Nwt (Nut) - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
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Nut, the Egyptian sky goddess, arches over the world, a figure both familiar and enigmatic. Often depicted as a woman whose star-studded body forms the celestial vault, Nut represents the boundary between the mortal realm and the infinite expanse of the cosmos. Known by various epithets, her essence remains a profound symbol of protection, rebirth, and the eternal cycle of day and night. Could this seemingly straightforward representation hide more complex understandings of ancient Egyptian cosmology?
Nut emerges from the earliest periods of Egyptian history, appearing in the Pyramid Texts dating back to the Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BCE). These mortuary texts, inscribed on the walls of royal pyramids, depict Nut swallowing the sun god Ra each evening and giving birth to him anew each morning. Imagine the era in which those texts were made, a period of nascent empire and rigid social hierarchies; where these myths solidified, reflecting perhaps, anxieties about darkness and chaos controlled only by the divine order.
Over centuries, Nut's mythology entwined with those of other deities like Geb (the earth god and her brother/husband) and Shu (the air god who separates them). The tale of her forced separation from Geb, ensuring the existence of the terrestrial world, has been immortalized in numerous artistic and literary works. But what if, in separating these deities, ancient Egyptians encoded a deeper understanding of the forces shaping their world – a world brimming with both chaos and harmony? Her image appeared on sarcophagi to protect the dead. Her continuing depiction and reinterpretation through various dynasties shows the significant impact she had in the beliefs of the Egyptians. What secret knowledge could these beliefs and images hold that we haven’t understood yet?
Nut continues to fascinate, appearing in contemporary art, literature, and neo-pagan beliefs. Her symbolism resonates with modern concepts of the interconnectedness of all things, the cyclical nature of life, and the protective embrace of the cosmos. She stands as a reminder of the enduring human fascination with the heavens. A god that embodies a cosmic mother that not only held the power to give each sunrise but the power to safeguard souls as well. But there is still so much more to understand of what her real significance to the people of ancient Egypt was. So, delving once more into the ancient texts and images to unveil all her secrets seems like the next logical step.