Nephthys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nephthys |
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Nephthys was normally portrayed as a young woman, wearing a headdress in the shape of a house and basket
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| Major cult center | None specifically, Diospolis Parva |
| Symbol | The sacred temple enclosure |
| Personal information | |
| Consort | Set, Osiris, Horus, (in some myths) Anubis (in Nubia) |
| Offspring | Anubis, Wepwawet, Horus (in some myths) |
| Parents | Geb and Nut |
| Siblings | Isis, Osiris, Haroeris, and Set |
Nephthys, also called Nebet-Het in ancient Egyptian, was an important goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. She was the daughter of the sky goddess Nut and the earth god Geb.
Nephthys was often seen with her sister Isis. They worked together in ancient Egyptian funerary rites, which were special ceremonies for the dead. Both goddesses helped protect mummies and the god Osiris. Nephthys was also the sister and wife of the god Set.
People believed Nephthys was connected to many things. These included mourning (being sad for someone who died), the night, helping others (especially in temples), childbirth, and protecting the dead. She was also linked to magic, health, embalming (preparing bodies for burial), and even beer!
Contents
What Nephthys Did
Nephthys was the sister of Isis and a companion to the powerful god Set. She was a protective goddess, just like Isis. While Isis represented birth and new life, Nephthys symbolized the experience of death.
In some ancient Egyptian texts, Nephthys was called the "Helpful Goddess" or the "Excellent Goddess." These writings show her as a goddess who offered divine help and protection.
Family and Roles
Nephthys is sometimes believed to be the mother of the god Anubis (Inpu), who was linked to mummification. However, other myths say Anubis was the son of Bastet or Isis. In the region of Nubia, Nephthys was even thought to be Anubis's wife.
Although usually seen as Horus's aunt, Nephthys sometimes appears as his mother. She is also sometimes called a wife of Horus. Nephthys was often shown as the main "nursing mother" of the pharaoh, who was seen as the living god Horus. This meant she was also considered the nurse of the actual pharaoh ruling Egypt.
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Sometimes, Nephthys was shown as a fierce goddess. She was believed to be able to burn the pharaoh's enemies with her fiery breath.
Symbols of Nephthys
When helping with funerals, Nephthys was often shown as a kite bird. She could also appear as a woman with falcon wings. These wings were usually spread out, showing her role as a protector.
Her crown was made of hieroglyphs that spelled her name. These symbols included a sign for a sacred temple enclosure and another sign meaning "mistress" or "lady" placed on top.
Nephthys was seen as a very important force for helping people move from life to the afterlife. The ancient Egyptians believed that the pharaoh became strong for his journey to the afterlife with the help of Isis and Nephthys. This same power could help all dead people. They were advised to see Nephthys as a necessary guide.
According to the Pyramid Texts, Nephthys and Isis were so powerful that demons were afraid of them. Their magic spells were also needed to travel through the different levels of the Duat, which was the underworld.
Nephthys in Myths
Nephthys helped Isis gather and mourn the body of Osiris after he was murdered by his jealous brother, Set. Nephthys also acted as a nursemaid and guardian for the baby Horus. The Pyramid Texts call Isis the "birth-mother" and Nephthys the "nursing-mother" of Horus.
Nephthys was known as one of the four "Great Chiefs" who ruled in the important Osirian cult center of Busiris in the Delta region. She also held an honored position in the holy city of Abydos.
Like Isis, Neith, and Serqet, Nephthys was a goddess who protected the canopic jars. These jars held the organs of the dead after embalming. Nephthys specifically protected the canopic jar of Hapi, one of the sons of Horus, who guarded the embalmed lungs. Because of this, she was called "Nephthys of the Bed of Life." This name showed her role in helping bodies be reborn.
In the city of Memphis, Nephthys was honored with the title "Queen of the Embalmer's Shop." There, she was linked with the jackal-headed god Anubis as a protector of embalmers.
Nephthys could also appear as one of the goddesses who helped with childbirth. An ancient Egyptian story found in the Papyrus Westcar tells how Isis, Nephthys, Meskhenet, and Heqet pretended to be traveling dancers. They helped the wife of a priest of Amun-Re give birth to sons who would become famous.
Nephthys was known for her healing skills. She was seen as a direct partner to Isis, who was famous for her "words of power" (magic spells). Many faience amulets were made in her image. She also appears in many magical papyri, which were ancient texts used to ask for her help. People wanted to use her kind and helpful qualities to aid mortals.
Goddess of Nome VII
Nephthys was seen as the special protector of the Bennu bird. This role might have come from her early connection to Heliopolis, a city famous for its "House of the Bennu" temple. In this role, Nephthys was called "Nephthys-Kheresket."
Many temple texts from places like Edfu, Dendera, and Philae show that Nephthys was later seen as the most important goddess of Upper Egyptian Nome VII. This area also had a shrine for the Bennu bird. Nephthys was also the goddess of the "Mansion of the Sistrum" in Hwt-Sekhem, which was the main city of Nome VII. There, she was the main protector of a local relic of Osiris, the Bennu Bird, and the god Neferhotep.
Nephthys was usually worshipped in ancient Egypt as part of a group of temple deities. Her statues could be found with other gods in temples across Egypt. These included temples at Kharga, Kellis, Koptos, Thebes, and Abydos. Most often, Nephthys was part of a group of three gods (a triad) with Osiris and Isis, or Isis and Horus. She could also be part of a group of four deities.
Images for kids
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A mummy rests on a sacred boat guarded by Anubis. Above, figures of Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys. Sandstone stela.
See also
In Spanish: Neftis para niños
