The Thirteenth Sepat is all about the sun. Its main city was Iunu (Yunu) and this is where the sun-cult had its base. The Greeks called it Heliopolis, meaning “City of the Sun”, but it is now called Tell Hisn. It lies a short distance north of the ancient capital city of Memphis and today the site is built over as the area forms part of the north-eastern suburbs of Cairo.
The Chief God of Iunu was Atum, who was a sun-god as well as a creator god. The sun-cult of this ancient city placed him as the Creator of all living things. He was also responsible for the creation of the ennead (nine gods) of Heliopolitan myth. They first appear in the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom (c. 2350 BC). Although, it is only fair to note that all the gods of the ancient Egyptian pantheon are referred to in this text as the “Two Enneads”.
In the creation myth, there is nothing until Atum appears upon a primordial mound which rises from the still waters of Nun. This image is clearly borrowed from the natural environment surrounding the Nile River. The floodwaters subside to reveal deposits of fertile silt, upon which ancient Egyptians built their settlement. They built on the highest possible ground to avoid being wiped out by the inundation.
The primordial mound was reflected in Egyptian monuments and called the benben. It is today called the obelisk and upon this mound the benu bird perched. This bird was important to the sun-cult at Iunu because it symbolized death and rebirth. The Greeks called this bird the phoenix.
Source:
"Ancient Egypt: An illustrated reference to the myths, religions, pyramids and temples of the land of the pharaohs" by Lorna Oakes and Lucia Gahlin
