This is the side of a beautifully π€ painted sarcophagus at the Brooklyn Museum!
The goddess πΉπ Nephthys π ππ is portrayed where the head of the deceased would be laid because she is regarded as a protector π ππ‘π of the dead π ππ±. This tradition began during the New Kingdom. Nephthys π ππ was Sethβs πππ‘π£ wife, the sister π’ππ of Isis π¨ππ₯, and during later parts of mythology the mother π ππ of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ through a union with Osiris πΉπ¨ π.
Even though Nephthys π ππ is associated with Seth πππ‘π£, she is regarded as a positive figure in the later evolutions of Egyptian mythology, and she even helped Isis π¨ππ₯ find Osirisβ πΉπ¨ scattered body pieces and put him back together after Seth πππ‘π£ cut him up!
One of her titles is βMistress of the House.β She is often associated with vultures, hence why she is frequently depicted with wings. The headdress that she wears are the hieroglyphs πΉππͺ for her name! Something super interesting is that even though Seth πππ‘π£ and Nephthys π ππ are husband and wife they are rarely shown together. Instead, Nephthys π ππ is usually depicted with Isis π¨ππ₯ and Osiris πΉπ¨ π.