Egyptian And Near Eastern Mythologies

The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Persia, the Middle East and North Africa developed rich mythological traditions filled with gods, goddesses, legendary heroes and supernatural beings. These myths sought to explain the creation of the world, the forces of nature, life and death, kingship and the struggle between order and chaos, and they gave rise to some of history's most enduring figures and stories, from the gods of ancient Egypt to the deities and heroes of Mesopotamian, Persian and other regional traditions.

Please share your Egyptian and Near Eastern Mythology stamps and covers.

Statue of the Nile River god

The statue of the River Nile god, found in 1513 in Campo Marzio where it was probably part of the decoration of the Iseo Campense, dedicated to the Egyptian deities Isis and Serapis. Egypt is represented by the presence of a sphinx, on which the figure of the Nile supports himself, and by some animals. The statue is exhibited in the Vatican Museum.

This SS shows the Campo Marzio statue, issued by Egypt on March 1, 1949 to publicize the 16th agricultural and industrial exhibition, Cairo, Egypt.

Baal - The Canaanite Supreme god

Baal, meaning "Lord," was a title applied to several deities in the ancient Near East, but the best-known Baal of Canaanite mythology was the powerful storm, rain and fertility god closely identified with Hadad. He is often depicted holding a thunderbolt, somewhat like Zeus in Greek mythology, and was compared or identified with other storm gods such as the Anatolian Teshub and, later, the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. In the Hebrew Bible, Baal became especially associated with the Canaanite deity whose worship was strongly opposed by the Israelite prophets.

Baal, based on stele of Baal with thunderbolt found in Ugarit, Issued by the Palestinian Authority on June 15, 1998.

The stamp depicts the Canaanite god Baal, a bull symbolizing his power and fertility, and a view of an ancient Canaanite city, generally identified as Tyre.

god Thoth

Thoth was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt, associated with wisdom, writing, knowledge, mathematics, science and the measurement of time. He was usually represented as a man with the head of an ibis, an animal sacred to him, and was regarded as the divine patron of scribes and learning; he also played an important role in the judgment of the dead by recording the result of the weighing of the heart.

This set was issued by Egypt on April 1, 1925 to publicize the international congress of geography. Thoth is shown as a divine scribe writing the name and titles of King Fuad I in a cartouche, in a design inspired by ancient Egyptian temple art.

Baal Hammon, the chief god of Carthage

Baal Hammon, meaning "Lord Hammon", was the chief god of Carthage. He was a weather god considered responsible for the fertility of vegetation and esteemed as King of the Gods. He was depicted as a bearded older man with curling ram's horns.

god Baal Hammon on his throne with a crown and flanked by sphinxes, 1st century, Bardo museum, Tunis, issued by Tunisia on May 18, 2005.


Bust of the above Baal Hammon statue and president Bourguiba, issued by Tunisia on June 4, 1985 to publicize "Tunisia Day" in World's Fair "EXPO '85", Tsukuba, Japan. The design shows Baal Hammon with president Bourguiba, both representing Tunisia under the title "From Carthage to Bourguiba" - a personality cult that was very common under president Bourguiba in Tunisia.

god Horus

Horus was one of the important deities of Egyptian gods. His name Horus means "The One Far Above". Horus was originally the Sky god, but he is also known as War god, Hunter's god, god of Kingship and others. He played the role as the protector of the ruler of Egypt. He was depicted as a falcon, most likely a lanner falcon or peregrine falcon, or as a man with a falcon head.
Statue of god Horus from Nubia, issued by the United Arab Republic (Egypt) on October 24, 1964.

Statue of god Horus in the shape of a falcon protecting Khafre, fourth king of the 4th dynasty (c. 2575–c. 2465 BCE) of ancient Egypt and builder of the second of the three Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum, Cairo, issued by Egypt on April 1, 1972.

Same statue of god Horus and King Khafre on Egyptian banknote of 10 Pound, 2018.

goddess Hathor

Hathor, meaning "mansion of Horus", is an Egyptian goddess who personified the principles of joy, feminine love, and motherhood. In other roles she was a goddess of music, dance, foreign lands and fertility who helped women in childbirth, as well as the patron goddess of miners.

Hathor is commonly depicted as a cow goddess with horns in which is set a sun disk with Uraeus (stylized, upright form of an Egyptian cobra used as a symbol of sovereignty, royalty, deity, and divine authority in ancient Egypt).


goddess Hathor statue, shaft of Luxor - Egypt, 1995.

goddess Hathor and goddess Isis crowning Queen Nefertari, Abu Simbel temple - Egypt, 1962.

King Menkaure with goddess Hathor and and the goddess protecting the district of Cynopolis – 4th dynasty (c. 2600-2480 BC), Cairo museum, Egypt - Egypt, 1947.