Atum (Tem, Temu)

Atum was the first and the most important Ancient Egyptian god to be worshiped in Lunu (Heliopolis, Lower Egypt) although in later times Ra rose in importance in the city, and eclipsed him to some extent. He was the main deity of Per - Term ("house of Atum") in Pithom in eastern Delta.

Atum was the creator god in Heliopolitian Ennead. The earliest record of Atum is the Pyramid Texts (inscribed in some of the Pyramids of the Pharaohs of dynasty five and six) and the Coffin texts (created soon after for the tombs of nobles).

Atum was the father of the gods, creating the first divine couple, Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture), from whom all the other gods are descended. He was also considered to be the father of the Pharaohs. Many Pharaohs used the title "Son of Atum" long after the power base moved to Lunu. Atum's close relationship to the king is seen in many cultic rituals, and the coronation rites.

Atum is most usually depicted in anthropomorphic form and is typically shown wearing the dual crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. One of the only details that distinguished him from a Pharaoh is the shape of his beard. He is also depicted with a solar disk and a long tripartite wig.