The Nun family tree in Egyptian mythology begins with Nun (also Nu or Nunu), the primordial watery abyss from which the first god Atum emerged, making Nun the great-grandfather of the major Egyptian deities like Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. Nun is not a genealogical father in the human sense; he is the personification of the dark, chaotic waters that existed before creation, and his “offspring” are the result of a self-creation act by Atum, who arose from Nun’s depths.
Who Is Nun in Egyptian Mythology?
Nun is one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, appearing in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2400 BCE) as the primeval ocean. He is often depicted as a bearded man lying on a boat or holding a solar barque, symbolizing the waters that surround and support the world. Unlike other gods, Nun has no temples or cult centers; he is an abstract concept representing the formless, infinite potential from which all creation sprang. In the Heliopolitan creation myth, Nun is the first principle, not a creator who acts but the raw material from which the creator emerges.
The Genealogy: From Nun to the Ennead
The most detailed family tree comes from the Heliopolitan theology, which outlines the Ennead (nine gods). The lineage is as follows:
- Nun (primordial waters) – no parents, self-existent.
- Atum (or Ra-Atum) – emerges from Nun, either self-created or born from Nun’s waters.
- Shu (air) and Tefnut (moisture) – produced by Atum through sneezing or spitting (depending on the text).
- Geb (earth) and Nut (sky) – children of Shu and Tefnut.
- Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys – children of Geb and Nut, completing the Ennead.
Thus, Nun is the great-grandfather of Geb and Nut, and the great-great-grandfather of Osiris and his siblings. Some texts also mention a female counterpart, Naunet, as the feminine aspect of the abyss, but she is rarely given a role in the genealogy.
Variations in Other Creation Myths
The family tree changes depending on the city and era. In Hermopolis, the Ogdoad (eight deities) included Nun and Naunet as a pair, along with four other male-female couples representing chaos. These eight created an egg from which the sun god emerged, but they are not described as ancestors of the Ennead. In Memphis, the god Ptah is said to have created Atum through thought and word, making Ptah the ultimate creator, with Nun as a passive element. In the Theban tradition, Amun is identified with Nun as the hidden force behind creation. These variations show that Nun’s role as an ancestor is symbolic rather than literal across all Egyptian theology.
Nun’s Role in the Solar Cycle
Beyond genealogy, Nun is central to the daily journey of the sun. Each night, the sun god Ra travels through the underworld in his barque, and at dawn he is reborn from Nun’s waters. This is depicted in the Amduat and Book of Gates, where Nun is shown as the source of the primeval mound on which the sun rises. The sun’s rebirth is seen as a repetition of the original creation, with Nun acting as the eternal womb. Some texts describe Nun as the father of Ra, but this is a theological metaphor for the sun’s emergence from the abyss, not a literal parentage.
Common Misconceptions: Nun vs. Other Primordial Gods
People often confuse Nun with other creator gods. Nun is not the same as Atum (the self-created god), nor is he a creator who shapes the world by will. He is also distinct from Ptah, who creates by speech, and from Amun, who is a hidden force. Nun is passive, existing as the dark waters before any act of creation. Another misconception is that Nun is a god of the sea; the Egyptians did not have a sea god in the same sense, and Nun is more like an infinite underground ocean. Finally, Nun is not a monster or a chaos dragon (that role belongs to Apep, who is sometimes said to be born from Nun’s waters but is not part of the family tree).
How the Nun Family Tree Was Used in Egyptian Religion
The genealogy served political and religious purposes. Pharaohs claimed descent from the gods, and by linking themselves to the Ennead, they established legitimacy. The Heliopolitan priests used the family tree to explain the order of the cosmos, with each god representing a natural element. In funerary texts, the deceased hoped to be reborn like the sun from Nun, and spells often invoked Nun’s name for protection. The family tree also provided a framework for understanding divine relationships, such as Osiris as the father of Horus, which is central to the Osiris myth. However, the tree was not fixed; different dynasties altered it to elevate their patron gods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nun the father of all gods?
No. Nun is the primordial abyss, not a father in a biological sense. In the Heliopolitan myth, Atum emerges from Nun and then creates Shu and Tefnut. So Nun is an ancestor, but he does not directly sire any god. In some texts, Nun is called the “father of the gods” as a title of respect, but this is not a genealogical claim.
Who are Nun’s children?
Nun does not have children in most myths. The first deity to emerge from him is Atum, but Atum is often described as self-created. In the Ogdoad tradition, Nun is paired with Naunet, but they do not produce offspring; they are one of four chaotic couples. So, strictly speaking, Nun has no direct children.
Is Nun the same as the Greek Chaos?
There are similarities: both are formless, primordial states from which creation arises. However, Chaos in Greek mythology is often described as a void or gap, while Nun is specifically water. Also, Chaos is not personified as a deity in the same way; Nun is depicted as a god with a human form. The Egyptian concept is more concrete and tied to the Nile’s flooding.
Why is Nun depicted as a man if he is water?
Egyptian deities often had human forms, even for abstract concepts. Nun is shown as a bearded man to represent his role as an elder, wise force. He is sometimes shown with water signs, like ripples or a water pot, to indicate his nature. The human form made him relatable and allowed him to interact with other gods in myths.
Does Nun appear in the Book of the Dead?
Yes. Spell 17 of the Book of the Dead mentions Nun as the primeval water from which the sun god Ra rose. The deceased often identifies with Ra, hoping to be reborn from Nun. Nun is also invoked in spells for protection, as his waters are seen as a source of life and renewal.
What is the difference between Nun and Naunet?
Naunet is the female counterpart of Nun, representing the same primordial waters but in a feminine aspect. In the Ogdoad, they are a pair, but Naunet is rarely mentioned in other contexts. She is not a separate deity with her own myths; she exists to provide balance and duality in the Hermopolitan creation story.
Related
- Uni in Etruscan Mythology: Queen of the Gods
- Electra in Greek Mythology: Roles and Myths
- Bel in Mesopotamian Mythology: God, Title, and Cult
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