Nekhbet, Goddess of Upper Egypt

[LisaT4P]

So, the other day I'm pouring creamer into my coffee. :needcoffe I don't know why I always watch the way it swirls around, but I do. Sometimes there are pictures or images in the swirls, so I guess I think of it sort of like reading tea leaves.:crystalba I don't take it too seriously, but occasionally it will surprise me. On this morning it did.

What I saw in the swirling coffee:caffeine: was an image of a falcon's head that turned into a vulture's head.

Gareth's patron deity is Horus - the Falcon/Hawk god of Egypt. So, I knew why the falcon head was in my coffee. :javaswim: When it turned into a vulture I wasn't quite sure what that meant. At first I was thinking about totem animals, we've been seeing many hawks and vultures this summer. But then I thought, "Well, there must be a god or goddess associated with the vulture!" so I went and looked it up.

This is the most informative page on Nekhbet that I could find, great information here:
http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/nekhbet.html

Does anyone else know anything about her? I feel like there just aren't many stories about her. She is mainly associated with upper Egypt and they don't give you much more than that.
Any information is helpful! Thanks!

Lisa :)

[LisaT4P]

Here is a bit of information about the vulture, taken from Animal Speak by Ted Andrews.

The vulture is believed to hold the mystical secret of levitation because of it's ability to soar for long periods of time without flapping it's wings.

According to Greek tradition, the vulture was believed to be descended from the Griffon. As such, it is seen as a link to the mysteries of life and death.

The Goddess of Truth, Maat is often depicted as holding a vulture feather. In Egypt is was also considered to be a mother symbol, probably because it would eat the dead and return them to the earth, thus reducing the amount of disease that would be carried to the living, if the carrion were not disposed of.

The vulture's digestive system contains chemicals that kill the bacteria that grows on the carrion that it eats, thus protecting the vulture. People with vulture medicine are encouraged to keep an eye on their digestive systems.

The vulture doesn't really make the same kind of calls as regular birds, it mostly hisses. This suggests that those with vulture medicine might also be the "action vs. talk" kind of people.

Here is a story that is also in the book, paraphrased:
"In the early times, the sun was so close to the earth that the heat of it was becoming unbearable. The animals held a conference and decided to try to move the sun further away from the earth. Fox volunteered and picked up the sun in his jaws and began the journey. The sun began to burn the inside of his mouth and Fox dropped it. To this day, Fox's mouth is black inside.

Opposum picked up the journey where Fox left off. He wrapped up the sun in his tail and started the trip, soon all the fur on his tail was burnt off and he had to stop. To this day, the Opposum's tail is bald.

Finally Vulture stepped forward. He was very beautiful and had a wonderful, fluffy crown of feathers on his head. He knew that if someone didn't move the sun to it's proper place, that the earth would burn up. He placed his head against the sun and began to push it through the heavens. He could feel his beautiful feathers burning up, but would not stop until the sun was a safe distance from the earth. Vulture thus sacrificed his wonderous feathers for all eternity."

Lisa :)

[WinterTree]

Wow, you saw a goddess in your coffee? :holycow: :) :D I'm glad you found that website though, because there's not all that much info on Nekhebet. :( Which stinks because she seems like a really interesting deity.

[Darakash]

I know this is an extarordinarily old thread; however, I have suddenly been getting lots of Nekhbet connections....people randomly giving me Egyptian artwork, and Nekbet is consistently pictured, vultures (real ones) in great abundance, etc...and I was wondering if anyone had a relationship with her.

[instinct]

There isn't much out there on Nekhbet unfortunately. And I don't really know Her very well at all.

Mut is also a vulture goddess (She's associated with the lion too)

Mut groupie. hard at work. That's me :lol:

[Darakash]

Mut is also a vulture goddess (She's associated with the lion too)

Mut groupie. hard at work. That's me :lol:

Lol, thanks I didn't actually know that....hmm interesting, considering my mamma is Sekhmet, the whole lion connection sparks some interest....have to do more research on Mut now!

[Redshire]

Actually, Maat holds and ostrich feather, not a vulture feather. I'm not even sure if I've ever seen her wearing the vulture headdress. Was Maat motherly in any way? Did she have any children?


em hotep

[Darakash]

Actually, Maat holds and ostrich feather, not a vulture feather. I'm not even sure if I've ever seen her wearing the vulture headdress. Was Maat motherly in any way? Did she have any children?


em hotep

EGAD now I feel like a dunce, is Ma'at and Mut the same....I am sooooo confused, toooo many names!

[Pure Ahimsa]

I really like NebHet :) She is an awesome Goddess. She is more of a best friend than a parent.

[Darakash]

I really like NebHet :) She is an awesome Goddess. She is more of a best friend than a parent.

Oooh, interesting...do tell! See that is kind of how I see Bast sometimes, like a younger, less mom like goddess, is that kind of what you mean?

[Pure Ahimsa]

Oooh, interesting...do tell! See that is kind of how I see Bast sometimes, like a younger, less mom like goddess, is that kind of what you mean?


NebHet... Well... she is like a mother, but a very quiet, liberal one. Like "Do whatever you want, but please be wise". But she is also like a best friends that can listen to everything you say. Im not sure if she is always quiet, maybe just been kind of listening to me. I havn't been contacted by her through dreams or anything, but I do feel her there and feel how she is. I feel like she is listening and observing and taking note, but she does love me, I feel.

I also got a reading, when someone told me Ptah, Qebehseneuf, NebHet and Djehuty watch me a lot. Before then, I always liked Ptah, and since them Ive been interested in the rest, and getting closer, even if they may not be watching me all the time.

Bast, hmmm... to me is like a warrior. She is strong and overwhelming sometimes (she is big), but she is really kind! She is a loving, caring Goddess, like a mother to me. When it comes to bad people, she's not afraid to get violent. She protects the Good and hurts the bad. Hehehe A mother and sister.

[Darakash]

I also got a reading, when someone told me Ptah, Qebehseneuf, NebHet and Djehuty watch me a lot. Before then, I always liked Ptah, and since them Ive been interested in the rest, and getting closer, even if they may not be watching me all the time.


isnt that interesting! Ptah is the consort of my mommy...Qebehseneuf is the only son of Horus I ever call upon/interact with, Djehuty is my papa...and now I am asking about NebHet (Nekhbet).....hmmmm, me thinks I find that coincidental!

[Pure Ahimsa]

isnt that interesting! Ptah is the consort of my mommy...Qebehseneuf is the only son of Horus I ever call upon/interact with, Djehuty is my papa...and now I am asking about NebHet (Nekhbet).....hmmmm, me thinks I find that coincidental!


LOL
We be kindred spirits, eh? lol :crylaugh:

[Khuinaset]

Tigerlad, are you talking about Nebt-Het(as in, Aset's sister, the woman who's shown with a bowl on her head?)? 'Cause if so...she's different from Nekhbet ;)

Darakash, I feel your pain, I'm intensely curious about Wadjet(the guardian of...erm...whatever bit of Egypt Nekhbet doesn't guard) but can find next to nothing on her. Try checking out TourEgypt(sorry, don't have a specific link on me now, but the main site is www.touregypt.com) (www.touregypt.com)) , I know they have at least one article on her :)

[Pure Ahimsa]

Tigerlad, are you talking about Nebt-Het(as in, Aset's sister, the woman who's shown with a bowl on her head?)? 'Cause if so...she's different from Nekhbet ;)

Darakash, I feel your pain, I'm intensely curious about Wadjet(the guardian of...erm...whatever bit of Egypt Nekhbet doesn't guard) but can find next to nothing on her. Try checking out TourEgypt(sorry, don't have a specific link on me now, but the main site is www.touregypt.com) (www.touregypt.com)) , I know they have at least one article on her :)


Oh, they are different? I remember a few sites saying that it was another form. Well, I don't know much about Nekhbet, I know about NebHet (Nebt-Het) Heh _catroll_

[Redshire]

EGAD now I feel like a dunce, is Ma'at and Mut the same....I am sooooo confused, toooo many names!

Ma'at is the goddess of truth and justice.

Mut, see link---> http://www.kemet.org/glossary/mut.html (http://www.kemet.org/glossary/mut.html)



em hotep