that their own gods had created and lived by themselves.

3 The Egyptian creation myth reflects this mastery and order with the birth of Atum, who comes into being by creating himself from his own thoughts. He goes on to create a place to stand, and then sets about the task of fathering children (by himself).

4 The Egyptians viewed this symbiotic relationship between Nut and Geb as instrumental to natural order. These gods were bound by their natural functions, fulfilling their roles even though they would have preferred to be together. It was their duty. The Egyptians folded this into their own identity. Like the dutiful gods, they too had a role to cultivate the land and adhere to the natural order.

5 “They longed to be together, but in the name of Maat [Order] they had to be apart, to fulfil their functions. Nut produced rain for Geb, and Geb made things grow on earth” (Egyptian Creation Myth).

6 The Egyptians were a people who greatly valued order. Their creation myth depicted a cosmic order and a natural symbiosis which the Egyptians dutifully cultivated in their own civilization. They identified as an ordered civilization that had a role to play on Earth, just as the gods had a role to play in the heavens. The Egyptians believed that they were masters of their surroundings, just as their gods were masters of their universe.

7 His children, Shu and Tefnut, then begin their primary task of bringing order to the world.

8 “Shu and Tefnut were given the task of separating the chaos into principles of law, order and stability. The chaos was divided into light and dark and set into place” (Egyptian Creation Myth).

9 Understanding that Geb and Nut have an important role to play in creation, Shu and Tefnut separate them so that they will fulfill their destiny of providing rain and crops on earth.

0 Turning chaos into order is a common theme of many cultures’ creation myths. This being said, the Egyptian gods take it a step further. They bring law- the gods’ law- into being, even before the creation of man. They form chaos into its opposite: order, and even go so far as to institute stability. This cosmic organization was most certainly something that the Egyptians themselves valued, and believed that they were responsible for maintaining on Earth. Order was part of their cultural DNA; it was who the Egyptians saw themselves as.