Amun

"You are Amun, the lord of him who is silent, who comes at the voice of the humble.
I called to you in my distress, and you came to save me.
You give breath to him who is wrenched, and rescue from bondage.
Though the servant is disposed to do evil, the lord is disposed to forgive.
Amun, Lord of Thebes, spends not a day in anger.
His wrath passes in a moment, none remains.
He comes to us in mercy, returning on the breeze . . ." - Hymn to Amun

An ancient creator god, he was called Amun asha renu, or “Amun rich in names.” Amun was believed to be the essence of all things, the Ba (soul) in all of nature. He was often called “The Hidden One,” which shows an association with invisibility, and the force of the wind. Amun was thought to "protect the other gods with his shadow." Thunder was said to be Amun’s voice.

An inscription about victorious bowmen says “Amun was with them as a shield.” He was believed to protect travelers and boatmen from danger, and papyri tell of Amun protecting the rights of the poor in law courts. Amun featured in juridical oaths, the symbol of all-pervading justice.

Amun was, above all, worshiped as a compassionate ruler, close to the one who calls to him, a god to whom the humble can pray: “You are Amun, the lord of him who is silent, who comes at the voice of the humble. I called to you when I was in distress, and you came to save me.” He was said to come swiftly to aid the poor and friendless.

Rams and geese, Amun’s sacred animals, were kept at his temples. Prayers have been found addressed to the “Good Goose of Amun.”

Amun was thought to be the father of Khonsu, Shu, Tefnut, Bast, and Sekhmet. In some instances Amun was thought to have fathered Osiris, by Taweret. Amun was occasionally thought to have been created by Ptah, or to be the son of Ma'at and Thoth.

Eventually, all Egyptian gods - but not goddesses - were thought to be manifestations of Amun.