Nehebkau
{{#invoke:Hatnote|hatnote}} Template:Short description Template:Infobox deity Template:Ancient Egyptian religion NehebkauTemplate:Pronunciation needed (also spelled Nehebu-Kau) was the primordial snake god in ancient Egyptian mythology. Although originally considered an evil spirit, he later functions as a funerary god associated with the afterlife. As one of the forty-two assessors of Ma'at, Nehebkau was believed to judge the deceased after death and provide their souls with ka – the part of the soul that distinguished the living from the dead.
Nehebkau was ultimately considered a powerful, benevolent and protective deity. In late mythology, he is described as a companion of the sun god Ra and an attendant of the deceased King. As he is so closely associated with the sun god, his name was evoked in magical spells for protection. His festival was widely celebrated throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms.
NameEdit
Nehebkau's name – also spelled Neheb-Kau<ref name=wilkinson>Template:Cite book</ref> and Nhb-K3w<ref name=nageh>Template:Cite journal</ref> – has been translated in many ways by Egyptologists. These translations include: "that which gives Ka";<ref name=nageh/> "he who harnesses the spirits";<ref name=wilkinson/> the "overturner of doubles";<ref name=bates>Template:Cite journal</ref> "collector of souls";<ref name=nageh/> "provider of goods and foods"<ref name=nageh/> and "bestower of dignities".<ref name=shorter>Template:Cite journal</ref>
MythologyEdit
Nehebkau is the "original snake"<ref>Template:Citation</ref> of Egyptian mythology, and was believed to be both an ancient and eternal god.<ref name="nageh" /> Although he is occasionally represented as a son of Serket, Renenutet or Geb, he is sometimes believed to have simply "emerged from the earth".<ref name="nageh" /> He was believed to have lived in the Great Temple of Heliopolis, which was also the centre of worship for Re and Atum.<ref name="nageh" />
Nehebkau is a considerably powerful deity, which contemporary Egyptologist and author Richard Wilkinson credits to his demonic origins and snake-like qualities.<ref name=wilkinson/> After he swallows seven cobras in a myth, Nehebkau cannot be harmed by any magic, fire or water.<ref name=wilkinson/> In an early myth, he demonstrates an ability to breathe fire.<ref name=klotz>Template:Cite book</ref> Nehebkau first appears in the Pyramid Texts,<ref name=wilkinson/> and he is described as an evil, long and winding serpent who devoured human souls in the afterlife.<ref name=bates/> In this context, he is believed to be an enemy of the sun god,<ref name=shorter/> and Re is said to have built his sun boats to be able to be pushed by the wind in order to escape Nehebkau's many coils.<ref name=nageh/>
Nehebkau was later honoured<ref name=bates/> among other dangerous gods as one of the 42 judges in the Court of Maat,<ref name=shorter/> judging the innocence of deceased souls.<ref name=wilkinson/> Additionally, orientalist Professor Wilhelm Max Muller describes Nehebkau to have personally guarded the gates of the underworld.<ref name=bates/>
As a snake god, Nehebkau was also considered a dangerous, furious and fearsome demon.<ref name=klotz/>
In the Coffin Texts, however, the ancient god Atum places his fingernail against a nerve in Nehebkau's spine, calming his chaotic and fearsome nature.<ref name=nageh/>
Throughout and following the Coffin Texts, Nehebkau is considered a benevolent and helpful deity who may be befriended by gods and men and enlisted into service.<ref name=shorter/> After this transformation, he appears as a servant and partner to the sun god Re,<ref name=nageh/> and is said to provide food and assistance to the deceased King in the afterlife.<ref name=pinch>Template:Cite book</ref> In this position, he became increasingly powerful and important, eventually assuming Re's role as a King of The Sky.<ref name=nageh/>
It is in this peaceful form that he mostly appears in Egyptian mythologies,<ref name=shorter/> and he was often evoked as a protective god in religious rituals, amulets and spells.<ref name=shorter/>
RolesEdit
Funerary GodEdit
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.<ref name="shorter" /> As well as guarding the underworld, he was occasionally represented as a personal guard of Osiris.<ref name="bane">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>
When a deceased spirit enters the afterlife in Ancient Egyptian mythology, the most important stage is their trial in the Court of Maat,<ref name=wilkinson/> also known as the Law-Court of Osiris<ref name=wilkinson/> or the Dead Court.<ref name=shorter/> This tribunal consisted of forty-two fearsome deities who represented all possible types of evil,<ref name=wilkinson/> and to whom the deceased had to declare their innocence.<ref name=wilkinson/>
Nehebkau had a specific role in examining the individual's purity and sinlessness, and he was specifically responsible for protecting the neck and throat of the deceased.<ref name=nageh/>
Once the deceased is justified and found innocent by the Court, Nehebkau is believed to have absolved the soul of sin<ref name=nageh/> and provided the deceased with food and drink.<ref name=nageh/> He additionally nourishes the deceased with ka – the 'life force' of the individual - allowing their spirit to endure in the afterlife.<ref name=massiera>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Attendant of ReEdit
After he was subdued by Atum, Nehebkau was characterised as benevolent, beautiful and peaceful.<ref name=nageh/> It is in this state that he became the servant and partner of the sun god Re. In later myths, he assists Re in his moving of the morning boat through the sky to the east<ref name=nageh/> and throughout the flight of the day.<ref name=nageh/> In the Book of The Dead, this passage is described as making all people happy, filling hearts with "joy and justice".<ref name=nageh/>
Additionally, Nehebkau is said to have served the dead Kings in this period: providing food,<ref name=pinch/> transmitting messages<ref name=pinch/> and intervening with other deities on their behalf.<ref name=wilkinson/>
Successor of ReEdit
Nehebkau eventually assumed Re's role in the afterlife:<ref name=nageh/> becoming "the King of Heaven and ruler of the Two Lands"<ref name=faulkner>Template:Cite book</ref> and bestowing crowns, ka and other desirable qualities upon the spirits of the deceased.<ref name=faulkner/> He acted as a mediator between the deceased and the gods,<ref name=nageh/> and was additionally responsible for assigning the dead their positions in the afterlife.<ref name=shorter/>
Relationship to other godsEdit
Nehebkau continuously appears alongside the sun god Re, as an assistant, companion and successor.<ref name=shorter/>
As an assessor of Maat in the Court of Osiris, he was also associated with Osiris himself: the god of the dead, fertility and the afterlife.<ref name=wilkinson/> Although not all of the 42 assessors have been identified by scholars, Wilkerson considers significant deities such as the ibis Thoth and crocodile Sobek to be included in the tribunal, and these gods can therefore be considered associates of Nehebkau.<ref name=wilkinson/>
As a snake deity, he was associated with and likely modelled after the great snake Apep — the enemy of Ra and embodiment of chaos in Egyptian myth.<ref name=lucarelli>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>
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.<ref name=nageh/>
Nehebkau was represented as a consort of the minor goddess Nehmtaway, who is also a known partner of the wisdom god Thoth.<ref name=wilkinson/> She was depicted as a goddess holding an infant, with a distinguishing headdress shaped like a sistrum - an Ancient Egyptian musical instrument.<ref name=wilkinson/>
He sometimes appeared as a consort to the scorpion goddess Serket,<ref name=shorter/> who protected the deceased King and was often evoked to cure poison and scorpion stings.<ref name=wilkinson/> Some myths also describe Nehebkau as Serket's son.<ref name=wilkinson/>
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.<ref name=massiera/> When Geb is represented as his father, Nehebkau's mother is considered to be the harvest goddess Renenutet:<ref name=wilkinson/> the 'good snake' who ensured bountiful fields, harvests and kitchens for the living<ref name=pinch/> and nourished the kas of the dead.<ref name=pinch/>
The image of Nehebkau also appeared on depictions of the thrones of feline goddess Sekhmet and Bastet.<ref name=shorter/> Wilkerson theorises that this iconography would have likely symbolised his protection over them.<ref name=wilkinson/>
IconographyEdit
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Nehebkau is most often represented in Ancient Egyptian art, carvings and statues<ref name="massiera" /> as an anthropomorphised snake: half human and half serpent.<ref name="kalloniatis">Template:Cite book</ref> 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<ref name=wilkinson/> with a long body and multiple coils.<ref name=pinch/> It is in this form that often appears on the sides of divine thrones, likely in reference to his protective qualities and powerful nature.<ref name=wilkinson/>
In later periods, he appeared in a semi-anthropromophised form, as a man with the head and tail of a serpent<ref name=pinch/> or a serpent with human arms or legs.<ref name=pinch/> In this form he appears on amulets, small statues and plaques,<ref name=wilkinson/> with his arms "raised to the mouth to proffer small vessels for food or drink," reflecting his function in the afterlife.<ref name=shorter/>
Nehebkau was occasionally shown as having two heads on two separate necks, and a third head on his tail supported by the figure of a man.<ref name=nageh/> Egyptologist Magali Massiera suggests that the two heads could be a representation of his dual good and evil nature,<ref name=massiera/> as well as his ability to simultaneously attack from two directions at once.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In one artifact from Heliopolis, he appears as an eight headed snake.<ref name=nageh/>
These detailed descriptions of his appearance were common for guardians of the underworld, and were done so Nehekbau could be recognised by the deceased.<ref name=lucarelli/> Occasionally, Nehebkau is represented with the features of other snake demons: such as multiple heads and wings.<ref name=lucarelli/>
WorshipEdit
Although there was no specific priesthood associated with Nehebkau,<ref name=massiera/> scholars including Wilkinson consider it likely that he was widely worshipped in popular religion.<ref name=wilkinson/>
This worship was likely centred at his temple in Herakleopolis,<ref name=wilkinson/> although its exact location is rarely mentioned in sources.<ref name=massiera/> 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.<ref name=nageh/>
Nehebkau was also depicted in many amulets from the New Kingdom's third intermediate period and later.<ref name=wilkinson/> These amulets were often found in burials, which indicates a belief that Nehebkau would protect the deceased through their journey to the underworld.<ref name=kalloniatis/> 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.<ref name=kalloniatis/>
His image also appears on amulets designed to protect against poison, snake-bites and scorpion venom.<ref name=bane/>
Magic and SpellsEdit
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.<ref name=lucarelli/> Many magical objects are inscribed with scenes of benevolent deities protecting humanity from snakes.<ref name=pinch/>
After becoming associated with Ra, Nehebkau's name was often evoked in magical spells to function as a magical protector.<ref name=kalloniatis/> His image was depicted as a protective deity on some ivory wands.<ref name=shorter/>
FestivalsEdit
Nehebkau's festival was recorded as occurring thirty-two times in the New Kingdom,<ref name=massiera/> but is known to have been celebrated since at least the Middle Kingdom.<ref name=wilkinson/>
The exact date of the festival is contested by scholars: it may have been celebrated nine days after the festival of ploughing the earth,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> on the first day of the first month of the winter season<ref name=wilkinson/> or alternatively during the coronation of the King during the Ramesside period.<ref name=nageh/>
Individuals would often celebrate this festival by eating hsjitt plants and cakes made of khersait plants.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> The festival is believed by researcher Sharon LaBorde to have been a feast celebrating redemption and rebirth; potentially associated with the lion goddess Sekhmet.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>