nunn-nu,this primeval chaos was the oldest entity in the
world. Nun was the personification of nunu.
See also COSMOGONY.
Nut (Nuit) She was an ancient Egyptian goddess of
the heavens, mentioned in the BOOK OF THE DEAD. The
wife of GEBand his sister, NUTwas separated from him by
the command of ATUM. SHUraised her up so that Geb
could not touch her, and a ban was placed on her bearing
children. The EPAGOMENAL DAYSwere the only periods in
which Nut could conceive. The epagomenal days were
added to the Egyptian calendar by the god THOTH, who
played a game with the other deities so that he could aid
Nut. During that time Nut gave birth to OSIRIS, HORUS
(the Old), SET, ISIS, and NEPHTHYS.
Nut is depicted as a woman stretched over the hori-
zons, with stars and celestial lights forming her garb. She
was portrayed at times as a heavenly cow that ate the
stars each morning and then gave birth to them at twi-
light. As a cow she carried the god RÉon her back. When
Nut was shown as a woman, she wore a round vase on
her head, the hieroglyph of her name. Nut figures in
many religious legends. In some of these traditions she is
the cow that Ré mounted when he emerged from the
abyss at the moment of creation. In the mortuary rituals
she protected the deceased, who rose into her heavenly
abode as stars.
Nut did not have a temple or a cult dedicated to her
worship but there was a shrine honoring her in HELIOPO-
LIS. In some texts she was called Kha-bewes; “One with a
Thousand Souls.” Egyptians believed that souls went to
Nut after death. She allowed them to dwell forever with
the stars. The holiest of these souls became the polar
stars, never setting and never changing.Nwebhotep-Khred (Nubeti-Khred, Nubetepti-Khred)
(fl. 18th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Twelfth
Dynasty
Her mummified remains were discovered in the tomb of
AMENEMHET III(r. 1844–1797 B.C.E.) in the White Pyra-
mid. This princess was buried beside AWIBRÉ HOR, an
obscure ruler of the dynasty (date of reign unknown).
She was wrapped in gilded plaster and wore a silver
crown with a golden uraeus. Possibly the consort of
Awibré, Nwebhotep-Khred was adorned with a collar,
dagger, flagellum, scepters, and other funerary regalia.Nykuhor(fl. 25th century B.C.E.) Royal official of the
Fifth Dynasty
He served USERKHAF(r. 2465–2428 B.C.E.) and his succes-
sors as a privy counselor and an inspector of scribes. A
prince of the royal line, Nykuhor was married to Sekem-
Hathor, a princess of the royal line. Nykuhor and Sekem-
Hathor were buried near Userkhaf in SAQQARA.Nykuhor 283