Ogdoad Group

The Ogdoad (from the Greek ὀγδοάς, meaning "group of eight") is a term used in Egyptian mythology to refer to a group of eight deities worshipped in Hermopolis. The Ogdoad consists of four pairs of male and female deities, each representing a different aspect of creation. These deities are often depicted as frogs or snakes, symbolizing their primordial nature. The Ogdoad includes Nun and Naunet (water), Heh and Hauhet (infinity), Kuk and Kauket (darkness), and Amun and Amunet (hiddenness). In Hebrew, the term can be translated as חמישייה (Hameshiya), although this is not a direct translation but rather a term for a group of five, highlighting the difficulty in directly translating the concept. The Ogdoad played a significant role in the creation myth of Hermopolis, where they were believed to have existed before the creation of the world and to have given birth to the sun god Atum. This group of deities represents the primordial chaos that preceded the ordered universe.