Geb was the Netjer of the earth. His wife and sister was Newet (Nut), his parents, Shu and Tefnut, children of Atum. His children were Wesir (Osiris), Aset (Isis), Set, and Nebet-het (Nephthys). These nine made up the Heliopolis Ennead. In some accounts Heru (Horus) is also supposed to be a son of Geb and Newet.

UTTERANCE 1

Recitation by Newet, the greatly beneficient: The King is my eldest son who split open my womb; he is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

UTTERANCE 2

Recitation by Geb: The King is my bodily son . . . (text incomplete)

UTTERANCE 3

Recitation by Newet, the great who dwells in the Lower Mansion: The King is my beloved son, my first-born upon the throne of Geb, with whom he is well pleased, and he has given to him his heritage in the presence of the Great Ennead. All the gods are in joy, and they say: How goodly is the King! His father Geb is pleased with him.

Pyramid Texts (5th Dynasty), translated by R.O. Faulkner

Geb was judge in the contest between Heru and Set, favoring Heru since Heru, as son of Wesir, was rightful ruler of the world. This relationship is reflected in the king sometimes being called "heir of Geb". In the Pyramid Texts the deceased enters the body of the deceased in his role as personification of the earth - swallowed and trapped - "the King will not enter into Geb lest he perish and lest he sleep in his mansion upon earth . . . ". He is often portrayed as green or with plants sprouting from his body. Earthquakes were said to be the "Laughter of Geb".

He is often pictured between the stretched out vault of the starry sky, his wife Newet - frequently ithyphallic and straining for intercourse with Newet - sign of his role as fertility god. They are separated by their father Shu (air). His sign was the white fronted goose, hence his daughter Aset is sometimes referred to as "egg of the goose". Sometimes he is shown with a goose on his head, but more frequently with the crown of Lower Egypt.