Nepthys, Goddess of Dusk
Submitted by: swampy
"Hail Nephthys
The Moon and the Sun are One,
Lady in the bright crescent and the dark circle
Mistress of the Night concealed by the light....."
Nephthys (also called Nebt Het, Nebet Het, Nebthet and Neb-hut - Nephthys is actually what the Greeks called Her) is the youngest child of Geb and Nut. She is the sister and wife of Set, and sister of Isis and Osiris; and also the mother (variantly by Set or by Osiris) of Anubis. She abandoned Set when He killed Osiris, and assisted Isis in the care of Her son Horus and the resurrection of Osiris. She is also known as Goddess of Dusk and Mistress of the Night.
Nephthys is, along with Her sister Isis, considered to be the special protectress of the dead, and She is the guardian of Hapi, the protector of the lungs of the deceased. Nephthys is usually shown in human form wearing a crown and having wings, but sometimes appears as a mourning kite (a type of falcon/hawk) guarding the funeral bier of Osiris. The hieroglyph of Her name is a house, as She is known as "Mistress of the House".
Nephthys is said in Old Kingdom funerary literature as riding the "night boat" of the Underworld. Her job in the Underworld is meeting the deceased king's spirit and accompanying him into "Lightland." Her hair is metaphorically compared to the strips of cloth which shroud the bodies of the dead. She was associated with funerary rituals throughout ancient Egyptian history and therefore is venerated not as Death itself, but as the companion who gives guidance to the newly deceased, and as a Lady With Wings who comforts the deceased's living relatives. Her son, the Jackal headed God Anubis, is also connected with death and funerals since He is considered to be a primordial form of the lord of the dead.
Nephthys has connections with life as well as death -- She stands at the head of the birth-bed to comfort and assist the mother giving birth (while her sister, Isis, stood at the foot to midwife the child). She is also known as "Lady of the Books" and is credited with the writings of many of the Egyptian hymns.
Nephthys is associated with hawks, falcons and other birds of prey. Her special times are twilight and eclipses since She is said to rule in moments of 'unnatural' twilight. Her other associations are meliot clover, dusk, eclipses, houses, childbirth, and the star Sirius. Nephthys is a good choice to ask for help in divination and enjoys dance offerings.
Nephthys birthday is on July 31st and is celebrated as the 5th Epagomenal Day.