Editing Nehebkau (section)

== Relationship to other gods ==
[[File:Egyptian - Neheb-kau - Walters 481615 - Right.jpg|thumb|An Ancient Egyptian representation of Nehebkau, houses in the [[Walters Art Museum]] and produced in the [[Third Intermediate Period of Egypt|Third Intermediate Period]]. This representation has a human body and serpent head and tail. The knees are flexed and the hands are at the mouth.]]
Nehebkau continuously appears alongside the sun god Re, as an assistant, companion and successor.<ref name=shorter/>

As an assessor of Maat in the Court of Osiris, he was also associated with [[Osiris]] himself: the god of the dead, fertility and the afterlife.<ref name=wilkinson/> Although not all of the 42 assessors have been identified by scholars, Wilkerson considers significant deities such as the ibis [[Thoth]] and crocodile [[Sobek]] to be included in the tribunal, and these gods can therefore be considered associates of Nehebkau.<ref name=wilkinson/>

As a snake deity, he was associated with and likely modelled after the great snake [[Apep]] — the enemy of Ra and embodiment of chaos in Egyptian myth.<ref name=lucarelli>{{Cite encyclopedia|last=Lucarelli|first=Rita|title=Demons (benevolent and malevolent)|encyclopedia=UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology|volume=1|pages=1–10}}</ref>

Additionally, as a visiting god of [[Heliopolis (ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]] and an ancient deity, Nehebkau was often associated with [[Atum]]: the creator god who calms his chaotic nature.<ref name=nageh/>

Nehebkau was represented as a consort of the minor goddess [[Nehmetawy|Nehmtaway]], who is also a known partner of the wisdom god [[Thoth]].<ref name=wilkinson/> She was depicted as a goddess holding an infant, with a distinguishing headdress shaped like a [[sistrum]] - an Ancient Egyptian musical instrument.<ref name=wilkinson/>

He sometimes appeared as a consort to the scorpion goddess [[Serket]],<ref name=shorter/> who protected the deceased King and was often evoked to cure poison and scorpion stings.<ref name=wilkinson/> Some myths also describe Nehebkau as Serket's son.<ref name=wilkinson/>

Alternatively, he was believed to be the son of the earth god [[Geb]]. This is common with Egyptian snake gods and associated with the imagery of snakes crawling across the earth.<ref name=massiera/> When Geb is represented as his father, Nehebkau's mother is considered to be the harvest goddess [[Renenutet]]:<ref name=wilkinson/> the 'good snake' who ensured bountiful fields, harvests and kitchens for the living<ref name=pinch/> and nourished the kas of the dead.<ref name=pinch/>

The image of Nehebkau also appeared on depictions of the thrones of feline goddess [[Sekhmet]] and [[Bastet]].<ref name=shorter/> Wilkerson theorises that this iconography would have likely symbolised his protection over them.<ref name=wilkinson/>