Nehebkau

Nehebkau's name – also spelled Neheb-Kau and Nhb-K3w – has been translated in many ways by Egyptologists. These translations include: "that which gives Ka"; "collector of souls"; == Mythology ==

to Min. Based on depictions in various hypocephali.Nehebkau is the "original snake" of Egyptian mythology, and was believed to be both an ancient and eternal god. Nehebkau first appears in the Pyramid Texts, In this position, he became increasingly powerful and important, eventually assuming Re's role as a King of The Sky. It is in this peaceful form that he mostly appears in Egyptian mythologies, and he was often evoked as a protective god in religious rituals, amulets and spells. == Roles ==

Funerary God As a funerary god and one of the forty-two judges in the Court of Maat, Nehebkau played a significant role in the Ancient Egyptian perception of the afterlife. When a deceased spirit enters the afterlife in Ancient Egyptian mythology, the most important stage is their trial in the Court of Maat, Attendant of Re After he was subdued by Atum, Nehebkau was characterised as benevolent, beautiful and peaceful. and bestowing crowns, ka and other desirable qualities upon the spirits of the deceased. He acted as a mediator between the deceased and the gods, and was additionally responsible for assigning the dead their positions in the afterlife. == Relationship to other gods ==

and produced in the Third Intermediate Period. This representation has a human body and serpent head and tail. The knees are flexed and the hands are at the mouth. Nehebkau continuously appears alongside the sun god Re, as an assistant, companion and successor. Additionally, as a visiting god of Heliopolis and an ancient deity, Nehebkau was often associated with Atum: the creator god who calms his chaotic nature. Nehebkau was represented as a consort of the minor goddess Nehmtaway, who is also a known partner of the wisdom god Thoth. She was depicted as a goddess holding an infant, with a distinguishing headdress shaped like a sistrum - an Ancient Egyptian musical instrument. He sometimes appeared as a consort to the scorpion goddess Serket, who protected the deceased King and was often evoked to cure poison and scorpion stings. Some myths also describe Nehebkau as Serket's son. Alternatively, he was believed to be the son of the earth god Geb. This is common with Egyptian snake gods and associated with the imagery of snakes crawling across the earth. When Geb is represented as his father, Nehebkau's mother is considered to be the harvest goddess Renenutet: the 'good snake' who ensured bountiful fields, harvests and kitchens for the living and nourished the kas of the dead. The image of Nehebkau also appeared on depictions of the thrones of feline goddess Sekhmet and Bastet. Wilkerson theorises that this iconography would have likely symbolised his protection over them. == Iconography ==

housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He appears with a human body and snake head and tail, holding a Wedjat eye as a symbol of protection. Nehebkau is most often represented in Ancient Egyptian art, carvings and statues He is also commonly depicted as a falcon headed snake with human arms and legs and an erect penis, depicted as such in multiple hypocephali. However, early texts and mythologies usually represented Nehebkau as a full serpent In one artifact from Heliopolis, he appears as an eight headed snake. These detailed descriptions of his appearance were common for guardians of the underworld, and were done so Nehekbau could be recognised by the deceased. Occasionally, Nehebkau is represented with the features of other snake demons: such as multiple heads and wings. == Worship ==

Although there was no specific priesthood associated with Nehebkau, scholars including Wilkinson consider it likely that he was widely worshipped in popular religion. This worship was likely centred at his temple in Herakleopolis, although its exact location is rarely mentioned in sources. Nehebkau was also often associated with the Great Temple of Heliopolis, where he may have had a funerary chapel, as well as a statue that dates back to the reign of King Ramses II. Nehebkau was also depicted in many amulets from the New Kingdom's third intermediate period and later. These amulets were often found in burials, which indicates a belief that Nehebkau would protect the deceased through their journey to the underworld. Kalloniatis also associates these amulets with Nehebkau's ability to sustain ka in spirits and nourish the deceased with food and drink in the afterlife. His image also appears on amulets designed to protect against poison, snake-bites and scorpion venom. Magic and Spells Anti-snake spells are incredibly common in Egyptian texts, appearing in the Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead, alongside other spells designed to repel dangerous animals. Many magical objects are inscribed with scenes of benevolent deities protecting humanity from snakes. After becoming associated with Ra, Nehebkau's name was often evoked in magical spells to function as a magical protector. His image was depicted as a protective deity on some ivory wands. == Festivals ==

Nehebkau's festival was recorded as occurring thirty-two times in the New Kingdom, on the first day of the first month of the winter season The festival is believed by researcher Sharon LaBorde to have been a feast celebrating redemption and rebirth; potentially associated with the lion goddess Sekhmet. == References ==