Creation: Chaos vs. The Primordial Waters
Greek mythology begins with Chaos — a void from which Gaia, Tartarus, and the primordials emerged. Egyptian mythology begins with Nun — an infinite dark ocean from which the creator god (Ra, Atum, or Ptah, depending on the tradition) emerged.
Both start with formlessness becoming form, but the Egyptian creation is more ordered — a single creator god brings everything into being, while the Greek version is more violent and chaotic.
The Gods
Greek gods look and act human — they argue, cheat, fight, and love with human emotions cranked to eleven. Egyptian gods are often depicted with animal heads and carry themselves with more cosmic dignity. Zeus throws lightning when angry; Ra IS the sun.
Key parallels: Zeus ↔ Ra/Amun (sky king), Hades ↔ Osiris (death/underworld), Hermes ↔ Thoth (messenger/wisdom), Athena ↔ Ma'at (order/justice), Aphrodite ↔ Hathor (love/beauty).
The Afterlife
This is the biggest difference. For the Greeks, the afterlife was a gray, joyless place (the Asphodel Meadows) where most souls went regardless of how they lived. Only the very best reached Elysium; only the very worst went to Tartarus.
For the Egyptians, the afterlife was the ultimate goal. The heart was weighed against Ma'at's feather of truth. If you lived justly, you entered a paradise that mirrored the best of earthly life. This made Egyptian religion fundamentally more moral in its framework.
Heroes
Greek mythology is packed with mortal heroes — Achilles, Odysseus, Perseus, Heracles — who achieve glory through personal combat and cunning. Egyptian mythology has fewer mortal heroes; the pharaoh himself was considered semi-divine, and the stories focus more on cosmic struggles between gods.
Cultural Role
Greek myths were stories told by poets and playwrights. They were entertainment as much as religion. Egyptian myths were embedded in religious practice — temple rituals, funeral rites, and daily prayers. The stakes felt higher because the myths were literally about maintaining cosmic order (Ma'at) against chaos (Isfet).