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Elizabeth A.Sackler Center for Feminist Art

Nut

Mythic, worshipped in ancient Egypt, circa 315–30 B.C.E.

Nut (Nuit) was the Egyptian sky goddess, born of Shu, god of air, and Tefnut, goddess of water and fertility. With her brother and husband Geb, the earth, she bore Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. Nut is usually depicted with stars covering her body, particularly her hands and feet, which were seen as the four cardinal points. She was the granddaughter of the great sun god Ra, but also an important mother figure to him in many of the legends.

Nut Depicted as a Cow. From E. A. Wallis Budge, The Gods of the Egyptians (Chicago: Open Court, 1904)

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