Atum

In his singular form - that is, before his merger with RE or RA to become ATUM-RE or RE-ATUM - he was worshipped at Heliopolis, Lower Egypt and is one of the nine founding gods of the Heliopolitan Ennead, being worshipped from the days of the Old Kingdom (circa 2700BC). He is depicted as either a human or a serpent, bull or lion. He is the supreme sun-god, named in the Book of the Dead as 'the Only One', living inside NU, the primordial abyss. The merger identifies him with the setting or ‘under’ sun, whereas Re is the ‘over sun’ or sun-at-zenith. Out of Atum was born SHU (‘dry air’) and TEFNUT (‘moisture’). According to the Heliopolis tradition, Atum became separated from Shu and Tefnut and on finding them, he wept with joy. The tears became human beings. From Shu and Tefnut were born GEB (the Earth) and his sister and wife NUT (the sky). To Geb and Nut were born the gods ISIS, OSIRIS, NEPHTHYS, SETH and, in some legends, HORUS

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