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In Egyptian
mythology, Neper (also spelt Nepra)
was an androgenous deification (the feminine
form of his name is Nepit) of grain, a
valuable commodity in ancient Egypt, which
faced starvation without it. In particular,
he was especially associated with the
most used types, namely barley and emmer
wheat. His name simply means lord of the
mouth, a reference to the function of
grain as sustainance.
Pictured as a human, Neper's body was
dotted to represent grains of corn. The
hieroglyphs that write his name similarly
include the symbols of grain.
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Naturally, as lord of the mouth, Neper's mother
was identified as Renenutet, who gave out the
Ren, a person's true name, and who was also identified
as source of nourishment.
Once the myth of the Legend of Osiris
and Isis had begun to be told, since
Osiris was now a life-death-rebirth
deity, in common with many cultures, his story was associated
with the annual harvest, and the annual disappearance of any
visible life in the crop. Thus, at this point, Neper became
considered merely an aspect of Osiris,
a much more significant god, gaining the title (one who) lives
after dying.
Gods
and Goddesses Menu
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