Ged

Ged, the Egyptian God of the Earth

The name Ged means “Earth” or “Green,” symbolizing the fertile land of Egypt, which was essential to the prosperity of the ancient civilization. His name reflects his power over the Earth and its life-giving properties, from crops and plants to minerals and precious resources. Ged is also associated with the title “Great Cackler,” a reference to his connection with geese and the belief that his laughter caused earthquakes. Ged is the embodiment of the Earth and its resources. He governs the fertility of the land, responsible for the growth of crops, trees, and vegetation that sustain life in Egypt. This made him particularly important in a society dependent on agriculture. Beyond his association with the living, Ged also has a deep connection to the dead. The Egyptians believed that the dead were buried within Ged’s body, and he was seen as the nurturing force that took the deceased into his care before their resurrection in the afterlife.

Symbolism

Ged is typically depicted as a man lying flat on the ground, representing the Earth itself, often with green or brown skin to symbolize fertility and soil. A goose, his sacred animal, is frequently depicted on his head, underscoring his connection to the natural world. In some artistic representations, plants or crops grow from his body, highlighting his role as the source of agricultural abundance. His stretched, reclining figure beneath Nut, the sky goddess, further emphasizes his role in separating Earth from the sky.

Father of the gods

Ged was crowned by Ra as the first king of the Egyptians. It was this authority by which all the subsequent pharaohs of Egypt inherited their throne. Ged was the father of Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys by his sister, Nut.

Ged’s association with kingship is not just mythological but also deeply practical, forming a core aspect of Egyptian royal ideology. As the original ruler of the Earth, Ged’s legacy is directly tied to the authority of the pharaohs. Each pharaoh, seen as a living god, was considered a successor to Ged, inheriting his divine right to rule. This belief was formalized during coronation ceremonies, where Ged was invoked to grant the new ruler the “throne of Ged,” symbolizing the continuity of divine authority. This act of legitimization reinforced the pharaoh’s role as both the earthly and divine ruler, connecting him to the god of the Earth himself.

The transition of power from Ged to Osiris, and eventually to Horus, served as the model for the orderly transfer of power among Egypt’s rulers.

The paranoia of Ra

Ra, the sun god and one of the most powerful deities in the Egyptian pantheon, was aware of a prophecy that said one of the children of Nut, the sky goddess, would one day overthrow him. By this time, Ra was the ruler of the gods and the universe, and as he grew older, he became increasingly concerned about maintaining his position of power. To prevent her from bearing children, Ra ordered Shu, the god of Air, to permanently separate Nut from her consort and brother, Ged. Shu was successful, and the god of Earth and goddess of Sky were separated, yet the prophecy would still come to pass, as Nut would eventually go on to be the mother of four powerful gods and goddesses. In a last ditch effort to thwart the prophecy, Ra issued a divine decree that she would not be able to give birth on any day of the year. At the time, the Egyptian calendar consisted of 360 days, and Ra’s command seemed impossible to circumvent.

Nut, determined to give birth, sought help from Thoth, the god of wisdom and magic. Thoth devised a clever plan to outwit Ra’s decree. He gambled with the moon and won enough light to create five extra days, known as the epagomenal days. These five days were added to the 360-day calendar, and since they were not part of the official year, Ra’s prohibition did not apply.

During these five days, Nut was able to give birth to her children: Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. This clever manipulation of time allowed Nut to fulfill her role as the mother of some of the most important deities in Egyptian mythology, despite Ra’s attempts to prevent their birth. The prophecy would ultimately come to pass, as Osiris’s descendants, particularly Horus, would challenge and overthrow Set, who had usurped Osiris’s throne, continuing the theme of divine succession in Egyptian myth.

Ged’s other roles

Ged’s connection to the afterlife is closely tied to his identity as the Earth god. The Egyptians believed that upon death, the bodies of the deceased were returned to Ged, who would hold them within his body. This concept of burial in the Earth was not just physical but spiritual, as Ged was responsible for nurturing the souls of the dead before they were reborn in the afterlife. Tombs were seen as places where the dead reunited with Ged, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. His role in the afterlife complements that of Osiris, the god of the underworld, as both deities ensured the dead’s safe passage and eventual resurrection.

Ged’s laughter was believed to cause earthquakes, earning him the nickname “the Great Cackler.” This natural phenomenon highlighted his power over the forces of the Earth, reminding the Egyptians of the power and unpredictability of the land. However, while he was associated with such potentially destructive forces, Ged was also seen as a benevolent deity who provided the fertility necessary for crops to grow and sustain life.

Rebirths

1st Age – Nox Durante