The River Nile was called in Egyptian "Iteru-aa." The water of the Nile, together with canals, wells, and lakes, was important for washing, purification, and rituals.

The ancient Egyptians worshiped several gods and goddesses associated with the Nile. The main god of the Nile was Hapy or "Hapy, father of the gods." Hapy was portrayed as a man with full breasts and belly, painted black or blue, and symbolizing the fertility that the Nile gave Egypt. Hapy was depicted holding flowers, fowl, fish, vegetables, and fruits, as well as the palm frond, the symbol of years. Sometimes the Nile god would have the lotus flower of Upper Egypt and the papyrus of Lower Egypt on his head.

Another god of the Nile was the crocodile god Sobek, who was worshiped in Esna, Kom Ombo, and Faiyum.

The ram-headed god of inundation, or flooding, and creation was Khnum who was worshiped at Aswan. He was responsible for creating humans together with their Kas, or guardian spirits.

Khnum's wife was the goddess Satet and Khnum's main cult center was at Aswan.

The Aswan cult center supervised the water and its distribution from the island of Elephantine northward and from the island of Begah at the First Cataract to the south.

The frog Heket was a goddess of water who was usually portrayed near Khnum, when Khnum fashioned the child and its Ka on the potter's wheel.