The Self-Made Sun
Ra is the supreme sun god of ancient Egypt and, in the Heliopolitan tradition, the creator who brought himself into being on the first mound rising from the primordial waters of Nun. From him sprang the first divine couple, Osiris's grandparents Shu and Tefnut, beginning the line that produced the great gods of earth and sky.
His name, written simply as rꜥ, means "sun" itself. By the New Kingdom he merged with Amun to become Amun-Ra, king of the gods, and fused with the falcon-headed Horus as Ra-Horakhty, "Ra-Horus of the Two Horizons."
Voyage of the Sun
Egyptians pictured Ra sailing the solar barque across the heavens each day, then descending into the underworld at night. There he battled Apophis, the serpent of chaos, and was reborn at dawn — a daily victory that mirrored Egypt's hope for resurrection. Pharaohs called themselves "Son of Ra," binding kingship to the sun's eternal authority.
Common Questions
Was Ra the same as the pharaoh?
No, but kings were styled "Son of Ra" to claim divine legitimacy, and the sun god's daily rebirth modeled royal renewal.
What does the name Ra mean?
It is the Egyptian word for "sun," reflecting his identity as the solar disk itself rather than merely a god who ruled the sun.
