Amun

The supreme god of the Egyptian pantheon, who was established by the 11th Dynasty at Thebes. The name means "hidden" or "secret". Amun was frequently identified with Ra the sun-god of Heliopolis and called Amun-Ra. His temple at Karnak is the best surviving example of a religious complex of the New Kingdom. His wife was Amaunet and he is depicted in male human form. Amun's supremacy was challenged only during the reign of Akhenaten.

The supreme state god of Ancient Egypt during the New Empire (see Dynastic Egypt), the centre of whose worship was at Thebes, the capital. Depicted in male human form, Amun was frequently identified with Re, the sun-god of Heliopolis, as Amun-Re. The priesthood of Amun achieved very great wealth and influence, especially between the 18th and 21st Dynasties.