According to most myths, Ra, before ascending to heaven, bequeathed the earthly throne to Geb. Some sources, however, report that the throne of Ra was inherited by Shu, and only then was replaced by Geb. The legend given below is set out according to the text of the so-called “Naos from Saft-el Genna” (XXX dynasty).
During his reign, Shu built many sanctuaries and temples throughout Egypt. One day the serpent Apep tried to destroy these temples. Shu entered into battle with Apep and won, but from the wounds received during the battle, the god fell ill and went blind.
When this happened, the divine order established by the goddess Maat was disrupted in Egypt. Lawlessness reigned, and Geb fell in love with his mother, the goddess Tefnut. Seizing the moment when Shu left his palace, Geb burst in, took possession of his mother by force and seized his father's throne. Having committed these crimes, he publicly vowed to deal mercilessly with Shu if the wind god dared to return to the palace. Frightened Shu heeded his son's threats and did not return.
For nine days the hurricane howled and raged - it was the god of the wind who cried and tore out his hair in despair. Impenetrable darkness enveloped the banks of the Great River. On the tenth day, the darkness dissipated, the wind died down, the storm subsided, and the gods had no choice but to recognize Geb as the rightful ruler of the earth.
After twenty-seven days of his reign, Geb decided to bypass the possessions and went to. East. There he met people who told him about Shu's valor, how Shu fought with Apep and how he placed the Eye on his forehead. “This Eye,” the people said, “has great power and is called the Eye of Wadjet.” If placed on the forehead, it will kill enemies with its dazzling rays.
As soon as Geb heard this, he was overcome by irresistible envy, and he decided to get the Eye of Wadjet at all costs. He went in search and a few days later met O^ at the foot of the mountain. Having uttered a joyful cry, Geb rushed towards him and was about to grab him, but the Eye suddenly turned into a cobra-uraeus and released poison. The god of the earth was engulfed in flames and fell down with a fever.
Having learned about what had happened, the Heliopolis Ennead gathered for a council and decided to treat Heb. But no medicines, no miraculous potions and magic spells helped the sick god. Then the Great Nine said:
- Let him contemplate the radiance of the god Ra - solar Ah. This will heal him.
Ra illuminated a large stone with his Ah, and this stone was placed on the head of Geb. The fever went away immediately. A few years later, the stone was washed by the waters of the Great Lake (the lake that arose in Nuna and from which the Lotus grew at the beginning of creation), and the stone turned into the crocodile Sebek.
Having recovered, Geb decided that from now on he would live in full accordance with the laws established by the goddess Maat. He turned to Nine with a request to teach him how to build temples, irrigate the land and sow grain. The gods happily fulfilled Geb's request, and Geb, having learned crafts, soon eliminated all the destruction that he had caused in Egypt. Having reigned in 1773, Geb abdicated the throne.
Geb is depicted, as a rule, paired with the goddess Nut at the moment when Shu separates heaven from earth. The symbol and sacred animal of Heb is the white goose: a bird personifying the Great Gogotun. The soul of Geb was sometimes considered to be the two-headed sphinx Aker.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru