Egyptian Mythology - The Reign Re Quiz

Answer: His subjects ridiculed him for being old

This story of creation of humankind, followed by the discontent as to the way they were living their lives, is closely paralleled by the story of the Great Flood in Greek mythology. Re was said to have reigned for thousands of years as the first pharaoh. Although the Egyptians were said to refer to themselves as "the cattle of Re", few took him seriously when he became old.

Answer: The Ennead

These nine gods which made up the Ennead were the major gods of the mythology of Heliopolis (the city of the sun). Re also invited Nun, and during the discussion of what should be done to punish mankind, Re listened to Nun most closely, as Nun was the first being and the god who created Re.

Answer: A lioness

Although said to have been the daughter of Re, Sekhmet had no mother, and was instead created by the fire in Re's eye. The lion-headed deity was the goddess of war and destruction, and was the wife of Ptah, who was considered as the creator god (the equivalent of Re) in the city of Memphis.

Answer: She got drunk on beer which she thought was blood

As the carnage continued, Re began to think that his subjects had suffered enough and ordered Sekhmet to stop, but he could not dissuade his blood-thirsty daughter. Instead, Re ordered the women of the town which Sekhmet was heading for to brew beer, and colour it with red ochre so that it looked like blood.

Answer: Hathor

Hathor was the antithesis of Sekhmet. She became the goddess of love, happiness and the protector of women. Since Hathor came into being after Sekhmet was made exceedingly drunk, Re declared that the Egyptians should drink as much as they could during the festival of Hathor.

Answer: We never find out

As is typical in Egyptian mythology, Re was known by many names and was associated with many other gods (these include Khepri, Atum, Amun and Ra). As well as having a secret name of his own, it is said that Re created men by speaking their own secret names, one by one.

This is an alternate version of the creation myth which was told in my first quiz of this series ("Egyptian Mythology - Creation"), which tells of how humans were created from the tears of Re.

Answer: She took light from the moon to make five extra days

Nut enlisted the help of the wisest god, Thoth, in order to find a loophole in the curse of Re. Thoth challenged the moon god Khonsu to a game of draughts. Thoth defeated Khonsu and demanded as his prize enough moonlight to create five extra days. It was during these five days, not part of any year, that Nut bore her children.

Answer: Nephthys

These four deities were, according to some stories, the second set of children born to Nut. The first children were the stars, whom Nut swallowed, angering her husband Geb. Many of the subsequent myths were centred on Nut's second set of children, in particular Osiris, Seth and Isis.

Answer: She hated Re

Isis was known for her magical powers, her wisdom, and her love for her son, Horus. Isis is often depicted in art with a baby and so has become linked with mothers. This association is shared by the goddess Hathor, who is described in some ancient myths as being the mother of Horus before the role was assumed by Isis.

Answer: The Uraeus

The cobra was created when Isis molded it out of earth, and gave it life using the spit of Re. The Uraeus, an upright Egyptian cobra, has become one of the most ubiquitous symbols in Egyptian art, most famously featuring on the mask of Tutankhamen.