A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – Unlike mythologies from other ancient cultures, Egyptian mythology does not have many terrible creatures. The most frightening monster was a gigantic and evil snake, Apophis (in Greek), while in Egypt, it was known as Apep.

 Apophis in the tomb of Ramesses III.  Credit: Adobe Stock – Vermeulen-Perdaen

The snake represented a source of chaos and darkness, and as such, he was frequently portrayed as the enemy of Ra on tomb walls and in funerary papyri.

As the one who was always in battle with the god Ra, Apophis is also mentioned in ancient tales, particularly widespread during the New Kingdom (c. 1550 BC – c. 1077 BC).

Ancient storytellers narrated that the snake lurked below the horizon daily, waiting for Ra in different locations. One of them was a western mountain called Bakhu.

In his book “Ancient Egypt, the Light of the World,” Gerald Mᴀssey writes that “Mount Bakhu having been named in Egyptian from the olive-tree of dawn as a celestial summit located in Olivet [Biblical: Mount of Olives], the mountain eastward; and in the Gospels, although the mount is mentioned several times, and apparently in different localities, there is but one name given to it, that of Mount Olivet=Bakhu, one typical mount – the Egyptian mount, equivalent to the horizon, as the summit of the earth.”

Among Apophis’s other hiding places was the so-called “Tenth Region of the Night,” from which he wanted to attack Ra just before dawn when the sun god was on his way to begin his daily journey across the sky. Apophis’s different hiding places gave him the name “World-Encircler.”

Prayers, Spells, And Good Will Supported Ra’s Fight With Apophis

According to tradition, Ra’s victory each night over Apophis was supported by prayers of the priests and worshipers, who felt obligated to help Ra successfully leave the underworld and appear as usual each morning to bring light and life to the Egyptians. Additionally, the Egyptians practiced several proper spells and rituals that were believed to ward off the evil snake and help Ra continue his crucial journey across the sky.

Apophis in his realm – Duat. A part of a scene of the fourth hour of the Book of the Gates from KV2, tomb of Rameses IV. Analysis: “the time is like a serpent, of which the nocturnal hours are born like goddesses. After its trip they are devoured again by the serpent. The blue triangles represent the water in the underworld”. Image credit – contrib. – Schreibkraft – CC0 1.0

The Egyptians used to build wax figures of the snake, which they then disfigured and dismembered. One ritual included the depiction of Apophis, whose symbolical destruction was equal to the destruction of the enemy. This ritual was supposed to give the gods a particular advantage against Apophis.

Hostility Of Apophis Against God Ra

Legend has it Neith was a fearsome Egyptian mother of the gods and creator of Ra, Apophis, and the universe. The story of Apophis’s birth was recorded in the second century BC on the walls of Esna Temple, located about 50 km south of Luxor (ancient Thebes). At this very moment when the sun god Ra appeared, the sinister Apophis was also born. According to the concept of duality, evil is necessary as a counterpart to good.

Ra ruled over sunny days, crossing the sky daily in his solar barque accompanied by gods and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ pharaohs. He traveled through the afterlife by night, a dangerous abode of the great serpent Apophis, whose time and place of action were just there.

During his journey through the underworld, the sun god Ra fought demons, which was unusual because according to the principle of Maat, or order against chaos represented by monsters, this struggle had to happen.

Each Night The Same Battle

So, the indestructible Apophis attempted to end Ra’s existence and his rule each night. Occasionally, during cloudy, darker days and eclipses, the ancient Egyptians believed that Apophis was very close to defeating Ra.

Egyptian papyrus with gods in boat. Anubis, Ra, Thoth, ancient Egyptian deities. Credit Adobe stock –Olga Che.

They were wrong because the actual fight between these two eternal enemies occurred only during the night. As Ra’s barque disappeared from the sky, Apophis and many demons waited patiently at the underworld gates to attack. Fortunately, Ra had many helpers on his boat who were ready to act. Without their ᴀssistance, the rising daily sun and the world’s existence were seriously in danger.

This battle, over and over again, could never end. Until the next night, Ra could feel protected and reborn to return the next night and confront the next fight.

First Defeat Of Apophis By Ra 

Apop was first defeated by the god Ra, who took the form of a giant cat for this purpose, then subdued and removed from the world’s borders by Seth, who used to help fight the monster at the request of the god Ra.

Using spells, Seth pierced the body of a monstrous snake with spears, but it never helped because the monster regenerated and still posed a threat.

In “The Book of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ,” there is a prophecy:

“This earth will return to the primeval water, Nun, to the endless flood as it was in the beginning. And in the end, there will be no gods or goddesses. Nothing but Atum, the Lord of All who made all mankind and all gods.”

Atum was destined to appear as a serpent.

Written by – A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on February 25, 2024

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