Editing Nu (mythology) (section)

== Iconography ==
[[File:Nun Raises the Sun.jpg|left|thumb|Nun lifts the [[solar barque]] with the new-born sun from the waters of creation.]]{{CSS image crop|Image=Bookofthedeadspell17.jpg|bSize=700|cWidth=280|cHeight=120|oTop=|oLeft=0|Description=The mystical Spell 17, from the [[Papyrus of Ani]]. The vignette illustrates (left) Nu.}}Nun was depicted as an anthropomorphic large figure and a personification of the primordial waters,<ref name="Wilkinson-2003"/> holding a notched palm branch. Nun was also depicted in anthropomorphic form but with the head of a frog, and he was typically depicted in ancient Egyptian art holding aloft the [[Solar Barque|solar barque]] or the sun disc. He may appear greeting the rising sun in the guise of a baboon. Nun is otherwise symbolized by the presence of a sacred cistern or lake as in the sanctuaries of [[Karnak]] and [[Dendera|Dendara]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
Nu was shown usually as male but also had aspects that could be represented as female or male. Naunet (also spelt Nunet) is the female aspect, which is the name ''Nu'' with a female gender ending. The male aspect, Nun, is written with a male gender ending. As with the primordial concepts of the Ogdoad, Nu's male aspect was depicted as a frog, or a frog-headed man. In Ancient Egyptian art, Nun also appears as a bearded man, with blue-green skin, representing water. Naunet is represented as a snake or snake-headed woman.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In the 12th Hour of the [[Book of Gates]], Nu is depicted with upraised arms holding a [[solar deity|solar bark]] (or barque, a [[boat]]). The boat is occupied by eight deities with [[Khepri]], Ra's morning aspect, standing in the middle and being surrounded by the seven other deities.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

During the [[Late Period of ancient Egypt|Late Period]] when Egypt was occupied by foreign powers, the negative aspect of Nun (ie. chaos) became the dominant perception, reflecting the forces of disorder that were set loose in the country.<ref name="oxford"/>