Geb

Picture: Geb, god of the earth, reclines beneath his spouse Nut from whom he is separated by air god, Shu. The body of Geb is covered with hieroglyphs for "reed" suggesting his fertile nature. Detail from the Papyrus of Tentamun, 21st Dynasty. Bibiotheque Nationale, Paris.

Mythology of Geb

A third-generation deity, the son of Shu and Tefnut, Geb was the god who personified the earth and was one of the most important of Egypt's primeval gods. His stature since early times is seen in fact that he is one of the most frequently mentioned deities found in the Pyramid Texts, where he is often juxtaposed with Ra or other gods who were of great importance in Egyptian afterlife beliefs. The god's power was sometimes inimical. Earthquakes came of his laughter and he could he could withhold his blessings in dry times or in barren areas. More importantly, as god of the earth par excellence, Geb could also represent the grave and it is stated in the Pyramid Texts, for example, that the deceased king "will not enter into Geb" or "sleep within his house" (PT 308). Geb usually had a more beneficent aspect, however. As god of the earth, grain was said to sprout from his ribs and vegetation from his back. He was also the source of fresh waters and ultimately all that the earth and livestock; and Hapy, boundtiful god of the Nile inundation, was said to be the 'friend of Geb'.

As the son of Atum and Shu, Geb was the 'heir of the gods', and as father of Osiris, the mythical king, Geb also maintained a strong association with kingship. The Egyptian king himself was called the 'heir of Geb' and was said to sit upon the 'seat of Geb'. The god was thus involved in the transmission of kingship, and in the mythical story known as the 'Contendings of Horus and Seth' (preserved in the 20th Dynasty Papyrus Chester Beatty I), it is Geb who acts as the presiding judge in determining the rightful heir to the throne. This role of support for the king is present even as early as the Pyramid Texts here Geb champions the king as Horus over Seth.

The late tradition, unattested before the 30th Dynasty, that Geb lusted after his own mother and violated her upon his father's death, appears to have been based on the Greek myth of the usurpation of the place of Ouranos by his son Chronos whom the Greeks identified directly with Geb.

Picture: The enthroned Geb is represented in both the Red Crown and White Crownon this gold and lapis lazuli bracelet of 17th Dynasty Queen Ahhotepfrom western Thebes. Egyptian Museum. Cairo, Egypt.

Iconography of Geb

As with other cosmic deities Geb was usually represented anthropomorphically. He may be depicted as a man wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, or in terms of his mythological role, reclining on his side supporting himself with one arm beneath the personified sky. In such scenes his phallus may be shown stretching upwards toward the goddess Nut, signifying their relationship. Geb's mythological associations menat that he could also be represented as a white-fronted goose (a creature associated with creation), however, or as a man with a goose on his head, and in the tomb of Ramesses VI Geb is represented with the head of a hare. In any of his forms Geb may be depicted with green skin in order to symbolize his fertile nature and the vegetation with springs from him, and in some cases his body is decorated with plants.

Worship of Geb

Although not honored with a major cult of his own, Geb was represented in many temple scenes and was also important in some aspects of popular religion. The god was associated with healing and was particularly invoked in spells combating scorpion stings. His healing powers were wide-ranging, and one magical text describes how Osiris was commanded Geb to restrain the malicious spirits which caused colds and fevers.