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Ancient Egypt / Religion / Gods /
Triad
In Ancient Egyptian religion, the concept of a divine family consisting of 3 members; father, mother and child. A triad would head both cult centres and pantheons of gods. Usually the child was a male god.
Most Egyptian temples had both an ennead (9 gods) and a triad.
Triads would often be composed of former central deities to a region, when forming new and larger cult centres. The uniting of triads seem to have been especially important during the New Kingdom.
To the triad, myths were adapted, placing each of the gods into a religious context.
The best known triad was the one of Isis, Osiris and Horus, which was widespread in Ancient Egyptian times, and not restricted to one cult centre. Rather the 3 were individually worshiped at different locations; Osiris at Abydos, Isis at Philae and Horus at Edfu.
Other important triads include:
Thebes: Amon, Mut and Khonsu.
Memphis: Ptah, Sekhmet and Nefertem.
Edfu: Horus, Hathor and Harsomtus.
Elephantine: Khnum, Satet and Anuket.
Kom Ombo: Sobek, Hathor and Khonsu.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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