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For the neo-Platonist work by Plotinus, see Enneads.

For the Latin epic, see Aeneid.

'The Ennead' three registers: vertical text in hieroglyphs

The Ennead (Greek Ἐννεάς, meaning "the nine") consists of a grouping of nine deities, most often appearing in the context of Egyptian mythology. As a three of threes, the number nine became associated with great carnal power, and ancient peoples considered groupings of nine Gods very important.

The Ancient Egyptians set up multiple Enneads. Pyramid Texts mention the Great Ennead, the Lesser Ennead, the Dual Ennead, plural Enneads, and even the Seven Enneads. Some pharaohs set up Enneads that incorporated themselves; most notably, Seti I in his temple at Redesiyah worshipped the Ennead that combined six important deities with three deified forms of himself.

Interestingly, the Egyptian term pesedjet, usually translated as Ennead, does not necessarily mean a group of nine. Some pesedjets had a varying number of gods throughout Egyptian history, and may have contained as few as seven, and as many as ten gods.

The most important of the Egyptian Enneads, the so-called Great Ennead (also called the Heliopolis Ennead) consisted of Atum, the first god, his children Shu and Tefnut, and their descendants Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.

The origins of this grouping remain uncertain. Theories up until mid-20th century postulated that the Heliopolis priests set it up in order to place their local sun-god Ra above all other deities such as Osiris; however many modern Egyptologists now doubt this. But it appears almost certain that the Great Ennead first appeared during the decline of Ra's cult during the 6th dynasty, and after its introduction the cult soon saw a great resurgence.

From the primeval waters represented by Nun, a mound appeared. Upon the mound sat Atum who had begotten himself. Bored and alone, he masturbated — some think the myth actually states he committed autofellatio —- or (according to other stories) spat, producing air (Shu), and moisture (Tefnut). Shu and Tefnut in turn gave birth to the earth (Geb) and the sky (Nut), who initially engaged in continuous copulation. Shu separated them, lifting Nut into her place in the sky. Nut and Geb produced children: Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nepthys.

• Ptah
• Ogdoad
• Amun