The Creator God of the Ennead of Heliopolis, who rose out of the Primeval Waters by self-creation. In the Pyramid Texts he is said to be the Primeval Mound from where he created the structured universe. Called "He Who came into being of Himself", or the "Lord of All". He was both male and female and thus the producer of Shu and Tefnut, which in turn created Geb and Nut, who parented the children Osiris, Isis, Nephtys and Set. These deities make up the Heliopolitan Ennead (the Pesedjet). Atum was also thought to manifest in the form of a scarab or the primeval serpent. In later times he was merged with the setting sun and became Re-Atum. He was a cosmic deity and as such did not have a large priesthood and only few temples.

Main Center of worship:

Iunu/Heliopolis/Cairo, 13th N, Lower Egypt.

Other places:

Per-Bastet/Bubastis, 18th N, Lower Egypt

Zau/Sais, 5th N, Lower Egypt

Tjeku/Pithom/Tell-el-Makuta, 8th N, Lower Egypt

Festivals: (dates not historically verified)

30th August - 13th Paopi - Day of Satisfying the Hearts of the Ennead

7th September - 21st Paopi - Neith Goes forth to Atum

23rd September - 7th Hethara - Honors offered to Atum

15th March - 30 Parmutit - Offerings to Ra, Wesir (Osiris), Heru, Ptah, Sokar and Atum

29th October - 13th Koiak - Day of Going Forth of Het-Hert (Hathor) and the Ennead

15th November - 30th Koiak - The Ennead feast in the House of Ra, Heru (Horus) and Wesir (Osiris)

Article by Mirjam
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