Egyptian mythology is a rich, vibrant and intriguing belief structure that the ancient Egyptians used to explain their world and to answer the big questions. Populated with characters such as Ra, Osiris, Sekhmet, Maat and Horus, Egyptian mythology was a part of the people’s daily life, and informed how they behaved and interacted, the decisions they made and the way they prepared for death.

With the opening up of the Silk Road in 130 BCE, Egyptian mythology began to spread to other cultures, including those of Greek and Rome. The concepts of an afterlife, of reincarnation and of gods and goddesses who protected and watched over people would influence these cultures and take root.

Egyptian mythology abounds in symbols, metaphors and unique stories. They’re complex and multi-layered, often with no equivalents in other cultures. One such example is the view that the soul was made up of many components – the ba, the ka, the akh, the shut and so on. It’s well worth getting to know this unique belief system.

In our series on Egyptian mythology, we’ve tried to simplify these big ideas, offering comprehensive guides that cover the myths, symbolism and modern relevance of this important ancient religion.