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Ptah was, according to the Egyptian texts,
the Father of the fathers of all neteroo (gods) ... Who bore himself and was not borne.
Ptah manifested himself in many ways and under many aspects, and, as such, the neteroo (gods) have their forms in Ptah and are nothing but Ptah.
The neteroo (gods) were the personification of the energies/powers/forces that, through their actions and interactions, created, maintained, and continue to maintain the universe. As such, there are numerous (several thousands) neteroo (gods) in the universe.
In order to simplify and convey the scientific and philosophical abstracts of the neteroo (gods), some fixed representations were invented. As a result, the figures of Ptah, Osiris, Amen, Horus, Ma-at, Mut, etc., became the signs of such attributes/functions/ forces/energies.
These figures were intended merely to fix the attention or represent abstract idea(s), and were not intended to be looked upon as real personages. Therefore, there was no prescribed form for a neter/netert, and the Egyptians believed that a neter/netert could take on any shape that a person desired.
The worshipping of a netert (goddess) like Isis was actually worshipping the mother principle. Those worshipping Osiris were worshipping the resurrection principle, . . .etc. Again Egypt understood that these principles and forces seen in the Cosmos were manifestations of the One True God. In reality such "worship" was the worship of the One True God in His many manifestations.
The Egyptians gave a neter/netert (god/goddess) different names. This should not confuse us when we deal with philosophical/scientific abstracts, which were called neteroo (gods). Names in ancient Egypt were not just labels. A name was like a short resume or synopsis of the principle.
As an example, let us review the neter Ra, who personifies the solar principle responsible for all creation. This solar prinaiple has different roles, in the universe. Let us review three such roles which were mentioned in the Unas Funerary (Pyramid) Texts:
An Egyptian temple was the shrine for the neter (god), who represented some specific aspects of the One God. It was a model of the universe seen from the point of view of the neter (god), to which it was consecrated. Only the priesthood had access to the inner sanctuaries, where the sacred rites and ceremonies were performed. In some instances, only the King himself, or his authorized substitute, had permission to enter.
The energies represented by the various neteroo (gods) may function together in groups, or as individuals. The interaction between the neteroo (gods), which are usually expressed in myth, are to be understood as the dramatization of cosmic and natural laws. The union of certain pairs of complementary energies/attributes (masculine and feminine forms) resulted in a third energy/attribute.
There were numerous trinities in ancient Egypt. Some examples are:
The concept of neteroo (gods), as the personifications of universal principles, functions and attributes of the one great and supreme God, was later acknowledged by others as angels.
Just like the Egyptianµs neteroo (gods), each angel was given a name and specific function(s).
Edwin C. Steinbrecher, an astrologer, metaphysician, and author of The Inner Guide Meditation, says that angels are
"living energies that contain ideas and information, specific patterns of instinctual behavior and thought. They are the energies which somehow attach themselves, without our conscious awareness, to everything we meet in the world we call real. [They] are the lift energies that pour out of each of us unceasingly night and day... influencing everyone in our lives and causing us to be influenced in return."
And just as each neter (god) of Egypt may have several forms and shapes, so is the case for each angel. The spheres of angels in Christianity are comparable with ancient Egypt's hierarchy of neteroo (gods/goddesses). Both these spheres or hierarchies describe the realms to which our senses have no access, but which are necessary within the universal scheme of things.
In Egyptian symbolism, the precise role of the neteroo (gods) was revealed in many ways: by dress, headdress, crowns, feathers, animal, plant, color, position, size, gesture, sacred object, or type of symbolic equipment (e.g., flail, scepter, staff, ankh). Only those initiated into symbolic language - can contemplate a wealth of physical, physiological, psychological and spiritual data, in all the symbols. Compare the same concept to a modern-day caricature in the newspaper.
Crowns and ceremonial headdress of the neteroo (gods, goddesses) were never found, because they were symbols and not real.
The hieroglyph for a neter is a human figure dressed in the shepherd's long robe, and seated in the classic shepherd's pose as he tends his flock. Asar/Heru (Osiris/ Horus) was portrayed as the Perfect Shepherd (the good Shepherd).
Neteroo (gods) were always shown in action because God never sleep and is always acting in this continous Creation that is ever expanding and growing.