The gods of agriculture and fertility manifestations in the ancient Egyptian religious thought

Abstract

This study explores the intricate and profound relationship between agricultural deities and manifestations of fertility in ancient Egyptian religious thought, revealing the symbolic and functional dimensions that shaped the Egyptians’ perception of nature’s cycle and agricultural production. The research addresses the topic through two main axes: the first focuses on prominent agricultural deities—such as Osiris, Isis, Min, Renenutet, Hapy, Neith, Sekhmet, and Bastet—highlighting their roles in maintaining the agricultural order and ensuring the continuity of fertility. The second axis investigates the intellectual framework that generated the concept of fertility, examining its connection to rituals, beliefs, and daily practices, as well as to symbolic representations such as the inundation, silt, seeds, and birth. This analysis demonstrates how nature was sacralized and agricultural activity was linked to divine will. The study reveals the scientific and religious significance of this relationship and its impact on shaping a collective Egyptian consciousness rooted in sacred management of agriculture, fertility, and abundance