The Myth of Nut, Geb, and the Creation of the World

Reproduction Details

• Object Type: Painted papyrus

• Date: c. 1069-945 BC (based on style)

• Period: Dynasty 21, Third Intermediate Period

• Findspot: Thebes

• Materials: Papyrus

• Size: Height 19.3cm

• Current location: Room 643, Musée du Louvre, Paris

• Inventory number: E17401 F02 (Frame 2)

• Print Reference: DP07C

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This reproduction of a mythological scene comes from a papyrus which belonged to Nespakashuty (or Nespakachouty), the accountant-scribe of the Theban granaries of Amun, who lived during Dynasty 21 (1069-945 BC).

The vignette illustrates the ancient Egyptian myth of the separation of heaven and earth, a foundational moment in the creation of the world. At the beginning of time, Nut, the sky goddess, and her brother-husband Geb, the earth god, were locked in an inseparable embrace. Their father, the air god Shu, was tasked with forcing them apart, lifting Nut high above Geb to create the space in which life could exist. This cosmic act established the fundamental order of the universe by separating the heavens from the earth and allowing the daily cycle of the sun to begin.

In this scene, Nut is depicted as a naked woman arching over Geb, her body symbolising the vault of the heavens, whilst Geb, lying below, embodies the fertile earth. Between them, the solar boat sails across the newly created expanse, carrying a deity crowned with the solar disk and accompanied by the goddess Maat, who holds the ankh—the symbol of life. The presence of Maat reinforces the idea that cosmic balance and order were established through this divine separation.

Mythological Papyrus

Papyrus scrolls containing such vignettes are known as "mythological papyri," a specialised category of funerary books that circulated exclusively among the priesthood of Amun at Thebes during Dynasty 21. Unlike traditional funerary texts, which relied heavily on written spells, mythological papyri used richly detailed illustrations to depict the deceased’s journey through the Underworld, paralleling the sun’s passage through the night sky. The separation of Nut and Geb thus not only represents the dawn of creation but also echoes the promise of rebirth in the afterlife, ensuring the deceased’s safe passage into eternity.