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Ptah Facts & Worksheets

Ptah, an Egyptian creator god, used his creative ability of speech to imagine and create the world. Ptah "crafted the world in the intent of his heart," according to an Egyptian hymn from the Twenty-second Dynasty, while the Shabaka Stone from the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty claims that Ptah "gave existence to all the gods as well as their kas, by this heart and this tongue."

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Ptah, an Egyptian creator god, used his creative ability of speech to imagine and create the world. Ptah “crafted the world in the intent of his heart,” according to an Egyptian hymn from the Twenty-second Dynasty, while the Shabaka Stone from the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty claims that Ptah “gave existence to all the gods as well as their kas, by this heart and this tongue.”

See the fact file below for more information about Ptah, or you can download our 27-page Ptah worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EPITHETS

Ptah is known by many epithets, below are some of them:

  • Ptah, Lord of Truth
  • The Divine Blacksmith/Sculptor
  • Lord of Justice
  • The Eternal Ruler
  • The Noble Djed
  • The Attractive Face
  • The Almighty, who answers prayers
  • The Master of Ceremonies

HYPOSTASES AND REPRESENTATIONS

  • Like many ancient Egyptian deities, he takes numerous forms, either through any of his specific attributes or through a combination of Memphite gods. He was occasionally portrayed as a nude, malformed dwarf, and his popularity increased during the Late Period. 
  • His worship spread outside Egypt’s borders to other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean and was often associated with the god Bes. We discover Ptah statues in Carthage thanks to Phoenicians who spread their artifacts there.
  • Ptah is typically depicted as a green-skinned man wearing the divine beard, a shroud that sticks to his skin, and clutching a scepter that combines three powerful signs of ancient Egyptian beliefs:
  • The Was scepter
  • Ankh, the life sign
  • The Djed pillar

These three symbols used together represent the god’s three creative attributes: power (was), life (ankh), and stability (djed).

  • He rapidly adopted the form of Sokar and Tatenen, two legendary gods of the Memphite area from the Old Kingdom. He is found in the white shroud of Sokar with the Atef crown, an Osiris attribute. 
  • He served as the god who protects the Saqqara necropolis and other well-known locations where the royal pyramids were constructed in this role.
  • He gradually created Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, a new divinity, together with Osiris. Figurines of the new deity’s human form, half-human, half-hawk form, or just the pure falcon form were systematically erected in graves to accompany and guard the souls traveling to the West.
  • A young, active man wearing a crown with two tall plumes encircling the solar disk represents his Tatenen form, and he embodies the beneath-the-ground fire that rumbles and elevates the earth. 
  • As a result, he was especially respected by blacksmiths and metalworkers, but he was also feared, given that he was responsible for the earth’s crustal earthquakes and tremors. 
  • Ptah serves as the master of ceremonies during Heb Sed, a ritual that typically attests to a pharaoh’s first thirty years in power.
  • Based on Memphite mythological/theological literature, the god Ptah could have been a counterpart to the sun gods Re or Aten in the Amarna period because he embodied the divine essence that the sun god was fed upon to appear or to be born. He regularly traveled to the area on significant holidays in his big sacred boat and the holiest of holies of his temple in Memphis.
  • Two birds with human heads and sun disk decorations, representing the souls of the god Re: the Ba, were also used to represent Ptah. 
  • The twin gods Shu and Tefnut are known as the two Ba and are associated with the Memphis djed pillar.
  • The sacred bull Apis serves as Ptah’s physical embodiment. The sacred animal is associated with the god Re from the New Kingdom and is often called a herald of Re. 
  • He was even worshipped at Memphis, most likely in the center of the enormous Ptah temple. After the animal’s death, he was buried in the Serapeum of Saqqara with all the honors appropriate for a living deity.
  • Due to their similar appearance and names, scholars have also connected Ptah to the Mandaean angel Ptahil outside of Egypt.

EVOLUTION OF THE CULT

  • Ptah’s worship swiftly took root throughout Egypt. The high priests of Ptah were particularly desirable, cooperating with the vizier on the main royal projects of the Old Kingdom, acting as leading architects and master artisans who were in charge of decorating the royal tomb complexes.
  • The deity’s beliefs would take various forms during the New Kingdom, especially at Memphis, where he was born, but also in Thebes, where the builders of the royal tombs honored him as their patron god of artisans. Because of this, the settlement of Deir el-Medina, where the laborers and artisans lived, had the oratory of Ptah, who hears prayers, built nearby.
  • At Memphis, the emergence of the enclosure that guarded the god’s sanctuary made the position of intercessor with people especially clear. 
  • His function as a god who hears prayers was symbolized by the carving of large ears on the walls.
  • His religion flourished under the Nineteenth Dynasty, and he eventually became one of Ramesses’ four main deities. He was worshiped at Pi-Ramesses, where he oversaw rites and coronations.
  • Ptah returned to the center of the monarchy during the Third Intermediate Period, where the pharaoh was crowned once more in his temple. The Ptolemies carried on this custom, and the high priests of Ptah became more closely affiliated with the king and queen. Some even wed princesses descended from the royal family, demonstrating their vital position in the Ptolemaic court.

WORSHIP

  • Ptah worship was quite common, especially in the Old Kingdom. The main reason he was so well-liked was that he was the god of artisans. 
  • The status of craftsmen in ancient Egypt was relatively high, and many were highly sought after to create and construct pyramids and other unique architecture. 
  • As a result, the high priests in Ptah’s different temples were regarded as significant community members.
  • Thebes and Memphis were the two most famous ancient Egyptian cities for Ptah worship. 
  • Ptah was thought to have lived in the latter town, which was situated in Lower Egypt. Memphis has several temples dedicated to the god. Due to Memphis’ political clout in the area, Ptah’s worship expanded throughout ancient Egypt.
  • The vast quantity of artisans and craftsmen who worked on the construction and decoration of the royal tombs contributed significantly to Ptah’s fame in Thebes.
  • According to historians and archaeologists, Ptah was worshipped mainly during Egypt’s Late Period.
  • Ptah was among the four most significant gods during the 19th Dynasty. And throughout the Third Intermediate Period, Egyptian pharaohs’ coronation rituals were frequently held at Ptah temples.
  • Prayer to Ptah

The Noble Djed, you are honored.

For all the time you’ve surrounded me in light

and for the inspiration you gave me to improve my work.

I only seek peace, growth, and abundance in you.

FAMILY

  • The goddess Sekhmet is often associated with Ptah, the patron god of artists and craftspeople, as his companion or wife. It was thought that the two deities gave birth to the young deity known as Nefertem. The Memphite Triad of gods, a trio widely revered in the ancient city of Memphis, included these three gods.
  • Ptah and Sekhmet were also regarded as Imhotep’s parents during the New Kingdom. Imhotep served as King Djoser’s advisor during the Third Dynasty, and he was so revered he finally achieved the mythical status of a legitimate god by the Late Period.

LEGACY

  • Memphis was said to be guarded by the patron deity of artisans, Ptah. One of the most notable buildings in the city was its enormous temple, Hut-ka-Ptah (literally “Enclosure of the ka of Ptah”). This word originated in Ancient Greek as “Aigyptos,” entered Latin as  “Aegyptus,” and evolved into “Middle French Egypte.”
  • Finally, it was introduced to English as “Egypt,” first in Middle English and then officially as “Egypt.”
  • One of the gods referred to in Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Aida is Ptah. He is referred to in a chorus called “O Mighty Ptah” in scene 2 of Act 1. This chorus is repeated at the opera’s conclusion as “Immenso Fthà” (“Immense Ptah”) after the lead characters, Aida and Radamès pass away.
  • In the book The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan, Ptah makes a brief appearance. Sadie Kane, the main character, finds a statue of Ptah while looking for a scroll in the tunnels under Bahariya. She makes an unsuccessful attempt to call on him for assistance.
  • Later, having just been delayed in his arrival, Ptah appears out of nowhere as a date farmer. In the same way that Ptah once fought an army of intruders by having a horde of rats devour their bowstrings and sandals in myth, Ptah sends an army of rats to kill an army of mummies dispatched to attack them. 
  • Before being forced to leave the farmer’s body, Ptah offers the two counsel and creates a portal to meet with Carter, Sadie’s brother.

Ptah Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Ptah across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Ptah. Ptah “crafted the world in the intent of his heart,” according to an Egyptian hymn from the Twenty-second Dynasty, while the Shabaka Stone from the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty claims that Ptah “gave existence to all the gods as well as their kas, by this heart and this tongue.”

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Ptah Facts
  2. God to Know
  3. Bloodline
  4. Pray it In
  5. Kinship with the Others
  6. True or False?
  7. Ancient Connection
  8. Get Creative!
  9. Ethical Attributes
  10. Start of the Creation
  11. Temple Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ptah?

Ptah is an ancient Egyptian deity associated with creation and craftsmanship. He is often depicted as a mummified figure with a skullcap and a scepter, symbolizing his role as a creator and craftsman.

What is Ptah’s significance in Egyptian mythology?

Ptah is primarily known as the patron god of craftsmen, architects, and artisans. He is credited with creating the world and all things in it through his thoughts and words. Ptah is also closely associated with Memphis, an ancient Egyptian city, where he was a prominent deity.

How is Ptah related to the Memphite Theology?

Ptah’s significance is most prominently featured in the Memphite Theology, an ancient Egyptian religious text. This text describes Ptah as the primary creator deity who brought the universe into existence through his divine will and thought. It emphasizes his role as a master craftsman who fashioned the world and its inhabitants.

Are there any major temples or cult centers dedicated to Ptah?

Yes, there were several temples and cult centers dedicated to Ptah in ancient Egypt. The most notable one was the Temple of Ptah in Memphis, which was considered the center of his worship. This temple complex included various structures and shrines, serving as a focal point for Ptah’s cult.

Is Ptah associated with any other deities in Egyptian mythology?

Ptah is often linked with other deities in Egyptian mythology, most notably with Sekhmet, a lioness-headed goddess associated with war and destruction. In some traditions, Ptah is considered the father of Sekhmet. Ptah is also associated with his wife, Sekhmet, and their son Nefertem, who was a god of beauty and perfumes.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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