Once upon a time – a long, long time ago, in the time when nothing existed (God) the All That Is (RE, the Creator or Creative Impulse) self-created himself in the form of the God Atum. He then spat out of his mouth a male named Shu and a female named Tefnut – and so the world begins….
Shu became known to us as Space/Air and Tefnut became known to us as Water. Shu and Tefnut had two children whom they named Geb which we call Earth and Nut which we call Sky
Nut became the consort of RE the Creator. However, Nut (Sky) had a fondness for her brother Geb (Earth) and they had sexual relations. When the mighty RE discovered this he became enraged with jealousy and anger! As punishment he decreed that Geb (Earth) and Nut (Sky) should be forever separated by their father, Shu (Air ) He then forbid Nut (Sky) to ever have children.
Now Thoth, the God of Wisdom and Keeper of the Records, felt sorry for Nut and challenged the Moon to a game of chess. The deal was that if Thoth won the game then the Moon would make 5 extra days in the year over which RE would have no control. Luckily for Nut and Geb (Sky and Earth) Thoth won the game of chess and during those 5 days Nut and Geb could be together. During those extra days Nut gave birth to 4 children – two boys namely Osiris and Set, two girls namely Isis and Nephthys.
On the nights of a full moon when you are out with a loved one you can look at the far horizon and share with your sweetheart the story of Nut and Geb – and if it is a specially romantic night you can smile and know that this is one of the special nights when Nut and Geb are coming together on that horizon!
Karnak Temple is dedicated to Creation and so much of the symbolism of Karnak Temple is about Creation. The undulating mud wall surrounding the Temple itself signified the waters out of which came the Earth itself (symbolised by the Temple).