Page "Ancient Egyptian religion" Paragraph 6

The Egyptians believed in a pantheon of gods, which were involved in all aspects of nature and human society.

Their religious practices were efforts to sustain and placate these phenomena and turn them to human advantage.

This polytheistic system was very complex, as some deities were believed to exist in many different manifestations, and some had multiple mythological roles.

Conversely, many natural forces, such as the sun, were associated with multiple deities.

The diverse pantheon ranged from gods with vital roles in the universe to minor deities or " demons " with very limited or localized functions.

It could include gods adopted from foreign cultures, and sometimes even humans: deceased pharaohs were believed to be divine, and occasionally, distinguished commoners such as Imhotep also became deified.