Nephthys
![[Image: Nephthys]](gods/nephthys.gif)
A protective goddess, daughter of Geb and Nut and consort of her brother Seth she belonged to the Heliopolitan Ennead. Her son was Anubis.Nephthys and her sister Isis accompanied Osiris on his journey to the underworld, Nephthys leading him into the West - descending into the realm of the dead - and her sister escorting him into the East- ascending to the place of rebirth, Lightland [1].
Nephthys was generally a counterpart of Isis. While Osiris and Isis proclaim the coming of Unas to Lower Egypt, Nephthys and Seth do so in Upper Egypt:
Seth, Nephthys, go proclaim to Upper Egypt's godsTogether with Isis, and often joined by Selket and Neith, she mourned the dead, as she had mourned her dead brother Osiris, and protected the sarcophagus of the mummy and the canopic jars containing the inner organs of the deceased.
And their spirits:
"This Unas comes, a spirit indestructible,
If he wishes you to die, you will die,
If he wishes you to live, you will live!"Pyramid Texts
M. Lichtheim Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.1 p.30
Protective of the dead, Nephthys and her sister also assisted mothers giving birth:
Then said the majesty of Re, lord of Sakhbu, to Isis, Nephthys, Meskbenet, Heket, and Khnum: "Please go, deliver Ruddedet of the three children who are in her womb, who will assume this beneficent office in this whole land.standing at either side of the birthmotherWestcar papyrus
M. Lichtheim Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.1 p.220
Isis placed herself before her, Nephthys behind her,In real life, mummies which were transported to the cemetery were accompanied by two mourning women standing in for Isis and Nephthys, one preceding, the other following the deceased.Westcar papyrus
M. Lichtheim Ancient Egyptian Literature, Vol.1 p.221
Her name Nebethut (nb.t Hwt), Nephthys to the Greeks, means "Lady of the House" or "Lady of the Temple". Her role as a protective deity led the Egyptians to call one of the pylons at the entrance of a temple Nephthys and the other Isis.
