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It is believed that the oldest of the three Egyptian creation myths was the Hermopolitan myth, which was named for the city from where it originated: Khemnu, or more commonly known by its Greek name, Hermopolis. According to the Hermopolitan myth, life began in the primeval waters, out of which came the <i>Ogdoad</i>, or eight original deities. The eight original deities were grouped in male-female pairs and included: Nun and Naunet, Heh and Heuhet, Kek and Kauket, and Amun and Amaunet. The details of the physical creation itself are a bit vague in the Hermopolitan myth and instead focus on the “numinous and mysterious force of the divine creative power.” <ref> Tobin, Vincent Arieh. “Myths.” In <i>The Ancient Gods Speak: A Guide to Egyptian Religion.</i> Edited by Donald B. Redford. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 248</ref>
The most important god of the Hermopolitan creation myth was Amun, who was known as the “Hidden One,” indicating the numinous and mysterious force mentioned by Tobin. Amun grew in importance during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BC) until he became the national god during the Eighteenth Dynasty (c. 1550-1295 BC) of the New Kingdom. Amun’s attributes as a creator god were later combined with more martial elements, which was indicative of the period. <ref> Lesko, Leonard. “Ancient Egyptian Cosmogonies and Cosmology.” In <i>The Oxford History of Medieval EuropeReligion in Ancient Egypt: Gods, Myths, and Personal Practice.</i> Edited by Byron E. Shafer. (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1991), pgs. 105-6</ref> Where the creation in the Hermopolitan myth was somewhat enigmatic and connected to a mysterious force, creation according to the Memphis myth was the result of intellect.
===The Memphite Creation Myth===