Nephthys
(aka Nebhet, Nebet-het)
Nephthys was a protective goddess of the
dead.
She was the sister of Isis and Osiris, and
the sister/wife of Seth.
Nephthys was also the
mother of Anubis.
Her name means 'Lady of the House' it's thought to be referring to
Osiris' Palace.
Nephthys conceived no children with her husband Seth.
Her son,
Anubis was conceived from a union with Osiris.
It is said that she tricked Osiris
into this union by making him drunk,
or by disguising herself as Isis.
Fearing
Seth's anger, Nephthys hides the infant in the Delta marshes shortly after his
birth.
Seth murders Osiris and Nephthys flees in fear.
She finds her sister, Isis,
and helps in the search for Osiris' body.
Nephthys tells her sister about the infant.
During the search for Osiris, Isis finds Anubis and adopts him.
After finding the
body of Osiris, she helps Isis embalm him.
The two sisters turn into birds and fly
about mourning over the dead body.
She is often rendered on the head of coffins, as Isis is rendered at the foot,
with long wings spread to protect the deceased.