Noah and His Family in Egyptian Myths

The Bible refers to Egypt as Mizraim, Ham’s son (Noah’s grandson) and it is extremely likely that Mizraim founded Egypt after the dispersion at Babel.

There are three main flood stories that emerged in Egypt from Heliopolis, Memphis, and Hermopolis. The similarities between these stories are that they all feature a primordial ocean, a primeval hill, and a deification of nature. The story from Heliopolis features a group of nine gods. It speaks of Atum, the creator god and the Ogdoad, the eight gods on the boat. The Hermopolis story features the Ogdoad, a group of eight gods. Could these represent the eight people who survived the flood? According to the story from Memphis, Ptah created by conceiving in his mind what should be created and speaking it into being. This seems strikingly similar to the biblical account of God speaking creation into existence.

The eight gods, known as the Ogdoad, consisted of four males and their female consorts: Nun and Naunet, Amun and Amunet, Keku and Kauket, and Hehu and Hauhet. 

The names “Noah” and “Nun” have the same meaning, and speak of quiet, tranquil abiding. Noah is associated with the Flood, while Nun is associated with primeval waters. It seems likely therefore that the Egytpian god Nun is based on a memory of biblical Noah.

The word “Amun”, which represents the next god in the Egyptian Ogdoad, means hidden-of-name, heaven, or sun. This range of meaning overlaps significantly with that of Shem’s name. The name “Shem” means name, representation, or glory. Additionally, Amun is associated with a flood. Therefore, Amun may represent Shem.

“Japheth” means spacious, wide open, youthful, and open-minded. “Heh”, the next god in the Ogdoad, has a name meaning great numbers, searching, and treading. While these meanings are not an exact match, they overlap to some extent. Heh is associated with inundation water, and may represent Japheth. 

The name “Ham” means hot, black, noise, or troubled. “Kek”, the final god in the Ogdoad, means darkness, flood water, or twilight. These similarities suggest that Kek represents Ham. Additionally, Kek is also known as Horus, therefore Ham = Kek = Horus. 

Importantly, the family structure of Noah’s family and that of the Ogdoad is identical, since Nun and Naunet were the parents/creators of the other three male gods and their female consorts. 

Considering the long ages of Noah and his sons. Shem outlived Abraham and the fact all knowledge and prior history came from these eight survivors of the flood, it is conceivable they would be considered as Gods and the flood story would be passed down through the generations.

Further evidence that Noah’s Worldwide Flood was a recent (approx. 4300 years ago) and real event when God judged the world and destroyed all of mankind save the eight people on the Ark. Dead things (fossils) buried all over the world including fossil fuels is evidence that is hard to explain away but this historical evidence of the Ogdoad is solid confirmation.

Reference: Cox, Gavin M. 2013. Egypt’s Hieroglyphs Contain a Cultural Memory of Creation and Noah’s Flood. The Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism 7.