Nut

Meaning & Etymology

Sky goddess

Sky goddess

Etymology

The name ‘Nut’ comes from the Egyptian nwt, which refers to the goddess of the sky in ancient Egyptian religion.

Linguistic family: Afro-Asiatic > Egyptian

Cultural context

Nut was one of the most important deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon, representing the sky and often depicted as a star-covered woman arching over the earth. She was the daughter of Shu and Tefnut, and the sister-wife of Geb, the earth god. Nut was believed to swallow the sun each evening and give birth to it each morning, symbolizing the cycle of day and night.

Symbolism

The name ‘Nut’ symbolizes the celestial realm, the cycle of life and death, and the protective embrace of the sky.