Amun, << AH muhn, >> also spelled Amon, became the most important god in ancient Egyptian mythology. He was worshiped mainly in the city of Thebes, and was specially honored by the kings of Thebes. Amun’s temples at Karnak and Luxor were the wealthiest in the country. Amun gained his greatest importance during the period of the New Kingdom (about 1539-1075 B.C.), when Thebes was the capital of Egypt. The Egyptians eventually identified Amun with the sun god Re to create a new deity called Amun-Re, who was known as King of the Gods.
Amun first appeared in Egyptian mythology about 2100 B.C. He may have been introduced to Thebes from Hermopolis, a city north of Thebes. At Thebes, Amun’s wife was the goddess Mut. Their child was Khons, a moon god. The three became known as the Theban triad. Amun was usually portrayed in human form, wearing a double plumed crown. He sometimes appeared as a goose or a ram.
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See also Karnak, Temple of; Mythology (Egyptian mythology); Re; Thebes.
