According to variants of the creation myth, Shu issued out as semen from Atum’s self-copulation, or as breath from Atum’s sneeze. Shu was thus the god of Life and the god of the Air. Together with his sister-wife, Tefnut, goddess of moisture, they embodied the forces necessary to life.

Moreover, Shu was identified with the sun, Tefnut with the moon. Their offspring were Geb, the earth, and Newet (Nut), the sky. The air god lifted the vault of the sky on upraised arms, separating it from the earth. Shu was considered son of Re when Atum was identified with that sun-creator god, and Shu fought on the sun’s behalf, and given a lion’s head. Otherwise, Shu was depicted in human form with his hieroglyphic sign of a feather on his head.

For a more complete view of Shu by Nefeti Meritamen: Shu