NEPHTHYS

Nephthys (Greek) or Nebet-Het (Egyptian) is the goddess of the "In-Between." Her name, written with the hieroglyphs of a basket (Neb) atop a house (Het), means "Lady of the House" or "Mistress of the Temple Enclosure."

Ancient Egyptian Name	𓏏𓉠 (Nbt-ḥwt)
Phonetic Pronunciation	Nebet-Het
Literal Meaning	“Lady of the Mansion”
Cosmic Role	Protection, Mourning, Night, Transition

Unlike a domestic housewife, "House" here likely refers to the temple sanctuary or the tomb (the House of Eternity), designating her as the guardian of sacred thresholds.

Nephthys represents the darker, passive aspects of existence, complementing her sister Isis's light and active magic. She is the goddess of:

• Mourning: She personifies the grief that is necessary for healing.
• The Night: While Isis is the day and life, Nephthys is the twilight and the unseen.
• Protection of the Dead: She is the specific guardian of the head of the deceased's coffin (while Isis guards the foot).

Nephthys is the youngest of the Great Ennead of Heliopolis:

Relation	Deity	Dynamic
Parents	Geb & Nut	Earth & Sky
Sister	Isis	Life & Magic (Day)
Brother	Osiris	Lord of the Dead
Consort/Brother	Set	Chaos & Storms
Son	Anubis	God of Embalming (in many myths)

Despite being married to Set (the murderer of Osiris), Nephthys remained loyal to her siblings. She abandoned Set to help Isis search for Osiris’s scattered body parts. Together, the two sisters transformed into kites (birds of prey) and wailed over the body of Osiris, their wings creating the wind that allowed him to breathe again.

Nephthys had a specific anatomical role in the protection of the deceased. Along with the god Hapy (one of the Four Sons of Horus), she was responsible for guarding the lungs placed in the canopic jars. She ensured that the deceased could breathe in the afterlife.

Nephthys is depicted with subtle but distinct imagery:

• Hieroglyphic Headdress: She wears the symbols of her name (a basket atop a house/mansion) on her head.
• Protective Wings: Like Isis, she is often shown with winged arms spread in protection over the mummy.
• The Kite: In her mourning form, she appears as a screeching bird of prey.

Unlike Isis, Nephthys rarely had her own dedicated temples. Instead, she was worshipped as part of the Osirian cycle in every temple across Egypt. Her presence was most strongly felt in the funerary cult, where she was invoked in spells to guide the soul through the dangerous transitional states of the Duat.

Isis and Nephthys are inseparable. They represent the necessary dualities of existence:

• Isis: Birth, Day, Light, Life.
• Nephthys: Death, Night, Darkness, Transition.

Together, they form a complete circle of being. You cannot have resurrection (Isis) without first having mourning and transition (Nephthys).

Primary Role	Goddess of Mourning & Protection
Sacred Animal	Kite (Bird)
Canopic Duty	Guardian of the Lungs (with Hapy)
Divine Partner	Isis (The Two Weepers)
Symbol	Basket and House Headdress