Nebethet



Nebethet The Ivory Goddess

Pantheon
Punt (Black Kingdoms)

Names & Titles
Nebethet, the Ivory Goddess

Regions of Worship
Punt (Black Kingdoms)

Representation
Prior to Conan’s 37th year, a grotesque statue stood in Nebethet’s temple in Punt. The ghostly statue of that time was wonderfully nude, well-rounded and seductive, but instead of having a woman’s equally attractive facial features, the face was that of a ghoulish death’s head, a terrible and naked skull. Although the size of a small woman, the horrific statue was carved from a single piece of ivory. After Conan’s 37th year, a new ivory statue was carved to look like Muriela, a Corinthian dancer who dared to impersonate the Ivory Goddess. The new statue is beautiful beyond comparison with mortal beauty.

Gender Representation: Female

Symbolism

 * Skull
 * Ivory

Spheres of Power

 * Death
 * Luck
 * Prophecy

Rituals & Beliefs
The Ivory Goddess is said to come to life when the light of the full moon strikes her ivory idol; at this time she speaks her omens. The chiefs of Punt consult her before each grave decision. Stygians identify her with Nephthys (see Setite Pantheon), although she is more likely the deified form of an ancient Puntish queen named after that divinity.

Nebethet is primarily worshipped in a shrine-temple located in an uninhabited place not far from Kassali, the royal city of Punt. The temple is a round, domed marble building in the shape of a skull, built before the arrival of the Gallahs. To enter one must pass a barred portal with a huge portcullis of green bronze resembles a mouth with bared fangs and is flanked on the second story by two square windows, which appear like empty eye-sockets.

Inside the Temple of the Ivory Goddess is an upstairs room with an old wooden floor and a trap door. The trapdoor opens on stairs to the lower floor. The lower floor has a spacious rotunda surrounded by a circle of marble columns that support the domed roof. Six small copper lamps hang from long chains beneath the circle of the dome. On the perimeter opposite the great portal, backed by a fretted marble screen, is a dais set with three marble steps. The ivory statue of the goddess stands upon the dais.

The Priesthood
The tribal priests and clergy of Punt portray themselves as messengers of the gods and/or spirits, for the gods speak only to the priests by way of oracular statues.

Implementation IC & In-Game
Vanilla Derketo religion.

More Information
(Return to the Road of Kings (Conan RPG Book)
 * Faith and Fervour (Conan RPG Book)