A daughter of Nut and Geb, Nephthys is typically paired with her sister Isis in funerary rights because of their role as guardians/ protectors of the mummy, and the god Osiris. She is also the sister-wife of Set. She is sometimes considered the mother of the deity Anubis. Nephthys is known for in some Egyptian temple theologies and cosmologies as the "Useful Goddess" or the "Excellent Goddess." She is described in these Ancient Egyptian texts as a goddess who represented divine assistance and protective guardianship.

Although Nephthys is less well understood in Egyptian mythology she is not less important. She is considered to be the primary "nursing mother" of the Pharaonic-god Horus, Nephthys was also the nurse of the reigning Pharaoh himself. While other goddesses could be substituted for this role, she is the most commonly used to portray the role.

In contrast Nephthys is sometimes seen as a rather ferocious and dangerous divinity, capable of incinerating the enemies of the Pharaoh with her fiery breath (don't mess with Momma haha).

"Ascend and descend; descend with Nephthys, sink into darkness with the Night-bark. Ascend and descend; ascend with Isis, rise with the Day-bark."
Pyramid Text Utterance 222 line 210.