Changes

The name of Ra can be directly translated in Egyptian as ‘Sun’. “[[The Litany of Ra]]” invokes the god 74 times with different names and titles, some linking Ra to [[Osiris]], stressing Ra’s importance in the [[netherworld]] and afterlife. Titles from this text include “He Who Has Command Over His Cave”, “He of the Netherworld” and “He Who Renews the Earth”.

The name of Ra can be directly translated in Egyptian as ‘Sun’. “[[The Litany of Ra]]” invokes the god 74 times with different names and titles, some linking Ra to [[Osiris]], stressing Ra’s importance in the [[netherworld]] and afterlife. Titles from this text include “He Who Has Command Over His Cave”, “He of the Netherworld” and “He Who Renews the Earth”.

He is also titled “Lord of [[Heliopolis]]”, and in the [[Book of the Dead]] as “King of the Gods”, “Sole Lord”, “Lord of the Gods” and “Power of Powers”, all of which emphasize sovereignty and kingship. “Unique One” and “Sole One” may refer to either creator or sovereign roles, whist “Lord of the Sky” and “Great Illuminator” emphasise solar attributes. “Sovereign Who Made the Gods” refers to both sovereign and creation roles.

He is also titled “Lord of [[Heliopolis]]”, and in the [[Book of the Dead]] as “King of the Gods”, “Sole Lord”, “Lord of the Gods” and “Power of Powers”, all of which emphasize sovereignty and kingship. “Unique One” and “Sole One” may refer to either creator or sovereign roles, whist “Lord of the Sky” and “Great Illuminator” emphasize solar attributes. “Sovereign Who Made the Gods” refers to both sovereign and creation roles.

== Iconography & Imagery ==

== Iconography & Imagery ==

Ra is most frequently portrayed as a [[falcon]]-headed man with a sun disk, though he may also be seen in fully zoomorphic form with a Sun disk, and within composite images purely as a sun disk.

Ra is most frequently portrayed as a [[falcon]]-headed man with a sun disk, though he may also be seen in fully zoo-morphic form with a Sun disk, and within composite images purely as a sun disk.

The falcon association strengthened the association between Ra and [[Horus]] (as [[Ra-Horakhti]]) and with concepts of Kingship in a wider sense. Indeed, it is various combinations of the Falcon and sun disc which form the strongest, most instantly recognisable and most enduring iconography for the cult of Ra.  

The falcon association strengthened the association between Ra and [[Horus]] (as [[Ra-Horakhti]]) and with concepts of Kingship in a wider sense. Indeed, it is various combinations of the Falcon and sun disc which form the strongest, most instantly recognizable and most enduring iconography for the cult of Ra.  

The [[Mnevis]] bull also held solar associations, and was regarded as the herald of Ra. A bull was kept and buried with full honours in Heliopolis, where some burials have survived.

The [[Mnevis]] bull also held solar associations, and was regarded as the herald of Ra. A bull was kept and buried with full honours in Heliopolis, where some burials have survived.