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[[File:Nut-Vessels Coffin 10.png|400px|thumb|Nut holding two vessels on the inside of a Middle Kingdom coffin lid.]] | [[File:Nut-Vessels Coffin 10.png|400px|thumb|Nut holding two vessels on the inside of a Middle Kingdom coffin lid.]] | ||
'''Nut''' (Ancient Egyptian: ''Nwt'', Coptic: Ⲛⲉ) is the goddess of the sky, stars, cosmos, mothers, astronomy, and the universe in the ancient [[Egyptian religion]]. She was seen as a star-covered nude woman arching over the [[Earth]], or as a cow. She was depicted wearing the water-pot sign (''nw'') that identifies her. Nut is comparable to the Mesopotamian goddess Ninhursag (the "lady of heaven") also sharing her role as mother of the gods. | '''Nut''' (Ancient Egyptian: ''Nwt'', Coptic: Ⲛⲉ) is the goddess of the sky, stars, cosmos, mothers, astronomy, and the universe in the ancient [[Egyptian religion]]. She was seen as a star-covered nude woman arching over the [[Earth]], or as a cow. She was depicted wearing the water-pot sign (''nw'') that identifies her. Nut is comparable to the Mesopotamian goddess Ninhursag (the "lady of [[heaven]]") also sharing her role as mother of the gods. | ||
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Nut was the goddess of the sky and all heavenly bodies, a symbol of protecting the dead when they enter the afterlife. According to the Egyptians, during the day, the [[Egyptian decans]] would make their way across her body. Then, at dusk, they would be swallowed, pass through her belly during the night, and be reborn at dawn. She was often painted on the inside lid of the sarcophagus, protecting the deceased. The vaults of tombs were often painted dark blue with many stars as a representation of Nut. | Nut was the goddess of the sky and all heavenly bodies, a symbol of protecting the dead when they enter the afterlife. According to the Egyptians, during the day, the [[Egyptian decans]] would make their way across her body. Then, at dusk, they would be swallowed, pass through her belly during the night, and be reborn at dawn. She was often painted on the inside lid of the sarcophagus, protecting the deceased. The vaults of tombs were often painted dark blue with many stars as a representation of Nut. | ||
Nut is a daughter of Shu and Tefnut. Her brother and husband is [[Geb]]. She had four children – Osiris, [[Set]], [[Isis]], and [[Nephthys]] – to which is added [[Horus]] in a Graeco-Egyptian version of the myth of Nut and Geb. She is considered one of the oldest deities among the Egyptian pantheon, with her origin being found on the creation story of Heliopolis. She was originally the goddess of the nighttime sky, but eventually became referred to as simply the sky goddess. Her headdress was the hieroglyph of part of her name, a pot, which may also symbolize the uterus. Mostly depicted in nude human form, Nut was also sometimes depicted in the form of a cow whose great body formed the sky and | Nut is a daughter of Shu and Tefnut. Her brother and husband is [[Geb]]. She had four children – Osiris, [[Set]], [[Isis]], and [[Nephthys]] – to which is added [[Horus]] in a Graeco-Egyptian version of the myth of Nut and Geb. She is considered one of the oldest deities among the Egyptian pantheon, with her origin being found on the creation story of Heliopolis. She was originally the goddess of the nighttime sky, but eventually became referred to as simply the sky goddess. Her headdress was the hieroglyph of part of her name, a pot, which may also symbolize the uterus. Mostly depicted in nude human form, Nut was also sometimes depicted in the form of a cow whose great body formed the sky and [[heaven]]s, a sycamore tree, or as a giant sow, suckling many piglets (representing the stars). | ||
A sacred symbol of Nut was the ladder used by [[Osiris]] to enter her heavenly skies. This ladder-symbol was called maqet and was placed in tombs to protect the deceased, and to invoke the aid of the deity of the dead. Nut and her brother, Geb, may be considered enigmas in the world of mythology. In direct contrast to most other mythologies which usually develop a sky father associated with an Earth mother (or Mother Nature), she personified the sky and he the [[Earth]]. | A sacred symbol of Nut was the ladder used by [[Osiris]] to enter her heavenly skies. This ladder-symbol was called maqet and was placed in tombs to protect the deceased, and to invoke the aid of the deity of the dead. Nut and her brother, Geb, may be considered enigmas in the world of mythology. In direct contrast to most other mythologies which usually develop a sky father associated with an Earth mother (or Mother Nature), she personified the sky and he the [[Earth]]. | ||