Tefnut is the God of Moisture, the first child of Ra, partner of Shu, and mother of Nut and Geb.

Appearance

Tefnut has pale blue skin and wears a pale yellow lion mask atop a white or pale yellow headdress,^[1] which goes down to her waist.^[2] The mask has golden eyes, and a small crown at the center of its head,^[1] which has a blue part in the center.^[3] The front ends of the headdress fall over her breast.^[2] She wears a thick golden usekh or wesekh, with large blue gems or beads in the spread throughout.^[1][3][4] Her lower lip is painted yellow or white.^[5] Her fingernails are also yellow or white. She wears a thick yellow armband on each of her lower arms.^[2] She wears a long, white sheath dress, with a high golden and black belt at the top, over her chest, and a thin golden chain beneath it that encircles her chest. There is a large blue gem or bead in the center of the bigger belt.^[6] She wears 1-5 golden bracelets/a kind of bracer on each of her wrists.^[3][6][7] She also has two golden rings on her right middle and ring fingers.^[7] She wears no shoes.^[2] She has a mole beneath the right side of her lip.^[3]

She is nearly a head shorter than Shu.^[2]

Personality

Tefnut seems to enjoy fighting to some degree.^[7] She is also thoughtful and a bit detached from some of her family members. She cares about lions, as she is a lion god, and seems opposed to hunting generally.

Life

Tefnut is the first child of Ra, and falls in love with Shu and has Nut and Geb with him.^[8]

It's possible Tefnut also abandons Isis along with the other gods in fear of Seth during Isis' flight from Heliopolis.

Tefnut joins with the other gods of the Ennead to attend the trial of Seth and Horus, seemingly in support of Isis, and largely as an observer only. When Seth attacks Osiris, Shu supports her during the blast wave.^[2] When Osiris asks for the opportunity to testify, Tefnut discusses it with Shu.

Shu comes up with the idea that is chosen for the first match: underwater breath-holding.^[9] Tefnut demands in irritation, "Who came up with such a boring event?", and Shu loudly agrees, hiding the fact he came up with the idea.^[9][10] Tefnut and Shu walk to the river edge to observe during the match.^[11] Tefnut seems disappointed either by Seth being declared the winner and/or Horus being knocked out so badly.^[12]

When the last match is declared to be a hunting contest, Tefnut notes with annoyance, "Tsk, hunting? How barbaric?", as she is a lion god.^[3] She joins in consenting to giving Seth a penalty for the match. When Anubis arrives to offer to give Seth weapons to use during the match, and Isis pulls him aside in private to talk it over, Bastet discusses it with Shu and Tefnut, discussing Anubis' qualifications and possible theories for his motives.^[13] When Seth points out, again, that Anubis is heavily injured, Tefnut asks why it's such a big deal, as Isis is the God of Magic and can heal him.

During Seth's sentencing, when Nephthys announces that she loved Osiris, Isis faints, and Tefnut cries out and catches her.^[5] When Seth breaks out of his bonds and Isis grabs for her papyrus staff, Tefnut grabs her wrist and the staff, stopping Isis from attacking Seth and defending Horus.^[7] For some reason, Tefnut is grinning. She also fights with Isis for control of the staff, clearly winning.

When Ra proposes that Seth goes to work on her sun boat, and Isis says that Seth could die there, Tefnut and Shu note that they will also serve on the sun boat, and will ensure he doesn't die.^[14]

Powers

As a goddess, Tefnut has the power to create children.^[6]

Tefnut is more physically powerful than Isis.^[7] Tefnut seemingly serves on Ra's sun boat, which involves experiencing relentless heat and oppressive gravitational force.^[14] Tefnut comments that this is no trouble to deal with.

Relationships

Isis

Although Tefnut supports Isis when she is distressed, Tefnut also interferes with her efforts at times.

Ra

Tefnut seems to support Ra's goal of putting Seth on the sun boat.

Shu

Shu and Tefnut are close still, and often appear together, whether sitting or standing, often leaning on each other or otherwise holding each other.^[2] Shu tends to agree with her positions on matters.^[13]

Trivia

• Nut's dress is similar in style to Tefnut's.^[11]
• Tefnut is seemingly unique among many of the goddesses in that she doesn't have black nails.^[5]

References