Nehebkau

Nehebkau
Illustration of Nehebkau based on depictions in papyri
Other names	Nehebu-Kau
Venerated in	Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom
Abode	Heliopolis
Gender	Male
Parents	Serket or Geb and Renenutet
Consort	Nehmetawy

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Ancient Egyptian religion
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Nehebkau^{[pronunciation?]} (also spelled Nehebu-Kau) was the primordial snake god in ancient Egyptian mythology. Although originally considered an evil spirit, he later functions as a funerary god associated with the afterlife. As one of the forty-two assessors of Ma’at, Nehebkau was believed to judge the deceased after death and provide their souls with ka – the part of the soul that distinguished the living from the dead.

Nehebkau was ultimately considered a powerful, benevolent and protective deity. In late mythology, he is described as a companion of the sun god Ra and an attendant of the deceased King. As he is so closely associated with the sun god, his name was evoked in magical spells for protection. His festival was widely celebrated throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms.