Sacred Celestial Cow
D. Carlton Rossi © 2014-2026
THE SKY COW
In a mythological context, the stars of the Big Dipper could represent Nut's body or the nourishment she provides to the earth. This interpretation reflects the Egyptians' intricate understanding of the heavens and their myths, blending astronomy with their spiritual beliefs.
In certain representations, Nut is depicted as a cow or with cow-like form stretching across the sky, with stars forming from her body. This imagery connects her to fertility and sustenance in ancient Egypt. These beliefs reinforce her connection to creation.
With respect to the cultural context, cows were both associated with agriculture and religion. Since Nut is a cow in one of her forms then it can highlight the importance of fertility and abundance. This mirrors the vital cycles of nature and the cosmos.
In terms of religion, the worship of cows and their symbolism in ancient Egypt can be seen in various texts and artifacts. This illustrates how this imagery permeated their religious beliefs and everyday life. One can say that a large portion of Egyptian society was involved in agriculture; so, there were hundreds of thousands of cattle and bulls.
Nun's character in Egyptian mythology is rather complex. She represented both the heavens, protection and fertility. While both Nut and Hathor are associated with cows; nevertheless, the poet prefers in this context to feature Nut who has different aspects of divinity and femininity. For example, on the divine level, Hathor served her husband Ra who is associated with the Sun. On the personal level, she manifested maternal characteristics.
Nut and Geb are considered third generation as children of Shu and Tefnut. However. Osiris, Isis, Nephtys and Set are viewed as Fourth Generation. Hathor is considered a later manifestation of similar themes to Nut with respect to motherhood, fertility and joy.
For these reasons, the poet is focusing on Nut and Geb. They emerged in the predynastic period (c. 5000-3000 BCE). At this time, they were worshiped regionally and appeared in local religious practices. They may have been recognized in specific forms in different regions often connected to fertility and agriculture. This is when Egyptians began to form their cosmological beliefs. In the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100-2686 BCE) Nut and Geb were established as representations of the sky and earth. By the time of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BCE) they were fully integrated into mythology. Their characteristics and stories were presented in the Pyramid Texts.
Nut as a Fertility Figure
As the goddess of the sky, Nut is often associated with nurturing and life-giving aspects of the cosmos. Her cow representation underscores this connection, as cows symbolize fertility and sustenance.
Nut is also connected to the cycles of life and rebirth, echoing the agricultural cycles in ancient Egypt which were vital for their survival.
Sacrificial Practices
1. Fertility Rites
Cows were associated with fertility and motherhood. Their sacrifice was believed to promote agricultural abundance and the fertility of both land and livestock.
2. Religious Festivals
During various religious festivals cows were sacrificed to honor the gods.
3. Symbolic Significance
Cows represented nurturance and fertility. This made them suitable offerings to invoke blessings for crops and families.
4. Dung
Both cow and bull dung were used to enrich the soil. This improved its fertility and promoted crop growth. In some fertility rituals, dung was used symbolically to represent the nurturing aspects of the earth and the cycles of life.
In a mythological context, the stars of the Big Dipper could represent Nut's body or the nourishment she provides to the earth. This interpretation reflects the Egyptians' intricate understanding of the heavens and their myths, blending astronomy with their spiritual beliefs.
In certain representations, Nut is depicted as a cow or with cow-like form stretching across the sky, with stars forming from her body. This imagery connects her to fertility and sustenance in ancient Egypt. These beliefs reinforce her connection to creation.
With respect to the cultural context, cows were both associated with agriculture and religion. Since Nut is a cow in one of her forms then it can highlight the importance of fertility and abundance. This mirrors the vital cycles of nature and the cosmos.
In terms of religion, the worship of cows and their symbolism in ancient Egypt can be seen in various texts and artifacts. This illustrates how this imagery permeated their religious beliefs and everyday life. One can say that a large portion of Egyptian society was involved in agriculture; so, there were hundreds of thousands of cattle and bulls.
Nun's character in Egyptian mythology is rather complex. She represented both the heavens, protection and fertility. While both Nut and Hathor are associated with cows; nevertheless, the poet prefers in this context to feature Nut who has different aspects of divinity and femininity. For example, on the divine level, Hathor served her husband Ra who is associated with the Sun. On the personal level, she manifested maternal characteristics.
Nut and Geb are considered third generation as children of Shu and Tefnut. However. Osiris, Isis, Nephtys and Set are viewed as Fourth Generation. Hathor is considered a later manifestation of similar themes to Nut with respect to motherhood, fertility and joy.
For these reasons, the poet is focusing on Nut and Geb. They emerged in the predynastic period (c. 5000-3000 BCE). At this time, they were worshiped regionally and appeared in local religious practices. They may have been recognized in specific forms in different regions often connected to fertility and agriculture. This is when Egyptians began to form their cosmological beliefs. In the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100-2686 BCE) Nut and Geb were established as representations of the sky and earth. By the time of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BCE) they were fully integrated into mythology. Their characteristics and stories were presented in the Pyramid Texts.
Nut as a Fertility Figure
As the goddess of the sky, Nut is often associated with nurturing and life-giving aspects of the cosmos. Her cow representation underscores this connection, as cows symbolize fertility and sustenance.
Nut is also connected to the cycles of life and rebirth, echoing the agricultural cycles in ancient Egypt which were vital for their survival.
Sacrificial Practices
1. Fertility Rites
Cows were associated with fertility and motherhood. Their sacrifice was believed to promote agricultural abundance and the fertility of both land and livestock.
2. Religious Festivals
During various religious festivals cows were sacrificed to honor the gods.
3. Symbolic Significance
Cows represented nurturance and fertility. This made them suitable offerings to invoke blessings for crops and families.
4. Dung
Both cow and bull dung were used to enrich the soil. This improved its fertility and promoted crop growth. In some fertility rituals, dung was used symbolically to represent the nurturing aspects of the earth and the cycles of life.
Superscript
Block title
Sacred Celestial Bull
D. Carlton Rossi © 2014-2016
THE TETHERED BULL TO THE POLE STAR
In Egyptian culture, bulls often symbolize strength, fertility and the chaotic forces of nature. Tethering a bull can signify an attempt to impose order and control over these untamed beasts. One might choose Set in this case to personify chaos and disorder in the form of a bull. However, his wife identified with Osiris whom Set killed. In fact, she helped Isis resurrect Osiris. Therefore, Nepthys may serve as a contrasting force, but she does not control him.
With a cow and a tethered bull in the Big Dipper, perhaps sharing some similar stars, it could suggest tension or a time to multiply. The combination of both images in the Big Dipper could explore contrasting yet complementary ideas of nurturing and power. For example, the moo cow symbolizes nourishment and cosmic creation. The tethered, bellow bull represents strength and control over chaos. Together, they can represent the balance between nurturing and authority thus echoing the balance which Ma'at aims to maintain in the cosmos.
Bull as a Fertility Symbol
Bulls are frequently associated with virility and strength which can also symbolize fertility. In Egypt, they were seen as embodiments of life force and agricultural abundance.
Even if the tethered bull represents chaotic force, the raw power it embodies can still connect to fertility themes, especially in the context of regeneration and uncontrollable aspects of nature.
Sacrifices
1. The Festival of Opet
This annual festival was dedicated to the god Amun and celebrated fertility and regeneration. Bulls, particularly, the sacred bull Mnevis, were sacrificed to ensure the fertility of the land and the prosperity of the community.
2. The Festival of the Opening of the Mouth
During this ritual, bulls were sacrificed as offerings to ensure the sustenance of the deceased and to provide for the needs of the gods. This reflected fertility and abundance.
3. Horus Worship
In some aspects of Horus worship, bulls were sacrificed to invoke fertility and protection for crops and livestock.
The logical partner of the sky goddess Nut is Geb who is depicted lying beneath Nut. As such, he is a very submissive and receptive bull who represents fertility, agriculture and the natural world. By associating the tethered bull with Geb, one emphasizes the grounding and nurturing aspects of nature. This narrative shows how Geb (earth and fertility) interacts with Nut (sky and nurturing). The tethered bull can symbolize the earthly strength and fertility that must be managed or restrained in the cosmic order.
One could construe Shu's desire to keep Nut and Geb apart, so that air is created and maintained, as a necessary and agreed upon restraint of all three parties. Neither Geb can come up nor can Nut come down which prevents them from collapsing into each other since Shu separates them. Doesn't this mean that Nut and Geb are in effect tethered by Shu who himself can't move either? The action is akin to how tethering controls and restrains elements to maintain order. This tethering arrangement ensures that chaos (the potential collapse of sky and earth) is avoided.
It is presumed that Nut and Geb are unfettered during the epogeneal days (creation) at the time of the winter solstice. This symbolizes a time of potential chaos and creativity--a state where natural forces are unleashed. This aligns well with the idea of fertility and the flourishing of life. Nut gives birth to the great gods Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephthys over a four day period.
Indeed, this narrative views Nut as the Big Dipper. She is a prominent and recognizable figure in the night sky. While the Little Dipper is less prominent than the Big Dipper, it can represent Geb as the earth. Its stars might symbolize fertility and sustenance, reflecting Geb's role in nurturing life and the natural world. This connection reinforces the idea that while Nut (the sky) encompasses a vast and nurturing process, Geb (the earth) provides stability and grounding. Both realms interact harmoniously to create and sustain life.
Pardon me, but one doesn't want to deal with generalities here, but specifics. The entire Little Dipper is a phallus. Is that plain enough? Polaris is the tip of Osiris's phallus. We found it! The tip dispenses energy and seed. The base of the phallus is Kolchab and perhaps Phercad where the seed is held.
During the heliacal rising of Sirius, Polaris receives energy from Sirius and dispenses seed to Dubhe and Merak and on to Alnilam or middle star of Orion's Belt. Alnilam is a bright blue supergiant. This is the source of the celestial Nile. The belt or Nile floods and it spills southeast in the direction of Sirius and Isis. The goddess becomes receptive to Osiris, her husband, who is associated with the entire Orion Constellation. The Celestial Nile then floods from the source in the south, to the Dippers, through the Dippers to the Delta in the north which is close to Thuban.
On a daily basis, however, there is dynamic activity. Geb, excited by the presence of his wife Nut, despite their separation, partakes in this cosmic process. While specifics may be elusive, it’s reminiscent of the notion that “life will find a way.” The Sun's seed from Geb is propelled from Polaris to Mizar along the vertice. This seed enters the dying Sun within Nut’s mouth as she swallows it, sealing its fate.
As the dead Sun journeys through the Duat, it faces numerous perils. The greatest threat comes from Apep, the serpent personifying chaos, whose form is represented by the Little Dipper. While swallowing by Nut signifies rebirth, the act of Apep swallowing the Sun suggests total annihilation. In this duality, the phallus of the Little Dipper embodies the complexities of existence—representing either ordered fertility or chaotic destruction.
Emerging from this conflict, the setting of Akher introduces critical symbolism. The two mountains stand like sentinels on the horizon, positioned at 90-degree angles to the Sun. The left mountain symbolizes yesterday's Sun, now dead, while the right mountain signifies tomorrow—the live Sun on its journey toward inevitable death. Though the present Sun lies lifeless, it is on the brink of rebirth through the Sun's seed.
This enchanting lotus which eternally transforms facilitates the journey of the Sun's seed toward Polaris in the East. The seed follows the stem to its roots, firmly grounded in the muddy earth of a pond that nourishes life. As it descends, the Sun's seed lands gently on the vibrant petals of a live lotus flower, symbolizing rebirth and the cyclical nature of existence. Each interaction between the seed and flower evokes a profound connection between the terrestrial and celestial realms, emphasizing that life emerges from decay and transformation. The experience is a magical and mystical wonder, culminating in the birth of a new Sun at dawn. "永远，遥远的太阳上升。" ©
In Egyptian culture, bulls often symbolize strength, fertility and the chaotic forces of nature. Tethering a bull can signify an attempt to impose order and control over these untamed beasts. One might choose Set in this case to personify chaos and disorder in the form of a bull. However, his wife identified with Osiris whom Set killed. In fact, she helped Isis resurrect Osiris. Therefore, Nepthys may serve as a contrasting force, but she does not control him.
With a cow and a tethered bull in the Big Dipper, perhaps sharing some similar stars, it could suggest tension or a time to multiply. The combination of both images in the Big Dipper could explore contrasting yet complementary ideas of nurturing and power. For example, the moo cow symbolizes nourishment and cosmic creation. The tethered, bellow bull represents strength and control over chaos. Together, they can represent the balance between nurturing and authority thus echoing the balance which Ma'at aims to maintain in the cosmos.
Bull as a Fertility Symbol
Bulls are frequently associated with virility and strength which can also symbolize fertility. In Egypt, they were seen as embodiments of life force and agricultural abundance.
Even if the tethered bull represents chaotic force, the raw power it embodies can still connect to fertility themes, especially in the context of regeneration and uncontrollable aspects of nature.
Sacrifices
1. The Festival of Opet
This annual festival was dedicated to the god Amun and celebrated fertility and regeneration. Bulls, particularly, the sacred bull Mnevis, were sacrificed to ensure the fertility of the land and the prosperity of the community.
2. The Festival of the Opening of the Mouth
During this ritual, bulls were sacrificed as offerings to ensure the sustenance of the deceased and to provide for the needs of the gods. This reflected fertility and abundance.
3. Horus Worship
In some aspects of Horus worship, bulls were sacrificed to invoke fertility and protection for crops and livestock.
The logical partner of the sky goddess Nut is Geb who is depicted lying beneath Nut. As such, he is a very submissive and receptive bull who represents fertility, agriculture and the natural world. By associating the tethered bull with Geb, one emphasizes the grounding and nurturing aspects of nature. This narrative shows how Geb (earth and fertility) interacts with Nut (sky and nurturing). The tethered bull can symbolize the earthly strength and fertility that must be managed or restrained in the cosmic order.
One could construe Shu's desire to keep Nut and Geb apart, so that air is created and maintained, as a necessary and agreed upon restraint of all three parties. Neither Geb can come up nor can Nut come down which prevents them from collapsing into each other since Shu separates them. Doesn't this mean that Nut and Geb are in effect tethered by Shu who himself can't move either? The action is akin to how tethering controls and restrains elements to maintain order. This tethering arrangement ensures that chaos (the potential collapse of sky and earth) is avoided.
It is presumed that Nut and Geb are unfettered during the epogeneal days (creation) at the time of the winter solstice. This symbolizes a time of potential chaos and creativity--a state where natural forces are unleashed. This aligns well with the idea of fertility and the flourishing of life. Nut gives birth to the great gods Osiris, Isis, Set and Nephthys over a four day period.
Indeed, this narrative views Nut as the Big Dipper. She is a prominent and recognizable figure in the night sky. While the Little Dipper is less prominent than the Big Dipper, it can represent Geb as the earth. Its stars might symbolize fertility and sustenance, reflecting Geb's role in nurturing life and the natural world. This connection reinforces the idea that while Nut (the sky) encompasses a vast and nurturing process, Geb (the earth) provides stability and grounding. Both realms interact harmoniously to create and sustain life.
Pardon me, but one doesn't want to deal with generalities here, but specifics. The entire Little Dipper is a phallus. Is that plain enough? Polaris is the tip of Osiris's phallus. We found it! The tip dispenses energy and seed. The base of the phallus is Kolchab and perhaps Phercad where the seed is held.
During the heliacal rising of Sirius, Polaris receives energy from Sirius and dispenses seed to Dubhe and Merak and on to Alnilam or middle star of Orion's Belt. Alnilam is a bright blue supergiant. This is the source of the celestial Nile. The belt or Nile floods and it spills southeast in the direction of Sirius and Isis. The goddess becomes receptive to Osiris, her husband, who is associated with the entire Orion Constellation. The Celestial Nile then floods from the source in the south, to the Dippers, through the Dippers to the Delta in the north which is close to Thuban.
On a daily basis, however, there is dynamic activity. Geb, excited by the presence of his wife Nut, despite their separation, partakes in this cosmic process. While specifics may be elusive, it’s reminiscent of the notion that “life will find a way.” The Sun's seed from Geb is propelled from Polaris to Mizar along the vertice. This seed enters the dying Sun within Nut’s mouth as she swallows it, sealing its fate.
As the dead Sun journeys through the Duat, it faces numerous perils. The greatest threat comes from Apep, the serpent personifying chaos, whose form is represented by the Little Dipper. While swallowing by Nut signifies rebirth, the act of Apep swallowing the Sun suggests total annihilation. In this duality, the phallus of the Little Dipper embodies the complexities of existence—representing either ordered fertility or chaotic destruction.
Emerging from this conflict, the setting of Akher introduces critical symbolism. The two mountains stand like sentinels on the horizon, positioned at 90-degree angles to the Sun. The left mountain symbolizes yesterday's Sun, now dead, while the right mountain signifies tomorrow—the live Sun on its journey toward inevitable death. Though the present Sun lies lifeless, it is on the brink of rebirth through the Sun's seed.
This enchanting lotus which eternally transforms facilitates the journey of the Sun's seed toward Polaris in the East. The seed follows the stem to its roots, firmly grounded in the muddy earth of a pond that nourishes life. As it descends, the Sun's seed lands gently on the vibrant petals of a live lotus flower, symbolizing rebirth and the cyclical nature of existence. Each interaction between the seed and flower evokes a profound connection between the terrestrial and celestial realms, emphasizing that life emerges from decay and transformation. The experience is a magical and mystical wonder, culminating in the birth of a new Sun at dawn. "永远，遥远的太阳上升。" ©
