Editing Nephthys (section)

==Chief goddess of Nome VII==
[[File:Egyptian - Triad of Isis, Nephthys, and Harpocrates - Walters 481674.jpg|thumb|Triad of Isis, Nephthys, and [[Harpocrates]]. Early Greco-Roman. [[Walters Museum]]|upright]]
Nephthys was considered the unique protectress of the [[Bennu]] bird. This role may have stemmed from an early association in her native [[Heliopolis (ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]] which was renowned for its "House of the Bennu" temple. In this role, Nephthys was given the name "Nephthys-Kheresket" and a wealth of temple texts from [[Temple of Edfu|Edfu]], [[Dendera Temple complex|Dendera]], [[Philae temple complex|Philae]], [[Temple of Kom Ombo|Kom Ombo]], El Qa'la, [[Esna]], and others corroborate the late identification of Nephthys as the supreme goddess of Upper Egyptian [[Nome (Egypt)|Nome VII]], where another shrine existed in honor of the Bennu. Nephthys also was the goddess of the "Mansion of the [[Sistrum]]" in Hwt-Sekhem (Gr. [[Diospolis Parva]]), the chief city of Nome VII. There, Nephthys was the primary protectress of the resident Osirian relic, of the Bennu Bird, and of the local Horus/Osiris manifestation, the god Neferhotep.<ref>Sauneron, Beitrage Bf. 6, 46; C. Traunecker, Le temple d'El-Qal'a. Relevés des scènes et des textes. I' Sanctuaire central. Sanctuaire nord. Salle des offrandes 1 à 112</ref>

Nephthys was most widely and usually worshiped in ancient Egypt as part of a consortium of temple deities. Therefore, it should not be surprising that her cult images could likely be found as part of the divine entourage in temples at [[Kharga Oasis|Kharga]], [[Kellis]], Deir el-Hagar, [[Koptos]], Dendera, Philae, [[Sebennytos]], [[Busiris (Middle Egypt)|Busiris]], Shenhur, El Qa'la, [[Latopolis|Letopolis]], Heliopolis, [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]], [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]], [[Dakhla Oasis|Dakleh Oasis]], and indeed throughout Egypt.<ref>BIFAO website</ref> In most cases, Nephthys found her typical place as part of a triad alongside Osiris and Isis, Isis and Horus, Isis and Min, or as part of a quartet of deities.