Atum

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Atum emerged as a creator deity deeply connected to Heliopolis, an important center of solar worship situated near the Nile Delta. Various origin stories surround Atum's own creation - some tell of his self-creation, while others describe him arising from eight primordial beings: four frogs and four snakes that represented the primeval chaos. One prominent creation myth recounts how Atum brought forth the first divine pair: Shu, who governed the air, and Tefnut, who ruled over moisture. This divine couple then produced Geb, god of earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. Artistic depictions typically portrayed Atum as a wise, elderly man with a beard, occasionally wearing the dual crown that symbolized the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt. As Egyptian religious thought evolved, Atum's mythology gradually intertwined with that of Ra, the principal sun god. Ra later merged with Amun, another creator deity, forming Amun-Ra - a supreme being of unprecedented power. Through these theological developments, Atum came to be specifically associated with the setting sun.