The goddess Nut is among the oldest goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon. She is the daughter of the god Shu, the god of air who was created with the creator gods’ first breaths. Nut is married to her brother Geb, who is the god of the earth and solid land. They had such a close relationship that Shu became jealous and enraged, and forcefully pried them apart. Shu then became the air of the world, with is daughter the sky and his son the earth. In other myths, Ra forces Shu to separate the two deities.
Nut gave birth to the stars and planets, so she is often shown as a naked woman arching over the earth, adorned by stars. Each day at sunset she swallows the sun. The sun passes through her body to be reborn in the east, starting a new day.
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In addition to the stars and planets, Nut had five children with Geb, but was unable to give birth to them. The god Ra declared that she was not allowed to give birth on any day of the year. Thoth, god of wisdom and learning, bargained with the god Khonsu and won an extra 5 days to the year. Since these days were separate from the rest of the year, Nut was able to give birth to her children. They are: Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys.
References to Nut
The references to Nut go as far back as the Pyramid texts from the Old Kingdom (2575 BC to 2150 BC.) She is mentioned throughout Ancient Egyptian history, with references up into the New Kingdom (1520 BC to 1075 BC.) She is mentioned as the goddess who takes the Pharaoh up to the sky. Many times, she is depicted as a great cow who suckles the king. She is also the goddess who shields the dead from notice and provides protection.