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Karnak is the modern-day name for the ancient site of the Temple of Amun at Thebes, Egypt.

Photo by: Paul Biris

Paul Biris

Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam

By: Discovery

Get to know the six ancient Egyptian gods behind the latest DC Comics film Black Adam, starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, in theaters starting October 21.

October 20, 2022

Dwayne Johnson portrays one of the most badass characters in the DC Universe in the Black Adam movie. Like the superhero Shazam, Black Adam gets his power from a pantheon of gods. However, while Shazam's abilities are imbued by the Greco-Roman gods, Black Adam gets his special potency from the gods of ancient Egypt.

The ancient Egyptians had gods for everything - over two thousand of them. There's even a goddess of cats and a god of perfume. However, out of all these fascinating figures, it's only six chosen ones who bestow their gifts on Black Adam

Let's break down each letter of the 'Shazam' acronym to meet each Egyptian god that empowers Black Adam.

Shu

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A relief depicting the god, Horus on the wall of one of the temples of Kom Ombo.The southern temple was dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility and creator of the world with Hathor and Khonsu. The northern temple was dedicated to the falcon-head (...). (Photo by Werner Forman Archive/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Photo by: Heritage Images

Heritage Images

First is Shu, who grants Adam incredible stamina. Shu was one of the most important Egyptian deities. The name "Shu" means "emptiness" as he represents the space between heaven and earth. He was responsible for the wind and represented the rays that came from his father, the sun god Ra. As a god of the wind, sailors invoked him to provide good winds to propel their boats. Shu was often depicted as a man wearing an ostrich feather, and carrying an ankh, the symbol of life.

Heru

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Thoth, Ibis-headed god leads the deceased to the Underworld, Mummy-case of Pensenhor, c900BC. Coffin of Pensenhor, 22nd Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt. At British Museum. Artist Unknown. (Photo by CM Dixon/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Photo by: Heritage Images

Heritage Images

Next is Heru, or Horus grants Adam super speed and was known as the patron of Pharaohs. To the ancient Egyptians, he appeared in the form of a falcon whose right eye was the sun and whose left eye was the moon representing healing. The famous "Eye of Horus" was used as a symbol of prosperity and protection.

Amun-Ra

Amun-Ra grants tremendous physical strength. Amun was the king of the Egyptian gods. He was represented as a human, a ram, or both. The meaning of Amun translates to "the hidden one." Because of Amun's mysteriousness, he became associated with the sun-god Ra, since both were connected with the power of life, and creation. Amun was later compared to the Greek and Roman chief gods, Zeus and Jupiter.

Zehuti

Zehuti, or Thoth, was an ibis-headed god of wisdom, intelligence, and magic. He was also the patron of literature, science, wisdom, and inventions. Thoth had a similar role to the Greek god Hermes. According to Egyptian mythology, Thoth is responsible for the 365-day calendar.

Aton

Aton, a sun god, is depicted as a solar disk emitting rays terminating in human hands, whose worship briefly was the state religion. Aten was everywhere and transcended human or animal form. An early god of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, Aton was a principal deity, representing the sun’s energy as the ultimate source of all life.

Menthu

Menthu, a war god, grants Black Adam unshakeable courage. Menthu was depicted with a falcon head as the god of war in ancient Egyptian religion. The Egyptians believed that Menthu would attack any enemies of Maat (cosmic energy balance). He was an important god for the pharaohs who fought to expand their nation and sought to become successful conquerors and give strength to those on the battlefield.

See #BlackAdam only in theaters on October 21. Get your tickets now at http://dc.com/BlackAdam.

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