About

Geb is an Earth Neter, and is considered to be the president of the divine tribunal on the kingship of Egypt. In the Pyramid Era, Geb is called the eldest of Shu , and the offspring of Geb and His sister-consort (Nut) produced the Neterw of the legends of Wesir.

In the Pyramid Texts, Geb's iconography is described as holding one arm to the sky, and the other arm towards the earth. Some of the most preserved visages of Geb come from the New Kingdom religious papyri where Geb reclines partly on his side, usually with his arm bent at the elbow. Geb can be seen with green skin which is indicative of his role with vegetation. The papyrus of Tenamun in the Twenty-First Dynasty, shows that Geb's body is decorated with the symbols depicting the flowering of the Nile reeds. When his phallus is shown, it can be either flaccid, or erect (stretching towards Nut). On occasion, Geb can be seen in the royal tombs, wearing the hieroglyph of His name upon His head. In the tomb of Ramses VI, above the sarcophagus, Geb is shown with the head of a hare.

As an earth-god, Geb's nature is more universal than that of Aker. The concept that Geb has a ominous side is shown in the Pyramid Texts where the concept that Geb might imprison the deceased within Him, effectively preventing their movement in the Afterlife. It is asserted in the Pyramid Texts that the king does not enter or sleep in the mansion of Geb upon the earth. Also to be feared was the laughter of Geb, which translates into the destructive and devastating power of an earthquake. Benignly, Geb also provides nourishment and fruits to the people. Barley was thought to grow from the ribs of Geb.

Geb's connection with fertility was established in a hymn, where Hapi is called a friend of Geb. Geb also shows an interest in healing. He is mentioned in magical texts for curing headaches, as well as occasionally being included in spells regarding scorpion stings. On one occasion, Geb gives his healing power to Aset so that She may be able to cure a child who has been stung by scorpions.

In the myth of the transmission of kingship to Heru, the culminating scenes took place in what is called the 'Broad Hall of Geb'. In the Pyramid Texts, Geb is considered to be the presiding judge over the dispute between Heru and Set. This position of judge appears to be handed to Geb from Atum. During their contending (Heru ans Set), Geb was naturally sympathetic towards Heru as Wesir (Heru's father) was next in line to be crowned pharaoh. Geb's preference towards Wesir and Heru is shown when Geb originally fished the body of Wesir out of the Nile river for embalming. Once Heru had been vindicated in his claim to the throne, it was by Geb's order that Heru was the lawful heir to the throne of Egypt. From that point onwards, Geb (by extension) also becomes the staunch upholder of the pharaoh. Another passage in the Pyramid Texts relates that Geb actively supports the pharaoh as Heru, victorious over Set. In that passage, the King would perform a dance which celebrated the belief that Geb would not allow harm to come to the rightful heir to the throne.