Anuket was the ancient Egyptian goddess of the Nile. Her name means ‘to embrace’ and refers to the waters embracing the fields during the inundation period. She was worshipped as the great nourisher of the farms and fields because of the annual inundation of the Nile that deposited the heavy layer of black silt from Upper Egypt and Nubia. She is regarded as one of the foster mothers of the pharaohs. Her milk is believed to have healing and nourishing qualities. Some also saw her as the deity who would protect women during childbirth.