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Unut: The Swift Hare Goddess of Fertility and Rebirth

Unut (also known as Wenut or Wenet) was an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with fertility, new birth, and swiftness. Originally depicted as a snake, she later took on the form of a hare, an animal sacred to her.

Origins and Worship

Unut was primarily venerated in the Hare Nome (Wenet), the 15th Upper Egyptian province, and was worshipped alongside Thoth at Hermopolis (Wenu in Egyptian). As her worship evolved, she became associated with Horus and later Ra, integrating into major Egyptian religious traditions.

Iconography and Symbolism

While initially depicted as a serpent, Unut later took on a female human body with the head of a hare, emphasizing her swiftness and connection to fertility. Her role in Egyptian mythology highlights the fluid nature of divine representations, where gods and goddesses could shift between forms and attributes over time.