Egypt Legends

The Children of Nut the Lady of Heaven

Ra was a powerful Pharaoh and he was jealous of his power, but he had made himself a man, and knew someday he would grow old. So he spoke the word "Thoth" and the god of wisdom and magic came into being.

Thoth could speak prophecy and Pharaoh asked him what he saw in the future. Thoth uttered this prophecy, "There will be another ruler of Egypt after you, he will be the son of Nut."

Pharaoh became angry and cursed Nut. "Nut will remain childless, as she will give birth to no child on any day in the year, neither on any night. I have spoken and so it will be."

Nut, who had heard the prophecy, was heart-broken and she went to Thoth to seek advice as he was the wisest of the gods. Nut begged Thoth to help her. Thoth agreed to help her if she would marry him. Nut, who secretly loved Thoth, agreed.

Thoth knew that he could not change the curse of Pharaoh, but he thought of a way to give Nut her children and avoid the curse. He went to visit Khonsu the moon-god and gave him beer and honey and played a game of draughts long into the night. The bets ran higher and higher until Khonsu bet a portion of his own light.

Thoth was clever and won many rounds of draughts, so many that he won enough of Khonsu's light to make five extra days. Thoth fitted these days in between the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year.

Poor Khonsu lost so much light that he could not shine fully every night of the month and was forced to wane to a sliver of light and slowly wax back to his full glory.

And Nut and Thoth had five children on the five new days that were never before in Pharaoh's year. Osiris was born on the first day and a great voice from heaven proclaimed "The Lord of All comes forth into the light!"

Harmachis was born on the second day. Set was born on the third day and Isis was born on the fourth day. On the last day Nephthys was born.

And Nut was happy. Thoth instructed Osiris and Isis in all his skills and powers to prepare them for the day when Osiris would become Pharaoh and Isis would be his consort.