Stela with the Representation of Nekhbet-Renenutet

The surface of this stela is slightly damaged, however, traces of yellow and red ochre paint is still visible. In the upper left corner, Renenutet, a snake goddess of the harvest and victuals is depicted wearing the double feather crown. She is also identified with the ureus-snake providing protection against enemies; her cult was particularly popular during the New Kingdom. On the right side of the register, a man is offering water and fowl to the goddess whom the vertical hieroglyphic inscription refers to as “Nekhbet-Renenutet”. Nekhbet, the protector goddess of Upper Egypt, was usually represented as a vulture or cobra. Similarly to Renenutet, she was responsible for sustenance and provided protection against enemies. In the lower register, there are three figures; from left to right, the wife and the sons of the man presenting offerings to the goddess above. A large, closed jar stands in front of them in which the family may have kept a living cobra thus Renenutet was worshipped not only in a temple cult but a house cult as well. The stela probably originates from Deir el-Medina, the purpose-built settlement of the craftsmen who prepared the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom.