Nephthys : Goddess of the Dead

Nephthys

Introduction

Nephthys is believed to have been created as a replacement for Isis, who was supposed to be the wife of Set. Her only function in the myth of Osiris is to bewail with the god. The meaning of her name suggests that she is a mere embodiment of Osiris’s residence, while Isis is the king.

She was one of the earliest known goddesses of Egypt and was a part of the Ennead of Heliopolis, which was a tribunal of nine powerful individuals. Her cult centers were located in various areas, such as Het-sekem, Senu, Per-met, Re-nefert, and Heliopolis. Contrary to popular belief, she was not widely worshipped in Egypt.

Physical Traits

Nephthys was typically depicted as a woman with the sign of her name on top of her head, similar to Isis. She was also depicted as a kite, which was a type of bird of prey. The two goddesses, who were known as Isis and Nephthys, were frequently seen in tombs as they were both present at the mummification of Osiris. They were depicted as identical, with the symbols on their heads being the same. During her affair with Osiris, she reportedly tricked him into thinking that she was Isis.

Family

She was the youngest child of Geb and Nut. Her siblings, which included Set, Osiris, Isis, and Horus the Elder, were all found in Greek sources. Non-Greek sources didn’t include Horus among Geb and Nut’s offspring.

Like Isis and Osiris, Set and Nephthys were already married before they were born. However, their relationship didn’t work out. In later myths, it was revealed that Nephthys was having an affair with Osiris, and she gave birth to his child, Anubis. She then left him in the wilderness, and he was eventually rescued by Isis.

Other names

A Greek form of an epithet, which is Nebet-hut, is known as Nephthys. It’s not clear how this goddess came to be, but the translation of her name is typically Lady of the Temple or Lady of the House. The title suggests that she is associated with a certain aspect of the temple ritual in Egypt. She and Isis were also known to represent the temple’s pylon or tower gateway, which featured the flagstaff. The entrance way symbolized the akhet or horizon.

Powers and Abilities

During funeral services, she was often invoked as a symbol of death and decay. People who attend Egyptian funerals are referred to as Hawks of Nephthys. She is one of the four goddesses that were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, along with Neith, Selket, and Isis. The images of these goddesses were found on the canopic vessels of the king. Scholars believe that she is a mirror image of Isis, and she has the same magical abilities. She is also believed to have helped the souls of the dead, similar to what Qebhet did.

She was regarded as a helpful and caring individual who helped those who were in the afterlife. She was also said to have brought news of the dead back to their relatives on Earth, and she would often ask for protection. During this period, people prayed for her as she struggled with Set to defend the Sun God’s boat, the Boat of Ra.

Modern Day Influence

Similar to being not being highly regarded in myth, she has been overshadowed by her more prominent peers in modern culture. Due to her minor role in Egyptian mythology, only a few references to her have been made in modern works. In games such as Age of Mythology and Empires: Mythology, players could have their own civilization worship Nephthys. She was a secondary deity, and she only appeared alongside Set or Isis.