TYPE: Chthonic or Earth god
ORIGIN: Egyptian
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP: Old Kingdom (circa 2600 BCE) to end of Egyptian history (circa CE 400).
SYNONYMS: Seb (erroneous)
CENTER(S) OF CULT: None specific but often associated with tombs.
ART REFERENCES: Paintings in Valley of the Kings, etc.
LITERARY SOURCES: Pyramid and coffin texts; New Kingdom religious papyri including the Papyrus of Tentamun.
SYMBOL: Barley, Goose, Bull, Viper
PARENTS: Shu and Tefnut
SIBLINGS: Nut
CONSORT: Nut, Tefnut, Renenutet (some sources)
OFFSPRING: Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys, Heru-ur, Nehebkau (some sources)
EQUIVALENT: Cronus (Greek)
INFORMATION: Geb, the offspring of Su and Tefnut, is a "third generation" deity of the Ennead in Heliopolis and, as the brother and consort of Nut, becomes the father of Isis and Osiris in the Heliopolis genealogy. Geb appears on papyri from the New Kingdom typically wearing the crown of Lower Egypt, lying on the ground with is arms stretched in opposite directions: "one to the sky, one to the earth". When drawn with Nut, who is a sky goddess, his penis is often erect and extended towards her. He may also be accompanied by a goose (his sign in hieroglyphic).
Geb is a vegetation god, frequently colored green and with greenery sprouting from him. He is also seen as a god of healing, particularly called upon for protection against scorpion stings. In a less benign context, Geb reputedly snatches the souls of the dead and may imprison them against passing into the afterlife. He is also a god concerned with judgement in the dispute between Horus and Seth. As Horus's father, he presided over his crowning, and therefore continued to protect each rightful heir to the crown of Egypt.