Who the Goddess Renenutet is

Renenutet was believed to be the goddess of harvest and nourishment. During the time period of Old Kingdom, she was believed to be a guardian of the king in life and afterlife. She was also associated with the bandages of the mummy.

The Meaning of the Name ‘Renenutet’

The meaning of the Egyptian name ‘Renenutet’ is ‘snake who nourishes’. This indicates her nurturing nature. Because she had no harmful side in spite of her being a snake goddess.

Renenutet Family Tree

It was believed that earth god Geb and goddess Renenutet gave birth to Nehebu-Kau, a gracious snake god. According to Book of Dead, she is said to be the mother of Horus by Atum. On the other hand, she is also said to be the mother of Osiris in his form as the child Nepri.

The iconography of the Goddess

Generally, Renenutet is depicted as an erect cobra with the sun disk and horns on the top of her head. Sometimes, she is also depicted in anthropomorphic form as only a woman or as a woman with the head of a snake. Sometimes, she is depicted nursing an infant who is often identified with her son, Nepri, goddess of grain.

There is also some special iconography of Renenutet. One image of the goddess came from the Ptolemaic period where she is depicted as the form of Isis with the head of a snake rising from the body of a woman. In a granary at Karnak, she is depicted getting offerings from the god Hapy, son of Horus.

Main Functions of the Goddess

The main function of Renenutet was focused on fertility and harvest. It was believed that she is the serpent who protects crops from damaging the mice and rats. Thus, she was given a number of epithets which are an indicator of her protective nature. These epithets are ‘Lady of the granaries’, ‘Lady of the fertile land’, ‘Lady of the threshing floor’ etc.

Renenutet Divine Nurse

Renenutet was also regarded as a divine nurse because of her nurturing character. It was believed that in household and family life, she played an important role as provider, nourisher and as a nurse of infants.

Lady of Justification

Renenutet came to be known as ‘Lady of Justification’ in the underworld in ‘Litany of Re’ during the time period of New Kingdom. The Litany of Re is basically an ancient Egyptian funerary text dedicated to Sun god Re.

As the lady of justification, she was associated with Maat, goddess of truth and justice. In the episodes of Litany of Re. she is depicted in the form of a mummy with the head of a cobra.

Association with Other Deities

Renenutet is seen very clearly to be associated with a number of other deities of ancient Egypt. She may be identified with Meskhenet as a birth goddess. In the Greek triad of Hermouthis, Sekonopis and Ankhoes, she is linked with Sobek and Horus as a member of this triad.

Cult of the Goddess

Renenutet was widely worshipped with great respect. From the Middle Kingdom onwards, evidence of the cult of the goddess started to come. Her main cult centre was located at Dja which can be identified with the modern day Medinet Madi.

Her another important cult centre was located at Terenuthis. From the New Kingdom onwards, her worship started to become very popular at Giza, Abydos and Thebes region.

Significant Acceptance in Society

The popularity of Renenutet can easily be recognized through the study of the development of the concept of the goddess. In spite of being a snake goddess, she was significantly accepted because of her anti-harmful nature.

She was accepted in the common mass of ancient Egypt in such a way that in the later period, she came in association with the idea of fate and destiny. Thus the survival of this goddess is very fascinating. In the Pagan era, she was transformed into the Greek Thermouthis who later was worshipped as a Christian saint.