Atum is a principal creator deity in ancient Egyptian religion. He is described in the myths as the first being to emerge from the primeval waters of Nun, bringing order out of the original chaos and initiating creation.
Cosmogony and the first acts of creation
In Egyptian cosmogony Atum arises alone from Nun, the dark, formless waters that existed before the world. By a self-generating act—variously recounted as spitting, an act of masturbation, or through an internal, androgynous power—he produced the first divine pair, Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture). Those two then became the parents of further generations of deities, and through them the ordered world came into being. For a concise discussion of Egyptian origin myths see history.
The episode of the Udjat Eye and the creation of humanity
When Shu and Tefnut were separated from Atum, some traditions say he sent his Udjat (Wedjat) Eye to find them. After their return, Atum wept with relief; the tears he shed on the earth were said to become the first human beings. From the interplay of air and moisture—and from the divine lineages descending from Shu and Tefnut—other gods and aspects of the world emerged.
Relationships, roles, and worship
The ancient Egyptians commonly regarded Atum as the ancestor or father of the other gods. He was closely associated with the primeval mound (the benben) and, over time, was identified with the sun god Ra, especially as a manifestation of the setting sun (often called Atum-Ra). Major centers for his cult included Heliopolis, where priestly traditions preserved the cosmogony that places Atum at the origin of the universe.
Iconography and symbols
Atum is typically depicted as a man wearing the royal double crown or as a serpent in some funerary contexts, symbols that emphasize sovereignty and completeness. The Udjat Eye, representing protection and royal power, is often linked to him in mythic episodes and temple imagery.