When it comes to mythology, we often spend the bulk of our time reading and teaching about the Greek pantheon. But if we stop there, we miss out on amazing opportunities to share the rich and storied mythology of cultures from around the world. The gods and goddesses in ancient Egyptian myths, for example, are just as fierce, fascinating, and fun to share with students.
.jpg)
(WeAreTeachers note: Because these myths were shared via oral tradition for hundreds, if not thousands, of years prior to being written down, many variations of the same story exist. We have shared one popular version of each of the myths below, but you may have heard it with slight variations. Please feel free to share whichever version best suits your purpose.)
1. The Egyptian Creation Myth
Summary:
Before there was anything, there was Nun. Nothingness. Water in every direction as far as the eye could see. From Nun, a single thought emerged and became the god Ra. Ra began speaking and everything he said came into being. He spoke and his two children were born. One night, while Ra slept, his children wandered into the darkness and became lost. Ra was devastated when he woke up, so he plucked out his own eye (he only had one) and sent him searching for his lost children. As he waited for their return, he created a new eye to replace the one he had sent out to search. Ra's original eye eventually found Shu and Tefnut and returned them to Ra, who was so overjoyed he wept and wept. His tears became the first human beings.
Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:
English/Language Arts: The study of creation myths from around the world can be an incredibly engaging and meaningful activity. Gather a variety of cultures' creation myths and create a jigsaw activity where each student reads one and then shares key points about it with a small group. Ask students to focus on the differences and similarities. Be prepared for some very deep conversation about how much similarity exists between very different cultures.
History: I love the idea of starting a unit on a specific culture or part of the world with a look at their earliest creation myths. You can ask students to make educated guesses about what the culture cared about and valued, what animals and industries were common in their region, and more.
Summary:
The god Osiris rules over Egypt and is well-loved by all. His brother, the god Set, is jealous of Osiris's good fortune. He traps Osiris in a box and throws him into the Nile. By the time Isis, Osiris's wife, finds the box, Osiris has died. She brings his body back to Egypt for burial, but Set cuts his brother's corpse into 14 pieces and scatters them throughout Egypt. Isis is so devastated she weeps for weeks. This causes the flooding of the Nile. She searches the land and eventually finds all but one of the pieces.
With the help of the funeral god, Anubis, Isis brings her husband back to life. Unfortunately, because he is not whole, Osiris can only remain in the land of the living for one night. The next morning, Isis wakes up alone. Osiris has taken his place as the god of the Underworld. Set takes the throne of Egypt. He does not know, however, that Isis is now pregnant with Osiris's child, Horus, who will eventually avenge his father.
Classroom applications for this Egyptian myth:
Science: For many cultures, myth was not only religion, it was science too. The Nile River valley flooded annually in Egypt for centuries (until dams were built beginning in 1902 and ending with the Aswan High Dam in 1970). This natural phenomenon provided fertile soil for the farmers living alongside the river for thousands of years. They gave thanks to Isis for the flood because of this. People continue to debate the benefits of the dams versus their negative effects. Supporters cite reduced flood damage, hydroelectric power generation, and the like. Those who think the dams should be removed point to soil erosion and the need to use powerful chemical fertilizers in farming because the soil is no longer being refreshed by the flood process. This myth would work as a fascinating window into debates over scientific “improvements” on nature.
History: When studying male primogeniture throughout history, one can see numerous times when families turned to violence in an attempt to seize power. Looking at how early cultures represented this in their myths is a fascinating window into human behavior.
Social-Emotional Learning: Like so many other cultures’ myths, Egyptian myth is no stranger to family drama. I love the idea of looking at some of the most outrageous stories of gods and goddesses behaving badly and asking students to rewrite them with more socially and emotionally healthy behaviors. How might this story have turned out differently if Set had used his words to express his jealousy to Osiris? How could their parents have helped?
2. The Death(s) of Osiris