In the early days of the world, Nut, the goddess of the sky, and Geb, the god of the earth, fell deeply in love. Ra, the Sun God and ruler of all, grew jealous and fearful of their union. He cast a powerful curse upon Nut: she was forbidden from giving birth on any day of any month of the year, which at that time consisted of 360 days. Heartbroken, Nut sought the help of Thoth, the ibis-headed god of wisdom. Thoth knew he could not simply break Ra’s decree, so he devised a clever plan. He approached Khonsu, the Moon God, and challenged him to a game of chance. Thoth played brilliantly, and for every game he won, he claimed a fraction of the moon’s light—specifically 1/72nd. By the end of their match, Thoth had gathered enough light to create five brand-new days. Because these days did not belong to any month in the official calendar, Ra’s curse did not apply to them. On these five 'epagomenal' days, Nut finally gave birth to her children: Osiris, Horus the Elder, Set, Isis, and Nephthys. Thus, Thoth’s wit expanded the year to 365 days and allowed the most famous gods of Egypt to enter the world.
Intellect and creativity can find solutions to seemingly impossible problems by looking for gaps where others see only barriers.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of Thoth Wins the Five Extra Days?
The moral is that wisdom and lateral thinking can overcome even the most rigid rules. By finding a loophole in Ra's curse, Thoth demonstrated that intelligence is a powerful tool for justice.
Who were the five children born to Nut?
The five children born on the extra days were Osiris, Horus the Elder, Set, Isis, and Nephthys. These deities went on to become the most central figures in the Egyptian pantheon and its mythology.
Why did Ra curse Nut in the first place?
Ra was the supreme ruler and feared that any children born from the union of Nut (Sky) and Geb (Earth) would eventually rise up and overthrow him. He issued the curse to ensure she could never bear heirs.
What are the 'Five Extra Days' called?
They are known as the Epagomenal Days. In the ancient Egyptian calendar, these five days were added to the end of the 360-day year to bring it into alignment with the solar year of 365 days.
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