Nun cosmology


Two versions of Nun cosmology: the 2400BC Heliopolitan Ennead (god of nine) version, shown on the left, an anthropomorphic derivative of the original 3100BC "land mound (Nun) arising out of body of water" version, out of which the sun (Ra) was born; and right a pre-Aristotle flat earth model (c.350BC), wherein earth (unmovable), the center of the universe, was the heaviest of elements, followed by water, air, and fire, in decreasing density, and "motion" was tendency of bodies to seek or achieve their natural place in the order of the universe; a model that was part physics (four elements and two forces), i.e. Empedocles standard model (450BC), and part theology, in particular Nun cosmology, which included the notion of good and evil (negative confession).

Two versions of Nun cosmology: the 2400BC Heliopolitan Ennead (god of nine) version, shown on the left, an anthropomorphic derivative of the original 3100BC "land mound (Nun) arising out of body of water" version, out of which the sun (Ra) was born; and right a pre-Aristotle flat earth model (c.350BC), wherein earth (unmovable), the center of the universe, was the heaviest of elements, followed by water, air, and fire, in decreasing density, and "motion" was tendency of bodies to seek or achieve their natural place in the order of the universe; a model that was part physics (four elements and two forces), i.e. Empedocles standard model (450BC), and part theology, in particular Nun cosmology, which included the notion of good and evil (negative confession).

In cosmologies, Nun cosmology is a model where the universe is said to be comprised of a primeval, self-generated ocean called the “Nun”, out of which the first land or land mound, also called the Nun, depending on version, arose, from which the sun, called “Ra” (among other names) was born, and from which everything else (humans included) were generated or created.

Synonyms
Synonyms of Nun cosmology include: "Ra-born-of-Nun (sun born of earth), "Ab-ra-ham-ic theology" (Christianity, Islamic, Judaism, etc.), "B-ra-hma-ic theology" (Hinduism, Buddhism, etc), among others.

History

See main: Universe

Nun cosmology was developed predominantly in Egypt, a synthesis of the local mythologies of the 42 pre-dynastic nomes (5000-3100BC), which was worked into a nation creation theology, changing theoretical form and development over time, in four different power centers: Heliopolis (3100BC), Memphis (2800BC), Hermopolis (2400BC), and Thebes (2040BC).

The Heliopolis creation model, sometimes referred to as the Heliopolitan Ennead (god of nine), as well as the other modified versions, are shown below.

In Hermopolis scheme, the model became strongly anthropomorphic, in the sense that the god earth (Geb) was viewed as being surrounded by the heavens (Nut) through which the sun (Ra) passed on its daily journey being carried on a solar barque. This model was incorporated into the work of Aristotle and afterwords into science.

	→		→		→
Heliopolis creation theory (3100BC)		Heliopolitan Ennead (2700BC)		Anthropomorhic Ennead (2400BC)		Egyptian flat earth model (1000BC)

Osiris-Set rendition of the Ennead [1]
	→		→		→
Aristotle's Egyptian version + Greek four element theory (320BC)		Aristarchus heliocentric model (270BC)		Ptolemy' elaborated Aristotle model (150AD)		Dante's universe (1300)
	→		→
Copernican model (1543)		Brahe model (1590)		Nebular hypothesis (1734)		Modern version

Modern Aristotle-based laity Christian earth model (2000)

References
1. Fontaine, Didier. (2002). “Flat Worlds: Today in Antiquity”, Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana, 3(1): 257-62.

Further reading
● James, Edwin O. (1970). Creation and Cosmology: A Historical and Comparative Inquiry (ch. 2: Middle Eastern Cosmology, pgs. 15-). BRILL.

External links
● Flat earth – Wikipedia.

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