Ra (Re) is the primary Egyptian sun god; the name Ra itself means “sun” and Ra is associated with the sun, particularly the noonday sun. He is also a creator god, and his travels on the Sun-boat take him not only through the sky during the day but through the underworld during the night.

Ra is a very old god, said in some myths to be self-created. He was worshipped throughout Egypt but had a particular center of worship in Heliopolis.

Ra is depicted here as a man with the head of a hawk, wearing the sun disk and uraeus snake on his head. He carries the was staff, a symbol of power, in one hand and the ankh, a symbol of life, in the other.

Ra who is in heaven, who is in the horizon,
giver of light and life, I praise and honor you.