Myths featuring Merit

During the Amarna Period of Ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Akhenaten revolutionized religion by centering worship on the Aten, a solar disk representing the source of all life. This mythic concept is physically manifested in art where the Aten's rays extend like long arms, ending in delicate human hands that hold the ankh symbol to the nostrils of the royal family. It signifies a unique, direct...

Bes is a grotesque but benevolent dwarf deity in Egyptian mythology who protects the household and mothers during labor. By dancing, drumming, and shaking a sistrum, he scares away malevolent spirits that threaten newborns. His presence was particularly revered in domestic spaces like Deir el-Medina, where his image adorned beds and walls.