Main Page | Recent changes | Edit this page | Page history

Printable version | #REDIRECT [[Thelemapedia:Disclaimers]]

Not logged in
Log in | Help
 

Anuket

From Thelemapedia

Image:Egyptiangods.jpg
The Ennead

Ra
Shu
Tefnut
Nut
Geb

Nephthys
Osiris
Isis
Set

The Ogdoad

Nu/Naunet
Amoun/Amaunet

Kuk/Kauket
Huh/Hauhet

Other Egyptian Gods

Anubis
Anuket
Apophis
Apis
Astarte
Aten
Bast
Bes
Hapi
Hathor
Horus
Harpocrates

Khepri
Khonsu
Khnum
Maat
Mentu
Neith
Nut
Ptah
Sebek
Sekhmet
Tahuti
Tawaret
Tum

In Egyptian mythology, Anuket—"the embracer"—(or Anqet or Gk: Anukis) was the goddess of the Nile River and was worshipped at Elephantine Island, alongside Khnum and Satis. Anuket’s name holds reference to the embracing and nourishing of the fields by the Nile river—some of the titles of Anukis were “Nourisher of the Fields,” “She Who Shoots Forth,” and “Giver of Life.” The two tributaries that fed flood waters to the Nile were thought to be the arms of Anuket.

This water goddess was worshipped for her fertility and nurturing nature. Sacred symbols of Anuket were arrows and the cowrie shell, which resembles a vagina. Praised for her speed and nimble grace, Anuket was often pictured as a gazelle, or as a woman with the head of a gazelle. The water goddess’ link to the gazelle was probably because the Egyptians saw these animals often around water.

When the Nile started to rise, the Festival of Anuket began. The Egyptian people threw coins, gold, jewelry, and precious gifts into the river in thanks for the life-giving water—thus the riches that the Nile had given the Egyptians were ritually returned to their source. In several parts of Egypt, fish were sacred and could not be eaten. However, during the Festival of Anuket, this taboo was lifted. Anuket was described as the “Giver of Life, and of All Power, and of All Health, and of All Joy of the Heart.” Sometimes she was pictured as a woman holding a tall papyrus scepter and wearing a crown of feathers.

References


Retrieved from "http://thelemapedia.org/index.php/Anuket"

This page has been accessed 11992 times. This page was last modified 03:18, 2 Mar 2005. Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.


[Main Page]
Main Page
Recent changes
Random page
Current events

Edit this page
Discuss this page
Page history
What links here
Related changes

Special pages
Bug reports