Egyptian influence in popular culture
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Egyptian mythology and culture have influenced popular culture in multiple ways.
Influence in architecture and the arts
Egyptian architecture and the low-perspective, hieratic styles of Egyptian art have undergone several revivals in the Western world. Various obelisks have been carried off as trophies by colonial powers, or bestowed as gifts by Egyptian leaders, and these stand in a number of locations far from Egypt. The "Cleopatra's Needles" that stand in London, Paris, and New York City are examples of these transported obelisks. Egyptian architectural motifs appear in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili,[1] and Athanasius Kircher's Oedipus Aegyptiacus contains a fanciful attempt to translate Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Egyptian themes became much more widespread, however, after Jean-François Champollion deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics, enabling Egyptian works to be read. The nineteenth century proved to be a heyday for Egyptianizing themes in art, architecture, and culture; these persisted into the early 20th century, and were revived briefly after the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Various mystical and fraternal groups incorporated Egyptian themes.[2] The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn had an "Isis-Urania" lodge in London, and an Ahathoor lodge in Paris.[3] The Shriners incorporated both Islamic and Egyptian themes into their visual imagery, including their characteristic fezzes. The Murat Shrine Temple in Indianapolis, Indiana contains a celebrated Egyptian Room, decorated with hieroglyphic motifs and Egyptian themed murals.[4] The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) opened a Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in 1928.
In literature, Rick Riordan has written three books based on Egyptian mythology in the modern world: The Kane Chronicles - The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire, and The Serpent's Shadow. These books are about the adventures of two siblings, Sadie and Carter Kane, who discover that the ancient Egyptian world is still amongst them and they discover that they have the blood of pharaohs and must learn to become magicians in the House of Life. In their adventures they meet and interact with several ancient Egyptian Gods.
In The Age of Ra by James Lovegrove, humanity is ruled by the Egyptian pantheon. The Egyptian gods have taken over the world by defeating all other Pantheons that once existed. They have since carved the world into different realms named after themselves.
In the world of music, the influence of Ancient Egypt still appears. For example songs like Remember the Time by Michael Jackson, and Dark Horse by Katy Perry both have Egyptian themed music videos.
Depictions of Egyptian mythology
Amunet
- In the videogame Assassin's Creed Origins the character Aya later changes her name to Amunet, "the hidden one."[5][6] A statue of Amunet, identifying her as the assassin of Cleopatra, appeared in the earlier video game Assassin's Creed II.[7][8][9]
Anubis
- There is a challenge in the videogame Assassin's Creed Origins in which the player faces Anubis.[10][11]
- The Anubis Gates is a 1983 time travel fantasy novel by American writer Tim Powers.
- In SMITE, Anubis is a playable mage.
- In The Mummy Returns, Anubis have the Army of Anubis.
- In DC League of Super-Pets, Black Adam has a pet dog named Anubis who shares his same powers.
- In the 1960s animated series Jonny Quest Anubis is portrayed as statue that was stolen in order to cause an uprising.
Apep
- Apep is the Guardian of the Gates to the Land of the Living in the Netherworld and a boss in The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian, voiced by Mark Hamill.[12]
Sobek
- In the videogame Assassin's Creed: Origins, Ubisoft published a new challenge where Bayek, the main character, face Sobek.[13][14][15]
- Sobek features in Smite as a guardian crocodile.
Taweret
- A giant statue of Taweret appears in the science-fiction television series Lost and plays an important role in the backstory of the show's mysterious island.[16]
- Antonia Salib portrays Taweret in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) television series Moon Knight (2022).[17]
Ra
- Ra is depicted as the main villain in the Roland Emmerich's 1994 science/historical fiction film Stargate, In which Ra is portrayed as an evil alien who poses as a god and was the last of a dying species. he travelled the stars until he reached a primitive Earth and possessed the body of a young boy portrayed by Jaye Davidson. In human form, Ra despised and enslaved humans to mine crystals that prolong his life. He then brought some of them to another world using a portal called a "Stargate" to do the same, but a rebellion back on Earth closed its gate, and the rebels eventually became the Egyptian civilization. Thousands of years later, the U.S. Air Force eventually reopens the gate and the airmen find a world where Ra still rules and enslaves humans as a living God. The airmen's presence not only undermines his authority, but also ignites Ra's desire of revenge against Earth's humans for once having rebelled against him.
- Ra features in SMITE as a mage.
- In the Yu-Gi-Oh series, The Winged Dragon of Ra is an Egyptian God Card influenced from the deity.
Horus
- Horus features in SMITE as the rightful heir to the throne, released in 2019 alongside his archenemy uncle Set.
Set
- Set features in SMITE as an assassin, released at around the same time as his rival nephew Horus.
- Set is seen as the main evil of Tutenstein.
- The villain of the Doctor Who story Pyramids of Mars was Sutekh, based on Set.
- Ramiz King portrayal of a redeemed RA, in 2024’s ABC Special
- The character Incognito from the popular anime called, Hellsing, summoned a demon called "Sett", which descriptions said that Sett is an Egyptian deity.
- Set is the main character in the manhwa Ennead, written and illustrated by Mojito.
Bastet
- Bastet features in SMITE as a playable character.
Sekhmet
- Sekhmet appears in Thor: Love and Thunder as a member of the Council of Godheads led by Zeus.
Khepri
- Khepri is features in SMITE as a playable guardian.
Isis/Eset
Osiris
- Osiris features in SMITE as a playable character.
Serket
- Serket is a minor character in Tutenstein, in which the scorpion on her head gives her headaches.
- Serket is a playable assassin in SMITE.
Geb
- Geb is a playable guardian in SMITE.
Thoth
- Thoth is a playable mage in SMITE.
Hathor
- Hathor is a selectable goddess to worship in Age of Mythology.
Nephthys
- Nephthys is a selectable goddess to worship in Age of Mythology.
Neith
- Neith is a playable huntress in SMITE.
Stargate
Roland Emmerich's 1994 Science/Historical Fiction film Stargate eventually gave rise to the franchise Stargate, in which several deities of Egyptian Mythology, like Apophis, Anubis, Osiris and many more, are depicted as the personas of the parasitic race of aliens known as the Goa'uld. These beings, the most powerful of which were known as System Lords, posed as deities on ancient Earth, and enslaved the human race. Later they also implanted human beings on other planet, and effectively possessed a human being as a host, controlling their every action.
Gods of Egypt
A movie named Gods of Egypt was released in 2016, directed by Alex Proyas. It stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Brenton Thwaites, Chadwick Boseman, Élodie Yung, Courtney Eaton, Rufus Sewell, Gerard Butler, and Geoffrey Rush. The film portrays the Egyptian god Horus who partners with a mortal Egyptian thief, on a quest to rescue his love, and to save the world from Set.[18]
Notes
- ^ Francesco Colonna, Hypnerotomachia Poliphili: The Strife of Love in a Dream (Joscelyn Godwin, translator). (London & New York: Thames & Hudson, 1999 and re-editions)
- ^ Joscelyn Godwin, Christian Chanel, and John Patrick Deveney, The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. Historical and Initiatic Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism (York Beach: Samuel Weiser, 1995)
- ^ Greer, Mary K. Women of the Golden Dawn. (Park Street, 1994) ISBN 0-89281-516-7.
- ^ Murat Shrine Temple Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine history (official site), accessed Aug. 6, 2007
- ^ Castaño Ruiz, Clara (May 17, 2017). "Assassin's Creed Origins - Lo que sabemos del juego en Egipto". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ de Rochefort, Simone (October 25, 2017). "Assassin's Creed 2 may have given us a hint about Origins". Polygon. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Castillo, Joel (October 26, 2017). "Assassin's Creed 2 ya dio una gran pista sobre Origins". Alfabetajuega (in Spanish). Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Oramas Monzón, Alejandro (June 9, 2017). "Assassin's Creed Origins - Detalles y fecha de lanzamiento". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Williams, Mike (November 1, 2017). "How Assassin's Creed Origins Connects To Established Lore". USGamer. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ Blain, Louise (22 November 2017). "Watch how to beat Sobek in Assassin's Creed Origins' Trials of the Gods". Games Radar. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Birba, Laurely (23 November 2017). "Assassin's Creed Origins: Apès Anubis, C'est au Tour de Sobek de S'Énerver en Vidéo". Jeux Actu (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Credits (PlayStation 2)". MobyGames. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ Urko, Miguel (21 November 2017). "Enfréntate a Sobek en el nuevo desafío de Assassin's Creed: Origins". Área Jugones (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Gómez, Mario. "Assassin's Creed Origins: Encuentra y derrota al dios Sobek". 3djuegos (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ Redacción (24 November 2017). "Pruebas de los Dioses: Sobek - Assassin's Creed Origins". Vandal (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 November 2017.
- ^ "Lost's Foot Statue: What It Is & Where It Came From". Screen Rant. February 26, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "Moon Knight Star Praises Freedom Marvel Gave Her as New Character Taweret". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "Gods of Egypt | Official Movie Site | Story". godsofegypt.movie. Lionsgate. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
