Ptah

Ptah is a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, primarily revered in the city of Memphis. He is regarded as a creator god and the patron of craftsmen, artisans, and builders. His influence extends across the theology and daily religious practice of Memphis and its surrounding region.

In Memphite theology, Ptah embodies the creative word; by thinking and speaking, he brings the world and the gods into being. His consort is Sekhmet, with whom he is said to have fathered Nefertum, forming the Ptah–Sekhmet–Nefertum triad. In some traditions, Ptah is invoked with Sokar or Osiris in composite forms such as Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, linked to Memphis's cult structure.

Iconography typically shows Ptah as a mummified man, wearing a close-fitting cap and beard, and holding a staff or scepter that symbolizes his authority and creative power. His temple in Memphis, often called the House of Ptah, was a major center of ritual and priestly activity, and Ptah was venerated as the patron god of artisans, sculptors, and architects.

Over time Ptah's cult spread to other regions, and in the Hellenistic period he was identified with the Greek god Hephaestus, reflecting his associations with smithing and crafts. The worship of Ptah continued into the later periods of Egyptian history, and the god remained an important symbol of creation and craftsmanship in Memphis's religious landscape.