Nut & Geb

* Who was Nut?

Nut and Geb – her beloved and brother – were personification gods of Sky and Earth. Nut is goddess of the Sky with all stars above. She is usually depicted on wall art with long blue garment with stars on it, stretching all her body above the earth. Her parents were gods Shu (god of Wind and light ) and Tefnut ( goddess of rain and moisture ) They gave birth to the most famous of creator gods – Osiris, Isis, Seth, Nephtys.

Alternative names of Nut are- Neuth, Newnet

Nut often has symbol meaning of resurrection and rebirth. She is one of the cosmological ennead (the basic nine gods of creation myth in Egypt).

Depicted usually with small water pot in hands. Nut represented also the night sky with stars and death and rebirth.

* Geb appearance and role

~ He had basic functions of god of underworld, dead, earth, vegetation, and life. Later he transfer this functions to Osiris, his son. We see him depicted on monuments wearing the signs of divine authority – the headdress of pharaoh (Khat), tied at the back of head, and Osird – divine long beard (that pharaohs wore after their decent to dead). His sacred symbol is a goose, that he wears above his head. This can be associated with the idea, that Geb gave birth to the “egg” of the world and beginning of the creation. He is also painted with green color skin (sometimes black referring to death) and white clothing (the same like later Osiris), that are symbols of rebirth, and after life, the world of the dead.

He is identified with the Greek god Cronus. 

* Legends ~

In the beginning Nut and Geb were inseparable, so there was no space between them. Ra couldn’t create anything on earth, because of the lack of space. Then Shu –god of light and wind separated both siblings forcefully, making Nut to raise high in the place of sky; her hands and legs form the four pillars of world.

II. it was believed in sun set the sun is entering the mouth of Nut, and on the next day the sun disc was born again from Nut. It traveled all the way at night trough her body. The same way Nut swallowed the stars and gave birth to them again in the night.

Nut and Geb were in the beginning of creation of the world; they were protectors, and gods not just for all living, but also for the dead souls. Nut was depicted also with water container on her head – sign that she was taking care of dead.

Water pot is one of the symbols of Nut, associated with care and bringing water, nourishment to all souls. Another symbols are: sycamore tree (symbol of protection, eternal life, power), ankh (eternal life), waz scepter – divine power, authority, spread wings – (Maat and Isis also are presented in this way) symbol of freedom, balance, truth, connection between divine and human plane.

One of the sacred symbols of Nut was a ladder (which Osiris used to climb to heaven world) called “maqet”. Her titles were “Cover of sky” “the one who protects”; She was depicted on the inner side of sarcophagus, as she had role to protect the souls of deceased. Sometimes she was represented as a caw, who carried the god Re on her back.

Appearance of Nut – She was represented sometimes a winged goddess with wide spread wings, sometimes as a cow, whose role was to swallow the sun in evenings and give birth to it again in mornings. She also is depicted wearing a crown of water container, as she provides water for the living and dead. She can be seen with ankh – symbol of eternal life- and “was” scepter (long staff with symbolic animal head at the end that has magical properties).

[ nina Lea-nura * ]

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Dendera temple, Egypt -Nut giving birth to the sun 

Thoth - Djehuti

Who was Thoth?

The so special god of science, religion, mystery, literature, hieroglyphs – is the amazing Thoth. He was also god of moon power and magic, responsible as a scribe for Underworld.

Appearance ~

We can see Thoth everywhere in a tombs and temple complexes; he has head of bird ibis, that was his sacred symbol. He has all power over science and religious rituals, as he was god of wisdom and knowledge. Another special symbol animal for Thoth was baboon – guardian of the first gate to Duat.

Other names ~ Djehuti, Tehuti, Djhuti; (Tehuti – from the ancient word –tehu –ibis)

His main role was as scribe of sun god Ra, developing science, language and hieroglyphs, taking part in the final judgment of dead. His symbols of recognition were reel pen, papyrus scroll, moon disk, palm branch, ankh and scepter. He was known with title “Lord of the Sacred Words”. The bird ibis was depicted in his name –hieroglyphs.

Legends ~

   Some legends tell the story of Horus, who lost his left eye in battle with the god of evil and darkness –Seth. His eye was torn in six pieces. The one who helped resembling the eye into whole was moon god Thoth; He returned it back to Horus, and Horus gave it to his father Osiris – in this way bringing him back to life for a while.

Family ~ Wife of Thoth was Seshat – goddess of knowledge, writing and libraries.

As keeper of sacred records, he can be associated with the role of archangel Raziel. He was also master of lunar cycle and stars movement in the sky, creator of the human calendar, inventor of mathematic, astronomy, engineering. Creator of spells and master of Magic, he was one of the most powerful – he created the “Book of the dead”.

Thoth created the greatest library with all kind of magic spells and nature science, that can observe the whole universe and even command gods themselves. In this respect this library reminds of the cosmic “Akashic records” that hold all information of the world in all levels. The function of Thoth here refers to keeper of the sacred scrolls – Metatron. 

Thoth was seen as great teacher and magician;

Astronomy  ~ as a lunar god Thoth took important part in all religious ceremonies (as Isis); the moon phases were of big importance in life of Ancient Egyptians –they measured the time also by the moon cycles. So he cant be away from mysterious connection with moon and magic.

He is depicted in many temples – Kom Ombo, Luxor, but his cult center was Hermopolis (Khnum).

Interesting story tells us a myth of creation of the world – Thoth was in the beginning in form of Ibis, who gave birth to Atum Ra from an giant egg. The sound of his song created the frog gods and snake gods.

In the Cult center of Hermopolis are kept in a scared hall the record of 42 books of Thoth, containing all mystical knowledge and priest rituals, and even believed to show instructions for achieving immortality.

Sadly in this time millions of dead ibises were found mummified for the glory of Thoth and his honor.

The moon god was also linked with the cult to Hermes – the Greek god of sacred knowledge and writing. The famous hermetic text known as “Secret of Hermes” or “The emerald tables of Thoth” – was made of green stone and contained sacred texts. They reveal many secrets of life and underworld, of main elements and their qualities.

Tree of Life ~

There was a tree, believed to contain the knowledge of the Divine plan of all universe and all souls. Function of Thoth was writing the kings name and period of his ruling on the Tree of Life.

Magical symbols ~

Crystal – red chalcedony

Color – orange

Number – eight

Scent – lavender

Animal – ibis

Flower – marigold

Tree – quince tree

Herb – thyme

Food – orange

Invocation ~ Oh Thoth, great master of judgment, sacred knowledge and wisdom, make my mind open and enlightened with your mysteries! 

Thoth and Horus encircling the pharaoh 

 Horus and Thoth in the middle 

 Thoth from the left side -near to Tree of life, from the right -Ptah, Sekhmet 

[ nina Lea-noura * ]

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Anubis - Anpu

Who was Anubis?

One of the oldest in Egyptian history gods of death –Anubis, later became assistant of Osiris in the under world.

Depiction ~

You`ll see often his image on temples with body of man and black head of Jackal or dog. Normally jackals don’t have black skin, but in this case black was symbol of death, protection and under world.

Other names: he was know in Ancient society with names Inpu, Anpu, Anup, Imiut – Lord of the Place of embalming.

Functions of Anubis ~ As Egyptians believed in the travel of soul to Duat – afterlife – the role of Anubis was one of higher importance. He was protecting the souls of their way to underworld, greeting them and was guardian of the Scales of justice. He had power over the faith of the souls and where will be their further journey, according to their earthly deeds. With help of Maat and her feather of Truth, he weight the heart of the souls on one scale against Maat`s feather on another. Bad fate expected those, whose heart was heavier than feather of Turht, as they were eaten by the ancient female demon –Ammit. Souls with pure hearts were allowed to enter the world of Osiris, or heaven of gods.

Other important role of Anubis was mummification of dead bodies. He was observing the ceremony of body mummification, together with his daughter Kebechet, took part in the ritual of “mouth opening”. He became famous as embalming of dead, after his help in wrapping the dead body of Osiris in linen.

Family ~

Anubis was mostly known as son of Osiris and Nephtys (sister of Isis, who looked very similar to her). Nephtis was goddess of darkness. Other version claims that Anubis was son of Seth (god of darkness, evil and destruction) and Nephtys. The wife of Anubis not surprisingly has the same features as him – jackal head, but body of woman, her name is Anput. Their daughter – Kebechet – is goddess of purification. His brother was Horus (son of Osiris and Isis)

Temples ~

As we can see, he was worshiped everywhere across Egypt, with special locations of cemeteries, depicted with statues of jackal. But his main city of worship was called “Cynopolis” or city of dog. Statue of Anubis was often put above the tomb, as sign of sealing it and protecting the dead.

Interesting fact: priests, who made embalming on the dead worse masks of jackal.

His symbols are: Imiut fetish, flail, ankh, crook and “was” scepter, jackal head. Many sacred ceremonies and magical spells for the passing to Underworld ae found in the “Book of dead”, where the main guide is Anubis. All tombs in Ancient Egypt were carved with prayers to Anubis. Even his mother was Nephtys, she left him and he was found and raised by Isis.

Magical symbols ~

Crystal – Obsidian

Color – black

Number – three

Scent – musk

Animal – Jackal

Flower – white poppy

Tree – yew tree

Herb – savory

Food – apple

Invocation ~ Oh Anubis, master of the underworld (Duat), weigh on your scale my soul in the day of my departure, make me purified from sin. 

Anubis protecting the pharaoh 

 Anubis in underworld with Crook 

 Anubis with food gifts for afterlife - Hatshepsut temple 

[ nina Lea-noura* ]

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Isis - Aset

   One of the most famous, sacred and discussed Goddesses in Ancient Egypt – Isis; she was personification of feminine energy, motherhood, moon, magic, fertility, love, healing. Isis took many aspects and roles of the main goddesses before her – Maat, Hathor. She was related to similar foreign deities – Persephone, Athena, Cybele, Demeter.

Other names of Isis: Hesat, Eset, Unt, Urethekau, Aset, Aust, Eenohebis; Literary her name means “Queen of the Throne” – that’s why her common headdress was throne-like stair to heaven.

Isis husband and brother was the underworld God Osiris, they had one son – Horus. She was also sister of Set, the evil king, and Nephtys.

She was know for her many roles in any part of social life, and under world, to her were contributed many rituals, and she had immense power over all social groups in Egypt.

Her mother image was celebrated by showing her in statues as nursing her son Horus, or the pharaoh itself.

Many places of worship were dedicated to Isis, her images, carved, depicted and statues were large number. Probably the most famous temples of Isis were Behbeit el-Hagar and Philae.

temple in Philae ~

Depiction: As Goddess Isis was depicted often wearing special headdress of a vulture, as the bird is laying above head of Isis, her wings hanging down on both sides. Goddess has other attributes and signs: jeweled collar, papyrus scepter, an ankh in hand, long gown.

In some images she is depicted with the spread wings (associated with power of Maat –truth and justice); Sometimes she is wearing crown, instead of bird headdress – forming an empty throne –which symbolizes the power of her husband Osiris. Other crowns of Isis are: sun disk, and horns of Ram between sun disk.

Legends and myths ~

Osiris was the elder son of Geb and Nut, so he started to rule on Egypt. His evil brother Set was permeated by envy and wanted to destroy Osiris and take his place. Set made plan and one day of celebration he sealed Osiris in a coffin and threw him in the Nile. Isis was desperate and went searching for her beloved husband. He finally found him (dead) in a column of cedar in foreign land (all symbolic associations); took his body and went back to Egypt. Set found the coffin with Osiris body and tore him to 14 pieces, that spread around the world.

With the help of her sister Nephtys (goddess of darkness), Isis succeed to find 13 of all pieces. The last piece was swallowed by a monster from Nile river. Then Isis in her despair turned to wisdom of Toth (god of moon, magic, written word) – he thought her how to make a spell for Osiris and awaken his body shortly for life. She used wax in place of the missing piece of his body.

When Osiris came to life, she was so happy that the long gone lovers hugged each other in lovers hug. After that night, Isis conceived Horus.

Osiris went to the under world, and then Isis was left alone in the prison of her brother Set. Thoth helped her again to escape from him.

The legend says Isis traveled with her seven scorpions that had names: Tefen, Befen, Petet, Mestet, Mestetef, Thetet, Maatet.

They came to a village near to papyrus swamp. Then Isis found a house of rich woman, who lived nearby and asked her for shelter. The rich woman declined to accept her, as she didn’t recognize the goddess. Isis went further –to a house of very poor peasant woman, who welcomed her in her home. The seven scorpions were goddesses that were angry on the rich woman for being so inhospitable to Isis. Tefen came back to her house and stung her son and made fire in her house. Isis heard the grief of woman, and feeling her loss restored the dead son to life; then she was hiding with her son Horus, to whom she gave birth.

Angels associated with Isis power: Gabriel, Haniel

Isis adopted the son of her sister Nephtys (with Osiris – Anubis) as he was abandoned;

Symbols of Isis: sycamore tree (divinity, protection, strength), Was” scepter – long scepter with animal head in the end possessing magical power, Moon disk – symbol of her moon and magic deity.

Isis was one of the four protector gods of the dead, she was responsible of the liver holding canopic jar. (Liver associated with Solar Plexus chakra); Isis was known also as Aset (meaning “throne”) and the Lady of the Sycamore. Her priests had magical healing powers. She played central role in rituals of spells, love and healing.

Interesting is the fact, the even in the rule of Roman empire, Isis didn’t disappear, but was adopted by Romans with the name Stella Maris (star of the seas). One of the significant names of Isis was Ankhet (from ankh) –creator and giver of life on earth and in spiritual plane.

Magical symbols of Isis:

Crystal ~ Lapis Lazuli

Color ~ indigo blue

Number ~ seven, eight

Scent ~ lotus flower

Animal ~ cat

Flower ~ rose

Tree ~ fig, sycamore

Herb ~ sagebrush

Food ~ avocado

Affirmation: Light of Isis, make transformation of all levels in the world through the great art of magic and moon! 

[ nina Lea-nura * ]

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Isis and her son Horus ~

Links: 

~ Isis article I 

~ Isis article II