bull of his mother rejoices in the cow (ahet, the mother) and man fructifies through his semen."
In further inscriptions Hatmehit was directly referred
to as the "mother of Mendes." (Mendes is the Greek
form of Bi-neb-did: ram.) She is also invoked as the
"Good," with the additional significance of ta-nofert, or
"young woman." The cow as symbol of the mother is
found in all possible forms and variations of Hathor-Isis,
and also in the female Nun (parallel to this is the
primitive goddess Nit or Neith), the protoplasm which,
related to the Hindoo Atman,[59] is equally of masculine
and feminine nature. Nun is, therefore, invoked as
Amon,[60] the original water,[61] which is in the beginning.
He is also designated as the father of fathers, the mother
of mothers. To this corresponds the invocation to the
female side of Nun-Amon, of Nit or Neith.
"Nit, the ancient, the mother of god, the mistress of Esne,
the father of fathers, the mother of mothers, who is the beetle
and the vulture, the being in its beginning.
"Nit, the ancient, the mother who bore the light god, Râ, who bore first of all, when there was nothing which brought forth.
"The cow, the ancient, which bore the sun, and then laid the germ of gods and men."
The word "nun" has the significance of young, fresh,
new, also the on-coming waters of the Nile flood. In a
transferred sense "nun" was also used for the chaotic
primitive waters; in general for the primitive generating
matter[62] which was personified by the goddess Nunet.
From her Nut sprang, the goddess of heaven, who was
