The Ennead of Heliopolis - City of the Sun
The two main centers of religion in ancient Egypt were Heliopolis and Memphis.
Atum is the older version. When Ra was introduced as the creator of the universe, he was said to have taken the form of Atum. So, according to the creation myth stated in the Pyramid Texts, Ra created himself out of the dark waters then proceeded to create Shu and Tefnut. When he was done, he wept; his tears then became the mortals of the Earth. And that was how man was created according to ancient Egyptian mythology. Shu and Tefnut procreated Geb and Nut - who in turn reproduced Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. These gods and goddesses together created the world as the ancient Egyptians knew it.
HeliopolisCairo is huge. It's overly populated and traffic jams are the norm. But I remember when I was a child living in Heliopolis, the desert was only a few streets away. It was peaceful and quiet. I loved growing up in the City of the Sun!And although right now it's just as crowded as the rest of Cairo, it has a beautiful history that makes it very special. Heliopolis was the religious capital for the worship of the Sun God Ra. It had an impressive temple of Ra, a prestigious college and a library. Legend has it Plato himself studied for a while at the college in Heliopolis! There were obelisks and fountains; statues, shrines, and lakes. It is said that Mother Mary bathed her son in the fountain of the temple at Heliopolis. What I do know for sure is that near Heliopolis is the site of what is called "The Tree of Virgin Mary" - where she took rest during her journey through Egypt. Although I am looking to relocate at the moment, somewhere closer to work, I am definitely proud to be a Heliopolitan!
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