IT IS SAID THAT THE VERSE:-

Pharaoh said: "O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself...''
[Qur'an !:"!#
Contradi$teth the %erses :&
'#''(nd the $hiefs of Pharaoh's )eo)le said: '*o you lea+e ,usa
and his )eo)le to make
mis$hief in the land and to forsake you and your gods-' '' [Qur'an
.:'.#
#[Pharaoh# said/ "If you take a god other than me/ I will surely
)la$e you among those
im)risoned."
[Qur'an 0:1#
But :-
Verse 28:38 may be translated as follow:-
Pharaoh said: "O Chiefs! no 2od do I know for you but myself...''
[Qur'an !:"!#
Verse 29:26 may be translated as follow:-
[Pharaoh] said, !f you ta"e a #od other than me, ! will surely $la%e you amon& those im$risoned'
Verse (:)2( may be translated as follow:-
''(nd the $hiefs of Pharaoh's )eo)le said: '*o you lea+e ,usa and
his )eo)le to make
mis$hief in the land and to forsake you and your gods-' '' [Qur'an
.:'.#
"God"[with a capital ''G'' not a small ''g''] shold !" #"s"#$"d to "%p#"ss th"
nam" o& th" '#"ato# o& th" (ni$"#s" [THE S()RE*E +EI,G]- and that n"t"#
- sall. #"nd"#"d "gods-"[with a small ''g'' not a capital''G'']
shold !" t#anslat"d !. som" oth"# wo#d-[S()ER*(,DA/ES-gods0god] !t
what that wo#d shold !" it is almost impossi!l"
to sa.1
3he belief in One 2od.
2#om th" att#i!t"s o& God s"t &o#th in Eg.ptian t"%ts o& all p"#iods- *r.
4rugs$h/ d" Rog3- and oth"# "min"nt
Eg.ptologists ha$" com" to th" opinion that th" dw"ll"#s in th" ,il" $all".-
&#om th" "a#li"st tim"s- 4n"w and wo#shipp"d
on" God- nam"l"ss- incomp#"h"nsi!l"- and "t"#nal1 In 5678 d" Rog3
w#ot":--"Th"
[51 Th" hi"#atic t"%t o& this sto#. was p!lish"d !. )l".t" and Rossi- /"
)ap.#s d" T#in- 5679-56:7- pll1 ;5-::- and
5;5-5;6< a 2#"nch t#anslation o& it was p!lish"d !. *1 /"&3!#"- who =#st
#"cogni>"d th" t#" cha#act"# o& th"
composition- in A"g1 ?"itsch#i&t- 566;- p1 @: A< and a G"#man t#anslation !.
Bi"d"mann is in his coll"ction o&
"Sonn"nsag"n-" R"ligion d"# alt"n A"g.pt"#- *Cnst"#- 5698- p1 @9 A1
@ A simila# diDclt. also "%ists in H"!#"w- &o# "lomhim m"ans !oth God and
"gods"< compa#" )salm l%%%ii1- i1]
Ep1 %ciiF
nit. o& a sp#"m" and s"l&-"%ist"nt !"ing- his "t"#nit.- his almightin"ss- and
"%t"#nal #"p#odction th"#"!. as God<
th" att#i!ting o& th" c#"ation o& th" wo#ld and o& all li$ing !"ings to this
sp#"m" God< th" immo#talit. o& th" sol-
compl"t"d !. th" dogma o& pnishm"nts and #"wa#ds: sch is th" s!lim"
and p"#sist"nt !as" which- notwithstanding
all d"$iations and all m.thological "m!"llishm"nts- mst s"c#" &o# th"
!"li"&s o& th" anci"nt Eg.ptians a most hono#a!l"
plac" among th" #"ligions o& antiGit.1"[5] ,in" ."a#s lat"# h" d"$"lop"d this
$i"w- and discss"d th" diDclt. o&
#"conciling th" !"li"& in th" nit. o& God with th" pol.th"ism which "%ist"d in
Eg.pt &#om th" "a#li"st tim"s- and h"
#"p"at"d his con$iction that th" Eg.ptians !"li"$"d in a s"l&-"%ist"nt God who
was Hn" +"ing- who had c#"at"d man-
and who had "ndow"d him with an immo#tal sol1[@] In &act- d" Rog3
ampli="s what 'hampollion-2ig"ac
I#"l.ing pon his !#oth"#'s in&o#mationJ w#ot" in 56;9: "Th" Eg.ptian #"ligion
is a p#" monoth"ism- which mani&"st"d
its"l& "%t"#nall. !. a s.m!olic pol.th"ism1"[;] ,. Pierret adopts th"
$i"w that th" t"%ts show s that th"
Eg.ptians !"li"$"d in Hn" in=nit" and "t"#nal God who was withot a
s"cond- and h" #"p"ats 'hampollion's dictm1
[K] +t th" most #"c"nt sppo#t"# o& th" monoth"istic th"o#. is D#1 +#gsch-
who has coll"ct"d a nm!"# o& st#i4ing passag"s
&#om th" t"%ts1 2#om th"s" passag"s w" ma. s"l"ct th" &ollowing:--
2od is one and alone/ and none other e5isteth with 6im--God is th"
Hn"- th" Hn" who hath mad" all
things--God is a spi#it- a hidd"n spi#it- th" spi#it o& spi#its- th" g#"at spi#it o&
th" Eg.ptians- th" di$in" spi#it--God is &#om th" !"ginning- and H" hath !""n
&#om th" !"ginning- H" hath "%ist"d &#om old and was wh"n nothing "ls" had
!"ing1 H" "%ist"d wh"n nothing "ls" "%ist"d- and what "%ist"th H" c#"at"d
a&t"# H" had com" into !"ing- H" is th" 2ath"# o& !"ginnings--God is th"
"t"#nal Hn"- H" is "t"#nal and in=nit" and "nd#"th &o# "$"# and a."--God is
hidd"n and no man 4now"th His &o#m1 ,o man hath !""n a!l" to s""4 ot His
li4"n"ss< H" is hidd"n to gods and m"n- and H" is a m.st"#. nto His
c#"at#"s1 ,o man 4now"th how to 4now Him--His nam" #"main"th hidd"n<
His nam" is a m.st"#. nto His child#"n1 His nam"s a#" innm"#a!l"- th". a#"
mani&old and non" 4now"th th"i# nm!"#--God is t#th and H" li$"th !. t#th
and H" &""d"th th"#"on1 H" is th" 4ing o& t#th- and H" hath sta!lish"d th"
"a#th th"#"pon--God is li&" and th#ogh Him
[51 Ltd"s d"s Rit"l 2n3#ai#" d"s Anci"ns Lg.pti"ns Iin R"$"
A#ch3ologiG"J- )a#is- 5678- p1 :@1
@1 /a c#o.anc" M l'(nit3 d Di" sp#Nm"- M s"s att#i!ts d" '#3at"# "t d"
/3gislat"# d" l'homm"- G'il a do3 d'n" Om"
immo#t"ll"< $oilM l"s notions p#imiti$"s "nchOss3"s comm" d"s diamants
ind"st#cti!l"s a mili" d"s sp"#&3tations
m.thologiG"s accml3"s pa# l"s siPcl"s Gi ont pass3 s# c"tt" $i"ill"
ci$ili>ation1 S"" 'on&"#"nc" s# la R"ligion d"s
anci"ns Lg.pti"ns Iin Annal"s d" )hilosophic 'h#3ti"nn"- QiPm" S3#i"- t1 %%1-
)a#is- 5679- pp1 ;@Q-;;:J1
;1 Lg.pt"- )a#is- 56;9- p1 @KQ- col1 51
K1 /" )anth3on Lg.pti"n- )a#is- 5665- p1 K1]
Ep1 %ciiiF
onl. man li$"th1 H" gi$"th li&" to man- H" !#"ath"th th" !#"ath o& li&" into his
nost#ils--2od is father and moth"#-
th" father of fathers- and th" moth"# o& moth"#s1 6e begetteth/
but was ne+er begotten<
H" p#odc"th- !t was n"$"# p#odc"d< H" !"gat hims"l& and p#odc"d
hims"l&1 6e $reateth/ but was ne+er
$reated< H" is th" ma4"# o& his own &o#m- and th" &ashion"# o& His own
!od.--God Hims"l& is E%ist"nc"- H" End#"th
withot inc#"as" o# dimintion- H" ,ulti)lieth Hims"l& millions o& tim"s-
and H" is mani&old in &o#ms and in
m"m!"#s--God hath mad" th" ni$"#s"- and H" hath c#"at"d all that th"#"in
is< H" is th" '#"ato# o& what is in this wo#ld-
and o& what was- o& what is- and o& what shall !"1 H" is th" '#"ato# o& th"
h"a$"ns- and o& th" "a#th- and o& th" d""p- and
o& th" wat"#- and o& th" montains1 God hath st#"tch"d ot th" h"a$"ns and
&ond"d th" "a#th-Bhat His h"a#t conc"i$"d
st#aightwa. cam" to pass- and wh"n H" hath spo4"n- it com"th to pass and
"nd#"th &o# "$"#--2od is the father of
the gods< He fashioned men and formed the gods--God Is *"#ci&l (nto Thos" who
#"$"#"nc" Him- and H" h"a#"th
him that call"th pon Him1 God Rnow"th him that ac4nowl"dg"th Him- H"
R"wa#d"th him that S"#$"th Him- and H"
)#ot"ct"th him that &ollow"th Him1[5]
,onotheism and )olytheism $oe5istent.
+"cas"- how"$"#- pol.th"ism "%ist"d sid" !. sid" with monoth"ism in
Eg.pt/ ,. ,as)ero !"li"$"s that th" wo#ds
"2od One" do not mean "One 2od" in o# s"ns" o& th" wo#ds< and *#1
R"no& thin4s that th"
"Eg.ptian nta# n"$"# !"cam" a p#op"# nam"1"[@] Bh"th"# pol.th"ism g#"w
&#om monoth"ism in Eg.pt-
o# monoth"ism &#om pol.th"ism w" will not $"nt#" to sa.- &o# th" "$id"nc"
o& th" p.#amid t"%ts shows that al#"ad.
in th" Vth d.nast. monoth"ism and pol.th"ism w"#" So#ishing sid" !. sid"1
Th" opinion o& Ti"l" is that th" #"ligion o& Eg.pt was &#om th" !"ginning
pol.th"istic- !t that it d"$"lop"d in two
opposit" di#"ctions: in th" on" di#"ction gods w"#" mltipli"d !. th" addition
o& local gods- and in th" oth"# th"
Eg.ptians d#"w n"a#"# and n"a#"# to monoth"ism1[;]
77 It may be said that ''2od Is One'' meanseth Only One 2od and
8e+eral gods/ where as in
3rue ,onothiesti$ 9eligions/
Only One 2od meaneth '' One 2od /no god and no 2od beside 3hat
2od''::.
Th" sn th" "m!l"m o& God1
2#om a nm!"# o& passag"s d#awn &#om t"%ts o& all p"#iods it is cl"a# that th"
&o#m in which God mad" hims"l&
mani&"st to man pon "a#th was th" sn- which th" Eg.ptians call"d Ra and
that all oth"# gods and godd"ss"s w"#" &o#ms o& him1 Th" p#incipal
atho#iti"s &o# "pith"ts appli"d to God and to His $isi!l" "m!l"m th" sn a#"
th" h.mns and litani"s which a#" &ond insc#i!"d pon
[51 +#gsch- R"ligion nd *.thologi"- pp1 97-991 Th" whol" chapt"# on th"
anci"nt Eg.ptian conc"ption o& God shold !"
#"ad with *1 *asp"#o's comm"nts pon it in /a *.thologi" Lg.pti"nn"
ILtd"s d" *.thologi"- t1 ii1- p1 569 A1J1
@1 Hi!!"#t /"ct#"s- p1 991
;1 H.poth">"n omt#"nt d" wo#ding $an d"n Eg.ptisch"n Godsdi"nst Iin
G"schi"d"nis $an d"n Godsdi"nst in d" Hdh"id- Amst"#dam- 569;- p1 @QJ<
and s"" /i"!l"in- Eg.ptian R"ligion- /"ip>ig- 566K- p1 581
K S"" th" chapt"# "Di" s" mani&"stant pa# l" sol"il-" in )i"##"t- Essai s# la
*.thologi" Lg.pti"nn"- pp1 56- 591]
Ep1 %ci$F
Confusion of gods.
th" walls o& tom!s-[5] st"lT- and pap.#i[@] o& th" UVIIIth d.nast.< and th"s"
p#o$" that th" Eg.ptians asc#i!"d
th" att#i!t"s o& th" '#"ato# to th" c#"at#"1 Th" #"ligios id"as which w" =nd
in th"s" w#itings in th" UVIIIth
d.nast. a#"- no do!t- th" otcom" o& th" #"ligion o& "a#li"# tim"s- &o# all th"
"$id"nc" now a$aila!l" shows that th"
Eg.ptians o& th" lat"# p"#iods in$"nt"d compa#ati$"l. littl" in th" wa. o&
#"ligios lit"#at#"1 Bh"#"- how- and in
what wa. th". scc""d"d in p#"s"#$ing th"i# most anci"nt t"%ts- a#" matt"#s
a!ot which littl"- n&o#tnat"l.-
is 4nown1 In co#s" o& tim" w" =nd that th" att#i!t"s o& a c"#tain god in on"
p"#iod a#" appli"d to oth"# gods in
anoth"#< a n"w god is &o#m"d !. th" &sion o& two o# mo#" gods< local gods-
th#ogh th" &a$o#a!l" h"lp o& political
ci#cmstanc"s- o# th" &o#tn" o& wa#- !"com" almost national gods< and th"
gods who a#" th" companions o& Hsi#is a#"
"ndow"d !. th" pios with all th" att#i!t"s o& th" g#"at cosmic gods--Ra-
)tah- Rhn"m- Rh"p"#a- and th" li4"1 Ths th" att#i!t"s o& Ra a#" !"stow"d
pon Rhn"m and Rh"p"#a< th" god Ho#s "%ists in th" asp"cts o& H"#-
maati- H"#-4h"nt-an-maa- H"#-Rhti- H"#-n!- H"#-!"ht"t- "tc1- and th"
att#i!t"s o& "ach a#" con&ond"d "ith"# in p"#iods o# localiti"s: Tm-Ra- and
*"nth-Ra- and Am"n-Ra a#" compos"d o& Tm and Ra- and *"nth and Ra-
and Am"n and Ra #"sp"cti$"l.- and w" ha$" s""n &#om th" h.mn Got"d
a!o$" Ip1 lii1J that al#"ad. in th" UVIIIth d.nast. th" god Hsi#is had a!so#!"d
th" att#i!t"s which !"long"d in th" "a#li"# d.nasti"s to Ra alon"1
Histo#. o& th" god Am"n1
Still mo#" #"ma#4a!l"- how"$"#- is th" p#og#"ss o& th" god Am"n in Eg.ptian
th"olog.1 In th" "a#l. "mpi#"- i1"1- d#ing
th" =#st "l"$"n d.nasti"s- this god #an4"d onl. as a local god- althogh his
nam" is as old as th" tim" o& (nas<[;] and
[51 E1g1- th" litan. &#om th" tom! o& S"ti I1- p!lish"d !. ,a$ill"- /a /itani" d
Sol"il- /"ip>ig- 56:Q- p1 5; A1
@1 E1g1- H.mn to Am"n-Ra- t#anslat"d !. Goodwin &#om pap.#s ,o1 5:- now
p#"s"#$"d in th" Gi>"h *s"m
Is"" /"s )ap.#s Lg.pti"ns d *s3" d" +olaG- "d1 *a#i"tt"- )a#is- 56:@-
pll1 5-5;< R"co#ds o& th" )ast- $ol1 i1- p1 5@: &1-
and T#ans1 Soc1 +i!l1 A#ch1- $ol1 ii1- p1 @Q8J- and !. G#3!at- H.mn" M
Ammon-Ra- )a#is- 56:KJ< H.mns to Am"n-
t#anslat"d !. Goodwin Is"" R"co#ds o& th" )ast- $ol1 $i1- p1 9: &1< T#ans1 Soc1
+i!l1 A#ch1- $ol1 ii1- p1 ;Q;J- and 'ha!as
I*3lang"s Lg.ptologiG"s- 56:8- p1 55:J< H.mn to Hsi#is- t#anslat"d !.
'ha!as IR"$" A#ch3ologiG"- t1 %i$1- )a#is- 56Q:-
p1 7Q A1J- and Goodwin IR"co#ds o& th" )ast- $ol1 i$1- p1 9: A1J1 Th" $a#ios
$"#sions o& th" UVth 'hapt"# o& th" +oo4 o& th"
D"ad- which consists o& a s"#i"s o& h.mns- a#" gi$"n in th" Th"!an "dition !.
,a$ill" ITodt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +ll1 5K-@;J- and
th" t"%t o& th" lat"# SaVt" $"#sion is discss"d and t#anslat"d !. /"&3!#"-
T#adction compa#3" d"s h.mn"s a Sol"il-
)a#is- 5676- Kto1
;1 "Am"n and Am"nt-" a#" m"ntion"d in 51 QQ6 o& th" insc#iption o& this 4ing<
s"" *asp"#o- R"c"il- t1 i$1- p1 771]
Ep1 %c$F
it is not ntil th" so-call"d H.4sos ha$" !""n "%p"ll"d &#om Eg.pt !. th"
Th"!an 4ings o& th" UVIIth d.nast. that Am"n-
whom th" latt"# had chos"n as th"i# g#"at god- and whos" wo#ship th". had
d"clin"d to #"nonc" at th" !idding o& th"
H.4sos 4ing Ap"pi-[l] was ac4nowl"dg"d as th" national god o& soth"#n
Eg.pt at l"ast1 Ha$ing !. $i#t" o& !"ing th" god
o& th" conG"#o#s o!tain"d th" position o& h"ad o& th" compan. o& Eg.ptian
gods- h" #"c"i$"d th" att#i!t"s o& th" most anci"nt gods- and littl" !. littl"
h" a!so#!"d th" "pith"ts o& th"m all1 Ths Am"n !"cam" Am"n-Ra- and th"
glo#. o& th" old gods o& Ann- o# H"liopolis- was c"nt#"d in him who was
o#iginall. an o!sc#" local god1 Th" wo#ship o& Am"n in Eg.pt was &#th"#"d
!. th" p#i"sts o& th" g#"at coll"g" o& Am"n- which s""ms to ha$" !""n
"sta!lish"d "a#l. in th" UVIIIth d.nast. !. th" 4ings who w"#" his d"$ot
wo#shipp"#s1 Th" "%t#act &#om a pap.#s w#itt"n &o# th" p#inc"ss ,"si-Rhons-
[@] a m"m!"# o& th" p#i"sthood o& Am"n- is an "%ampl" o& th" "%alt"d
langag" in which his $ota#i"s add#"ss"d him1
"This is th" sac#"d god- th" lo#d o& all th" gods- Am"n-Ra- th" lo#d o& th"
th#on" o& th" wo#ld- th" p#inc" o& Apt-[;] th"
sac#"d sol who cam" into !"ing in th" !"ginning- th" g#"at god who li$"th
!. #ight and t#th- th" =#st "nn"ad which ga$"
!i#th nto th" oth"# two "nn"ads-[K] th" !"ing in whom "$"#. god "%ist"th-
th" Hn" o& Hn"-[Q] th" c#"ato# o& th" things
which cam" into !"ing wh"n th" "a#th too4 &o#m in th" !"ginning- whos"
!i#ths a#" hidd"n- whos" &o#ms a#" mani&old-
and whos" g#owth cannot !" 4nown1 Th" sac#"d 2o#m- !"lo$"d- t"##i!l" and
might. in his two #isings IWJ- th" lo#d o& spac"-
th" might. on" o& th" &o#m o& Rh"p"#a- who cam" into "%ist"nc" th#ogh
Rh"p"#a- th" lo#d o& th" &o#m o& Rh"p"#a< wh"n
h" cam" into !"ing nothing "%ist"d "%c"pt hims"l&1 H" shon" pon th" "a#th
&#om p#im"$al tim" [in th" &o#m o&] th" Dis4-
th" p#inc" o& light and #adianc"1 H" gi$"th light and #adianc"1 H" gi$"th light
nto all p"opl"s1 H" sail"th o$"# h"a$"n and
n"$"# #"st"th- and on th" mo##ow his $igo# is sta!lish"d as !"&o#"< ha$ing
!"com" old [to-da.]- h" !"com"th .ong again
to-mo##ow1 H" mast"#"th th" !onds o& "t"#nit.- h" go"th #onda!ot
h"a$"n- and "nt"#"th into th" Tat to illmin" th"
two lands which h" hath c#"at"d1 Bh"n th" di$in" Io# might.J God-[7]
mold"d hims"l&-
th" h"a$"ns and th" "a#th w"#"
mad" !. his
[51 Th" lit"#at#" #"lating to th" &#agm"nt o& th" Salli"# pap.#s #"co#ding this
&act is gi$"n !. Bi"d"mann- A"g.ptisch"
G"schicht"- p1 @991
@ Th" hi"#atic t"%t is p!lish"d- with a hi"#ogl.phic t#ansc#ipt- !. *asp"#o-
*3moi#"s p!li3s pa# l"s *"m!#"s d" la *ission A#ch3ologiG" 2#anXais" a
'ai#"- t1 i1- p1 Q9K A1- and pll1 @Q-@:1
; A dist#ict o& Th"!"s on th" "ast !an4 o& th" ,il"- th" mod"#n Ra#na41
K S"" within- p: %c$ii1
Q1 YYY1
71 YYY n"t"# n"t#a1 *1 *asp"#o t#anslat"s "di" "%"#Xant sa &onction d" di"-
di" "n acti$it3 d" s"#$ic"-" o# "di" d3isant1"]
Ep1 c$iF
'onc"ption1[5] H" is th" p#inc" o& p#inc"s- th" *ighti"st H& th" *ight.- H" is
g#"at"# than th" gods- h" is th" .ong !ll with sha#p point"d ho#ns- and h"
p#ot"ct"th th" wo#ld in his g#"at nam" 'Et"#nit. com"th with its pow"# and
!#inging th"#"with th" !onds IWJ o& "$"#lastingn"ss1' H" is th" =#st!o#n god-
th" god who "%ist"d &#om th" !"ginning- th" go$"#no# o& th" wo#ld !. #"ason
o& his st#"ngth- th" t"##i!l" on" o& th" two lion-gods-[@] th" ag"d on"- th"
&o#m o& Rh"p"#a which "%ist"th in all th" gods- th" lion o& &"a#som" glanc"-
th" go$"#no# t"##i!l" !. #"ason o& his two "."s-[;] th" lo#d who shoot"th &o#th
Sam" [th"#"&#om] against his "n"mi"s1 H" is th" p#im"$al wat"# which
Sow"th &o#th in its s"ason to ma4" to li$" all that com"th &o#th pon his
pott"#'s wh""l1[K] H" is th" dis4 o& th" *oon- th" !"ati"s wh"#"o& p"#$ad"
h"a$"n and "a#th- th" nti#ing and !"n"=c"nt 4ing- whos" will g"#minat"th
&#om #ising to s"tting- &#om whos" di$in" "."s m"n and wom"n com" &o#th-
and &#om whos" moth th" gods do com"- and [!. whom] &ood and m"at and
d#in4 a#" mad" and p#o$id"d- and [!. whom] th" things which "%ist a#"
c#"at"d1 H" is th" lo#d o& tim" and h" t#a$"#s"th "t"#nit.< h" is th" ag"d on"
who #"n"w"th his .oth h" hath mltitd"s o& "."s and m.#iads o& "a#s< his
#a.s a#" th" gid"s o& millions o& m"n h" is th" lo#d o& li&" and gi$"th nto
thos" who lo$" him th" whol" "a#th- and th". a#" nd"# th" p#ot"ction o& his
&ac"1 Bh"n h" go"th &o#th h" wo#4"th noppos"d- and no man can ma4" o&
non" "A"ct that which h" hath don"1 His nam" is g#acios- and th" lo$" o&
him is sw""t< and at th" dawn all p"opl" ma4" spplication nto him th#ogh
his might. pow"# and t"##i!l" st#"ngth- and "$"#. god li"th in &"a# o& him1 H"
is th" .ong !ll that d"st#o."th th" wic4"d- and his st#ong a#m =ght"th
against his &o"s1 Th#ogh him did th" "a#th com" into !"ing in th" !"ginning1
H" is th" Sol which shin"th th#ogh his di$in" "."s-[;] h" is th" +"ing
"ndow"d with pow"# and th" ma4"# o& all that hath com" into !"ing- and h"
o#d"#"d th" wo#ld- and h" cannot !" 4nown1 H" is th" Ring who ma4"th 4ings
to #"ign- and h" di#"ct"th th" wo#ld in his co#s"< gods and godd"ss"s !ow
down in ado#ation !"&o#" his Sol !. #"ason o& th" aw&l t"##o# which
!"long"th nto him1 H" hath gon" !"&o#" and hath sta!lish"d all that com"th
a&t"# him- and h" mad" th" ni$"#s" in th" !"ginning !. his s"c#"t cons"ls1
H" is th" +"ing who cannot !" 4nown- and h" is mo#" hidd"n than all th"
gods1 H" ma4"th th" Dis4 to !" his $ica#- and h" hims"l& cannot !" 4nown-
and h" hid"th hims"l& &#om that which com"th &o#th &#om him1 H" is a !#ight
Sam" o& =#"- might. in spl"ndo#s- h" can !" s""n onl. in th" &o#m in which
h" show"th hims"l&- and h" can !" ga>"d pon onl. wh"n h" mani&"st"th
hims"l&- and that which is in him cannot !" nd"#stood1 At !#"a4 o& da. all
p"opl"s ma4" spplication nto him- and wh"n h" #is"th with h"s o& o#ang"
and saA#on among th" compan. o& th" gods h" !"com"th th" g#"atl. d"si#"d
on" o& "$"#. god1 Th" god , app"a#"th with th" !#"ath o& th" no#th wind in
this hidd"n god who ma4"th &o# ntold millions o& m"n th" d"c#""s which
a!id" &o# "$"#< his d"c#""s
[51 /it"#all. "his h"a#t-" a!-&1
@ I1"1- Sh and T"&nt1
; I1"1- th" Sn and th" *oon- t'ati1
K1 n"h"p< oth"# "%ampl"s o& th" s" o& this wo#d a#" gi$"n !. +#gsch-
BZ#t"#!ch ISppl1- p1 798J1]
Ep1 %c$iiF
"a#" g#acios and w"ll doing- and th". &all not to th" g#ond ntil th". ha$"
&l=ll"d th"i# p#pos"1 H" gi$"th long
li&" and mltipli"th th" ."a#s o& thos" who a#" &a$o#"d !. him- h" is th"
g#acios p#ot"cto# o& him whom h" s"tt"th
in his h"a#t- and h" is th" &ashion"# o& "t"#nit. and "$"#lastingn"ss1 H" is th"
4ing o& th" ,o#th and o& th" Soth- Am"n-Ra-
4ing o& th" gods- th" lo#d o& h"a$"n- and o& "a#th and o& th" wat"#s and o&
th" montains- with whos" coming into !"ing
th" "a#th !"gan its "%ist"nc"- th" might. on"- mo#" p#inc"l. than all th"
gods o& th" =#st compan. th"#"o&1"
3heories of the origin of the gods.
7nb: gods not 2ods:
Bith #"&"#"nc" to th" o#igin o& th" gods o& th" Eg.ptians mch s"&l
in&o#mation ma. !" d"#i$"d &#om th" p.#amid t"%ts1
2#om th"m it wold s""m that- in th" "a#li"st tim"s- th" Eg.ptians had t#i"d
to thin4 ot and "%plain to th"ms"l$"s th"
o#igin o& th"i# gods and o& th"i# g#opings1 Acco#ding to *. ,as)ero[5]
th". #"dc"d "$"#.thing to on" 4ind
o& p#im"$al
matt"# which th". !"li"$"d contain"d "$"#.thing in "m!#.o< this matt"# was
wat"#- ,- which th". d"i="d-
and "$"#.thing which a#os" th"#"&#om was a god1 Th" p#i"sts o& Ann at a
$"#. "a#l. p"#iod g#op"d tog"th"# th"
nin" g#"at"st gods o& Eg.pt- &o#ming what is call"d th" pat n"t"# o#
"compan. o& th" gods-" o# as it is w#itt"n in th"
p.#amid t"%ts- pat aat- "th" g#"at compan. o& gods"< th" t"%ts also show
that th"#" was a s"cond g#op o& nin" gods
call"d pat n"t'"s"t o# "l"ss"# compan. o& th" gods"< and a thi#d g#op o&
nin" gods is also 4nown1 Bh"n all th#"" pats
o& gods a#" add#"ss"d th". app"a# as YYY1[@] Th" g#"at c.cl" o& th" gods in
Ann was compos"d o& th" gods
Tm- Sh- T"&nt- S"!- ,t- Hsi#is- Isis- S"t and ,"phth.s< !t- thogh pat
m"ans " nin"-" th" t"%ts do not alwa.s limit
a pat o& th" gods to that nm!"#- &o# som"tim"s th" gods amont to
tw"l$"- and som"tim"s- "$"n thogh th" nm!"#
!" nin"- oth"# gods a#" s!stitt"d &o# th" o#iginal gods o& th" pat1 B"
shold nat#all. "%p"ct Ra to stand at th" h"ad
o& th" g#"at pat o& th" gods< !t it mst !" #"m"m!"#"d that th" chi"& local
god o& Ann was Tm- and- as th" p#i"sts o&
that cit. #"$is"d and "dit"d th" p.#amid t"%ts 4nown to s- th". nat#all.
s!stitt"d th"i# own &o#m o& th" god Ra-
o# at !"st nit"d him with Ra- and call"d him Tm-Ra1 In th" p#im"$al
matt"#- o# wat"#- li$"d th" god Tm- and wh"n
h" #os" &o# th" =#st tim"- in th" &o#m o& th" sn- h" c#"at"d th" wo#ld1 H"#"
at onc" w" ha$" Tm assimilat"d with ,1
A c#ios passag" in th" p.#amid o& )"pi I1 shows that whil" as ."t th"#" was
n"ith"#
[51 /a *.thologi" Lg.pti"nn" ILtd"s- t1 ii1- p1 @;:J1
@1 S"" ).#amid o& T"ta- l1 ;8: I*asp"#o- R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $1- p1 K7J1]
Ep1 %c$iiiF
h"a$"n no# "a#th- and
when neither gods had been born/ no# m"n c#"at"d-
th" god Tm was th" &ath"# o& hman !"ings-
[5] "$"n !"&o#" d"ath cam" into th" wo#ld1
Th" =#st act o& Tm was to c#"at" &#om his own !od. th" god Sh and th"
godd"ss T"&nt<[@] and a&t"#wa#ds S"!
th" "a#th and ,t th" s4. cam" into !"ing1 Th"s" w"#" &ollow"d !. Hsi#is
and Isis- S"t and ,"phth.s1
*r. 4rugs$h's $"#sion o& th" o#igin o& th" gods as pt &o#th in his last
wo#4 on th" s!["ct[;] is som"what diA"#"nt1
Acco#ding to him :-
Th"#" was in th" !"ginning n"ith"# h"a$"n no# "a#th- and nothing "%ist"d
"%c"pt a !ondl"ss )rime+al mass
o& wat"#[O$ean of (toms--# which was sh#od"d in da#4n"ss and which
contain"d within its"l& th" g"#ms[AtomsWW] o# !"ginnings- mal"
and &"mal"-
o& "$"#.thing which was to !" in th" &t#" wo#ld1 Th" di$in" p#im"$al spi#it
which &o#m"d an "ss"ntial pa#t o& th"
p#im"$al
matt"# &"lt within its"l& th" d"si#" to !"gin th" wo#4 o& c#"ation- and its wo#d
wo4" to li&" th" wo#ld- th" &o#m and shap"
o& which it had al#"ad. d"pict"d to its"l&1 Th" =#st act o& c#"ation !"gan with
th" &o#mation o& an "gg E'osmological "ggWWF
[K] ot o& th" p#im"$al
wat"#- &#om which !#o4" &o#th Ra- th" imm"diat" cas" o& all li&" pon "a#th1
Th" almight. pow"# o& th" di$in" spi#it
"m!odi"d its"l& in its most !#illiant &o#m in th" #ising sn1 Bh"n th" in"#t
mass o& p#im"$al matt"# &"lt th" d"si#" o& th"
p#im"$al spi#it to !"gin th" wo#4 o& c#"ation- it !"gan to mo$"- and th"
c#"at#"s which w"#" to constitt" th" &t#"
wo#ld w"#" &o#m"d
[51 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $iii1- p1 58K Il1 77KJ1 Th" passag" #"ads:--
m"s )"pi p"n a at& T"m an %"p"#t p"t an
Ga$" !i#th to )"pi this &ath"# Tm [wh"n] not was c#"at"d h"a$"n- not
%"p"#t ta an %"p"#t #"th an m"st n"t"# an %"p"#t m"t
was c#"at"d "a#th- not w"#" c#"at"d m"n- not were born the gods-
not was c#"at"d d"ath1
@1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- I1 $ii1- p1 5:8 Il1 K77J1
;1 R"ligion nd *.thologi"- p1 5851
K A nm!"# o& $ala!l" &acts conc"#ning th" plac" o& th" "gg in th" Eg.ptian
R"ligion ha$" !""n coll"ct"d !. /"&3!#"-
R"$" d" l'Histoi#" d"s R"ligions- t1 %$i1- )a#is- 566:- p1 57 A1]
Ep1 %ci%F
acco#ding to th" di$in" int"llig"nc" ,aa1 (nd"# th" inS"nc" o& Thoth- o#
that &o#m o& th" di$in" int"llig"nc" which
c#"at"d th" wo#ld !. a wo#d- "ight "l"m"nts- &o# mal" and &o# &"mal"-
a#os" ot o& th" p#im"$al ,- which poss"ss"d
th" p#op"#ti"s o& th" mal" and &"mal"1 Th"s" "ight "l"m"nts w"#" call"d ,
and ,t-[5] H"h and H"h"t-[@] R"4 and R"4"t-
[;] and En"n and En"n"t-[K] o# Rh"m"nn- th" "Eight-" and th". w"#"
consid"#"d as p#im"$al &ath"#s and moth"#s1
[Q] Th". a#" o&t"n #"p#"s"nt"d in th" &o#ms o& &o# mal" and &o# &"mal" ap"s
who stand in ado#ation and g#""t th" #ising
sn with songs and h.mns o& p#ais"-[7] !t th". also app"a# as mal" and
&"mal" hman &o#ms with th" h"ads o& &#ogs o#
s"#p"nts1[:] Th" !i#th o& light &#om th" wat"#s- and o& =#" &#om th" moist
mass o& p#im"$al matt"#- and o& Ra &#om ,-
&o#m"d th" sta#ting point o& all m.thological sp"clations- con["ct#"s- and
th"o#i"s o& th" Eg.ptian p#i"sts1
[6] Th" light o& th" sn ga$" !i#th to its"l& ot o& chaos- and th" conc"ption o&
th" &t#" wo#ld was d"pict"d in Thoth
th" di$in" int"llig"nc"< wh"n Thoth ga$" th" wo#d- what h" command"d at
onc" too4 plac" !. m"ans o& )tah and Rhn"m-
th" $isi!l" #"p#"s"ntati$"s o& th" pow"# which t#n"d Thoth's command into
d""d1 Rhn"m mad" th" "gg o& th" sn-
[9] and )tah ga$" to th" god o& light a =nish"d !od.1[58] Th" =#st pat o& th"
gods consist"d o& Sh- T"&nt- S"!- ,t- Hsi#is-
Isis- S"t- ,"phth.s and Ho#s- and th"i# go$"#no# Tm o# Atm1[55]
;gy)tian a$$ount of the Creation.
In a lat" cop. o& a wo#4 "ntitl"d th" "+oo4 o& 4nowing th" "$oltions o& Ra-
th" god ,"!-"#-tch"#- th" "lo#d o& th" compan.
o& th" gods-" #"co#ds th" sto#. o& th" c#"ation and o& th" !i#th o& th" gods:--"I
am h" who "$ol$"d hims"l& nd"# th" &o#m o& th" god Rh"p"#a- I- th" "$ol$"#
o& th" "$oltions "$ol$"d m.s"l&- th" "$ol$"# o& all "$oltions- a&t"# man.
"$oltions and d"$"lopm"nts which cam" &o#th &#om m. moth1[5@] ,o
h"a$"n "%ist"d- and no "a#th- and no t"##"st#ial animals o# #"ptil"s had com"
into !"ing1 I &o#m"d th"m ot o& th" in"#t mass o& wat"#. matt"#- I &ond no
plac" wh"#"on to stand 1 1 1 1 1 I was alon"- and th" gods Sh and T"&nt had
not gon" &o#th &#om m"< th"#" "%ist"d
[51 +#gsch- R"ligion- pp1 5@6- 5@91
@1 I!id1- p1 5;@1
;1 I!id1- p1 5K81
K1 I!id1- p1 5K@1
Q1 I!id1- p1 5K61
71 I!id1- pp1 5K9- 5Q@1
:1 I!id1- p1 5Q61
61 I!id1- p1 5781
91 I!id1- p1 5751
581 I!id1- p1 57;1
551 I!id1- p1 56:1
5@ Th" $a#iant $"#sion sa.s- "I d"$"lop"d m.s"l& &#om th" p#im"$al matt"#
which I had mad"1" and adds- "*. nam" is Hsi#is
- YYY- th" s!stanc" o& p#im"$al matt"#1"]
Ep1 cF
"non" oth"# who wo#4"d with m"1 I laid th" &ondations o& all things !. m.
will- and all things "$ol$"d th"ms"l$"s th"#"&#om1[5] I nit"d m.s"l& to m.
shadow- and I s"nt &o#th Sh and T"&nt ot &#om m.s"l&< ths &#om !"ing on"
god I !"cam" th#""- and Sh and T"&nt ga$" !i#th to ,t and S"!- and ,t
ga$" !i#th to Hsi#is- Ho#s-Rh"nt-an-maa- St- Isis- and ,"phth.s- at on"
!i#th- on" a&t"# th" oth"#- and th"i# child#"n mltipl. pon this "a#th1"[@]
Smma#. o& th"o#i"s1
Th" #"ad"# has now !"&o#" him th" main points o& th" "$id"nc" conc"#ning
th" Eg.ptians' notions a!ot God- and th"
cosmic pow"#s and th"i# phas"s- and th" anth#opomo#phic c#"ations with
which th". p"opl"d th" oth"# wo#ld- all o&
which ha$" !""n d"#i$"d &#om th" nati$" lit"#at#" o& anci"nt Eg.pt1 Th"
diA"#"nt int"#p#"tations which diA"#"nt
Eg.ptologists ha$" plac"d pon th" &acts d"monst#at" th" diDclt. o& th"
s!["ct1 Sp"a4ing g"n"#all.- th" int"#p#"t"#s
ma. !" di$id"d into two class"s: thos" who c#"dit th" Eg.ptians with a
nm!"# o& a!st#act id"as a!ot God and th"
c#"ation o& th" wo#ld and th" &t#" li&"- which a#" h"ld to !" "ss"ntiall. th"
p#odct o& mod"#n 'h#istian nations<
and thos" who consid"# th" mind o& th" Eg.ptian as that o& a hal&-sa$ag"
!"ing to whom occasional glimm"#ings o&
spi#ital light w"#" $ochsa&"d &#om tim" to tim"1 All "ast"#n nations ha$"
"%p"#i"nc"d diDclt. in s"pa#ating
spi#ital &#om co#po#"al conc"ptions- and th" Eg.ptian is no "%c"ption to th"
#l"< !t i& h" p#"s"#$"d th" g#oss
id"a o& a p#im"$al "%ist"nc" with th" s!lim" id"a o& God which h" mani&"sts
in w#itings o& a lat"# dat"-
it s""ms that this is d" mo#" to his #"$"#"nc" &o# h"#"dita#. t#adition than to
igno#anc"1 Bithot att"mpting to d"cid"
G"stions which ha$" p#"s"nt"d diDclti"s to th" g#"at"st thin4"#s among
Eg.ptologists- it ma. sa&"l. !" said that th"
Eg.ptian whos" mind conc"i$"d th" "%ist"nc" o& an n4nown- insc#ta!l"-
"t"#nal and infinite 2od- who was Hn"-what"$"# th" wo#d Hn" ma. m"an
h"#" and who hims"l& !"li"$"d in a &t#" li&" to !" sp"nt in a glo#i="d !od.
in h"a$"n- was not a !"ing whos" spi#ital n""ds wold !" satis="d !. a
!"li"& in gods who cold "at- and d#in4- lo$" and hat"- and =ght and g#ow old
and di"1 H" was na!l" to d"sc#i!" th" in=nit" God- hims"l& !"ing =nit"- and
it is not s#p#ising that h" shold- in som" #"sp"cts- ha$" mad" Him in his
own imag"1
[51 Th" $a#iant $"#sion has- "I !#oght into m. own moth m. nam" as a
wo#d o& pow"#- and I st#aightwa. cam" into !"ing1"
@ Th" pap.#s &#om which th"s" "%t#acts a#" ta4"n is in th" +#itish *s"m-
,o1 585661 A hi"#ogl.phic t#ansc#ipt and t#anslation will !" &ond in
A#chTologia- $ol1 lii1- pp1 KK8-KK;1 2o# th" passag"s Got"d s"" 'ol1 @7- l1 @@<
'ol1 @:- l1 Q< and 'ol1 @6- l1 @8< 'ol1 @9- l1 71]
Ep1 ciF
,"%t: Th" A!od" H& Th" +l"ss"d1
Sac#"d T"%ts Eg.pt Ind"% )#"$ios ,"%t
THE A+HDE H2 THE +/ESSED1
Th" Eg.ptian h"a$"n1
Th" gods o& th" Eg.ptians dw"lt in a h"a$"n with th"i# 4a's- and 4h's- and
shadows- and th"#" th". #"c"i$"d th" !l"ss"d d"ad to dw"ll with th"m1 This
h"a$"n was sitat"d in th" s4.- which th" Eg.ptians !"li"$"d to !" li4" an
i#on c"iling- "ith"# Sat o# $alt"d- and to co##"spond in "%t"nt and shap" with
th" "a#th !"n"ath it1 This c"iling was #"ctangla#- and was sppo#t"d at "ach
co#n"# !. a pilla#< in this id"a- w" ha$"- as *1 *asp"#o has o!s"#$"d- a
s#$i$al o& th" #oo&-t#"" o& $"#. p#imiti$" nations1 At a $"#. "a#l. dat" th" &o#
pilla#s w"#" id"nti="d with "th" &o# anci"nt 4h's who dw"ll in th" hai# o&
Ho#s-"[5] who a#" also said to !" "th" &o# gods who stand !. th" pilla#-
sc"pt#"s o& h"a$"n1"[@] Th"s" &o# gods a#" "child#"n o& Ho#s-"[;] and th"i#
nam"s a#" Ams"t- Hapi- Tamat"&- and \"!hs"nn&1[K] Th". w"#" sppos"d
to p#"sid" o$"# th" &o# Ga#t"#s o& th" wo#ld- and s!s"G"ntl. w"#"
ac4nowl"dg"d to !" th" gods o& th" ca#dinal points1 Th" Eg.ptians nam"d th"
s4. o# h"a$"n p"t1 A l"ss p#imiti$" $i"w mad" th" h"a$"ns in th" &o#m o& th"
godd"ss ,t who was #"p#"s"nt"d as a woman with !ow"d !od. whos"
hands and &""t #"st on th" "a#th1 In this cas" th" two a#ms and th" two
[51 YYY1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 i$1- p1 QQ Il1 K:;J< and compa#" YYY1 I!id1- t1
$1 p1 567 Il1 5:5J1
@1 I!id1- t1 $1- p1 @: I51 @;;J1
;1 I!id1- p1 ;9 Il1 @65J1
K I!id1- p1 58 Il1 78J1]
Ep1 ciiF
Th" Eg.ptian h"a$"n1
l"gs &o#m th" &o# pilla#s pon which th" h"a$"ns a#" sppo#t"d1 ,t- th" s4.
godd"ss- was th" wi&" o& S"!- th" "a#th god- &#om whos" "m!#ac" sh" was
s"pa#at"d !. Sh- th" god o& th" ai#< wh"n this s"pa#ation was "A"ct"d-
"a#th- ai#- and s4. cam" into !"ing1 Signo# /an>on" has coll"ct"d a nm!"# o&
illst#ations o& this "$"nt &#om pap.#i and oth"# docm"nts-[5] wh"#"in w"
ha$" S"! l.ing on th" g#ond- and Sh pli&ting ,t with his otst#"tch"d
hands1 Th" &""t o& th" godd"ss #"st"d on th" "ast- and h"# hands on th" w"st
this is shown !. th" sc"n" wh"#"in Sh is accompani"d !. two &"mal"s who
ha$" on th"i# h"ads ""ast" and- "w"st" #"sp"cti$"l.1[@] Th" child o& th" nion
o& S"! and ,t was th" Sn- who was !o#n in th" "ast in th" mo#ning- and
who mad"
[51 Di>iona#io di *itologia Egi>ia- ta$$1 i 5Q8 A1
@1 I!id1- ta$1 5Q61]
Ep1 ciiiF
Th" Eg.ptian h"a$"n1
his co#s" along his moth"#'s !od.- ntil h" s"t in th" w"st in th" "$"ning1
Th" moon &ollow"d th" sn's co#s" along his
moth"#'s !od.- !t som"tim"s a s"cond &"mal" is #"p#"s"nt"d !ow"d
!"n"ath ,t [5] I2ig1 @J- and this is !"li"$"d to
signi&. th" night s4. ac#oss which th" moon t#a$"ls1 In an int"#"sting pict#"
which *1 ]3Gi"# has p!lish"d
[@] th" godd"ss is d"pict"d l.ing Sat with h"# a#ms st#"tch"d ot at &ll
l"ngth a!o$" h"# h"ad< on h"# !#"ast is th" dis4
o& th" sn- and on h"# stomach th" moon1 Thos" who !"li"$"d that th" s4.
was an i#on plan" imagin"d that th" sta#s
w"#" a nm!"#s o& lamps which w"#" hng ot th"#"&#om- and thos" who
pict#"d th" s4. as a godd"ss stdd"d h"#
!od. with sta#s1 Hn" sc"n" ma4"s th" mo#ning and "$"ning !oats o& Ra to
sail along th" !ac4 o& ,t<[;] anoth"# d"picts
Sh holding p th" !oat o& th" sn wh"#"in is th" dis4 on th" ho#i>on1
[K] A thi#d &#om th" sa#cophags o& S"ti I1 #"p#"s"nts , th" god o& th"
p#im"$al wat"# holding p th" !oat o& th" sn-
wh"#"in w" s"" th" !""tl" with th" sola# dis4 &acing it accompani"d !. Isis
and ,"phth.s- who stand on" on "ach sid"<
!"hind Isis stand th" gods S"!- Sh- H"4- H- and Sa- and !"hind ,"phth.s
a#" th#"" d"iti"s who #"p#"s"nt th" doo#s
th#ogh which th" god Tm has mad" his wa. to th" wo#ld1[Q]
Th" Tat- o# a!od" o& th" d"ad1
Bithin th" two !ow"d &"mal" =g#"s which #"p#"s"nt th" da. and th" night
s4.- and which ha$" !""n #"&"##"d to a!o$"
I2ig1 @J- is a thi#d =g#" which is !"nt
[51 /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 5QQ1
@1 /" /i$#" d" c" G'il . a dans l'HadPs- p1 ;
; I!id1- ta$1 5Q:1
K1 I!id1- ta$1 5Q61
Q +#gsch- R"ligion nd *.thologi"- p1 @571]
Ep1 ci$F
Th" Eg.ptian h"a$"n1
#ond in a ci#cl"< th" spac" "nclos"d !. it #"p#"s"nts acco#ding to D#1 +#gsch
th" Tat[5]o# Eg.ptian nd"#wo#ld- wh"#"in
dw"lt th" gods o& th" d"ad and th" d"pa#t"d sols1 This $i"w is sppo#t"d !.
th" sc"n" &#om th" sa#cophags o& S"ti I1
I2ig1 5J1 In th" wat"#. spac" a!o$" th" !a#4 is th" =g#" o& th" god !"nt
#ond in a ci#cl" with his to"s toching his h"ad- and pon his h"ad stands
th" godd"ss ,t with otst#"tch"d hands #"c"i$ing th" dis4 o& th" sn1[@] In
th" spac" "nclos"d !. th" !od. o& th" god is th" l"g"nd- "This is Hsi#is< his
ci#cit is th" Tat1"[;] Thogh n"a#l. all Eg.ptologists ag#"" a!ot th"
m"aning o& th" wo#d !"ing "th" plac" o& d"pa#t"d sols-" ."t it has !""n
t#anslat"d in $a#ios wa.s- diA"#"nt schola#s locating th" Tat in diA"#"nt
pa#ts o& c#"ation1 D#1 +#gsch and oth"#s plac" it nd"# th" "a#th-[K] oth"#s
ha$" sppos"d it to !" th" spac" which "%ists !"tw""n th" a#ms o& Sh and
th" !od. o& ,t-[Q] !t th" most #"c"nt th"o#. pt &o#th is that it was sitat"d
n"ith"# a!o$" no# !"low th" "a#th- !t !".ond Eg.pt to th" no#th- &#om which
it was s"pa#at"d !. th" montain #ang" which- as th" Eg.ptians thoght-
sppo#t"d th" s4.1[7] Th" #"gion o& th" Tat was a long- montainos- na##ow
$all". with a #i$"# #nning along it< sta#ting &#om th" "ast it mad" its wa. to
th" no#th- and th"n ta4ing a ci#cla# di#"ction it cam" !ac4 to th" "ast1 In th"
Tat li$"d all mann"# o& &"a#&l monst"#s and !"asts- and h"#" was th"
cont#. th#ogh which th" sn pass"d d#ing th" tw"l$" ho#s o& th" night<
acco#ding to on" $i"w h" t#a$"#s"d this #"gion in spl"ndo#- and acco#ding to
anoth"# h" di"d and !"cam" s!["ct to Hsi#is th" 4ing- god and [dg" o& th"
4ingdom o& th" d"pa#t"d1
Th" 2i"lds o& Aa# and H"t"p1
Th" sols o& th" d"ad mad" th"i# wa. to th"i# a!od" in th" "oth"# wo#ld" !. a
ladd"#- acco#ding to a $"#. anci"nt $i"w-
o# th#ogh a gap in th" montains o& A!.dos call"d )"4a acco#ding to
anoth"#< !t- !. which"$"# wa. th". pass"d &#om
"a#th- th"i# d"stination was a #"gion in th" Tat which is call"d in th"
p.#amid and lat"# t"%ts S"4h"t-Aa#-[:] which was
sitat"d in th"
[51 +#gsch- op1 cit1- p1 @551
@1 Th" l"g"nd #"ads "This is ,t- sh" #"c"i$"th Ra1"
;1 YYY1
K1 BZ#t"#!ch- p1 57@@1
Q1 /an>on"- Domicil" d"s Esp#its- p1 5< Di>iona#io- p1 5@9@1
71 *asp"#o- /a *.thologi" Lg.pti"nn" ILtd"s- I1 ii1- p1 @8:J< ]3Gi"#- /" /i$#"-
p1 ; Th" "ast"#n montain p"a4 was call"d
+a4hat"t- and th" w"st"#n *an1
:1 I1"1- th" 2i"ld o& #""d plants1]
Ep1 c$F
3he <ields of (aru and 6ete).
S"4h"t-H"t"p-[l] and was sppos"d to li" to th" no#th o& Eg.pt1 H"#" dw"ll
Ho#s and S"t- &o# th" ="lds o& Aa# and H"t"p
a#" th"i# domains-[@] and h"#" "nt"#s th" d"c"as"d with two o& th" child#"n
o& Ho#s on on" sid" o& him- and two on
th" oth"#-[;] and th" "two g#"at chi"&s who p#"sid" o$"# th" th#on" o& th"
g#"at god p#oclaim "t"#nal li&" and pow"#
&o# him1"[K] H"#" li4" th" sp#"m" God h" is d"cla#"d to !" "on"-" and th"
&o# child#"n o& Ho#s p#oclaim his nam" to Ra1
Ha$ing gon" to th" no#th o& th" Aa# 2i"ld h" ma4"s his wa. to th" "ast"#n
po#tion o& th" tat- wh"#" acco#ding to on"
l"g"nd h" !"com"s li4" th" mo#ning sta#- n"a#[7] his sist"# Sothis1[:] H"#"
h" li$"d in th" &o#m o& th" sta# Sothis-
and "th" g#"at and littl" compani"s o& th" gods p#i&. him in th" G#"at +"a#1"
Th" Eg.ptian th"ologians- who conc"i$"d
that a ladd"# was n"c"ssa#. to "na!l" th" sol to asc"nd to th" n"%t wo#ld-
p#o$id"d it also with an add#"ss which it was
to tt"# wh"n it #"ach"d th" top1 As gi$"n in th" p.#amid o& (nas it #"ads as
&ollows':--"Hail to th""- H daght"# o& Am"nta-
mist#"ss o& )"t"#IWJ o& h"a$"n- tho gi&t o& Thoth- tho mist#"ss o& th" two
sid"s o& th" ladd"#- op"n a wa. to (nas-
l"t (nas pass1 Hail to th""- H ,a- who a#t [s"at"d] pon th" !#in4 o& th"
/a4" o& Rha- op"n tho a wa. to (nas-
l"t (nas pass1 Hail to th""- H tho !ll o& &o# ho#ns- tho who hast on" ho#n
to th" w"st- and on" to th" "ast- and on"
to th" no#th- and on" to th" soth- 1 1 1 1 1 1 l"t (nas pass- &o# h" is a !"ing
&#om th" p#i="d Am"nta- who go"th &o#th
&#om th" cont#. o& +aGta1 Hail to th""- H S"4h"t-H"t"p- hail to th""- and to
th" ="lds which a#" in th""- th" ="lds o&
(nas a#" in th""- &o# p#" oA"#ings a#" in th""1"
[51 I1"1- th" 2i"ld o& )"ac"1
@1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $1- p1 595 Il1 56@J1
;1 I!id1- p1 Q8 Il1 @7@J1
K1 I!id1- t1 $ii1- p1 57; I51 K8@J1
Q1 I!id1- t1 i$1- p1 K91 Il1 K;@J1
71 I!id1- t1 $1- p1 567 Ill1 68- 5:8- 5::J1
:1 I!id1- t1 i$1- p1 QQ Il1 K:QJ1
61 I!id1- t1 i$1- p1 76 Il1 Q7:J1
9 I!id1- t1 i$1- p1 79 Il1 Q:7 A1J1]
Ep1 c$iF
)ow"# o& th" gods o& Ann1
Th" sols o& th" d"ad cold also !" comm"nd"d to th" ca#" o& th" gods
a!o$" !. th" gods o& Ann- and ths w" =nd it said
in th" p.#amid o& (nas: "H gods o& th" w"st- H gods o& th" "ast- H gods o& th"
soth- H gods o& th" no#th- ." &o#
[o#d"#s o& gods] who "m!#ac" th" &o# hol. "nds o& th" ni$"#s"- and who
g#ant"d to Hsi#is to com" &o#th to h"a$"n-
and to sail o$"# th" c"l"stial wat"#s th"#"o& with his son Ho#s !. his sid" to
p#ot"ct him and to ma4" him to #is" li4" a
g#"at god &#om th" c"l"stial d""p- sa. ." to (nas- '+"hold Ho#s- th" son o&
Hsi#is- !"hold (nas- th" god o& th" ag"d gods-
th" son o& Hatho#- !"hold th" s""d o& S"!- &o# Hsi#is hath command"d that
(nas shall #is" li4" th" s"cond o& Ho#s- and th"
&o# 4h's who a#" in Ann ha$" w#itt"n this command to th" g#"at gods who
a#" in th" c"l"stial wat"#s1'"[5] And again-
"Bh"n m"n a#" !#i"d and #"c"i$" th"i# thosands o& ca4"s and thosands o&
$as"s o& al" pon th" ta!l" o& him that #l"th
in Am"nta- that !"ing is in so#" st#aits who hath not a w#itt"n d"c#"": now
th" d"c#"" o& (nas is nd"# th" g#"at"st- and
not nd"# th" littl" s"al1"[@]
Th" plan o& th" S"4h"t-H"t"p which w" =nd in th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad d#ing
th" Th"!an p"#iod will !" d"sc#i!"d !"low-
and it is th"#"&o#" sDci"nt to sa. h"#" that th" id"as o& th" happ. li&" which
th" d"c"as"d l"d had th"i# o#igin in th"
p.#amid t"%ts- as ma. !" s""n &#om th" &ollowing passag":--"(nas hath
oA"#"d inc"ns" nto th" g#"at and littl" compani"s
o& th" gods- and his moth is p#"- and th" tong" which is th"#"in is p#"1 H
." [dg"s- ." ha$" ta4"n (nas nto .o#s"l$"s-
l"t him "at that which ." "at- l"t him d#in4 that which ." d#in4- l"t him li$"
pon that which ." li$" pon- l"t .o# s"at !"
his s"at- l"t his pow"# !" .o# pow"#- l"t th" !oat wh"#"in h" shall sail !"
.o# !oat- l"t him n"t !i#ds in Aa#- l"t him
poss"ss #nning st#"ams in S"4h"t-H"t"p- and ma. h" o!tain his m"at and
his d#in4 &#om .o- H ." gods1 *a. th" wat"#
o& (nas !" o& th" win" which is o& Ra- ma. h" #"$ol$" in th" s4. li4" Ra- and
ma. h" pass o$"# th" s4. li4" Thoth1"[;]
H& th" condition o& thos" who &ail"d to s"c#" a li&" o& !"atitd" with th" gods
in th" S"4h"t-Aa# o& th" Tat- th" p.#amid
t"%ts sa. nothing- and it s""ms as i& th" doct#in" o& pnishm"nt o& th"
wic4"d and o& th" [dgm"nt which too4 plac" a&t"#
d"ath is a d"$"lopm"nt cha#act"#istic o& a lat"# p"#iod1
[51 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 i$1- p1 79 Ill1 Q:@-:QJ1
@ I!id1- t1 i$1- p1 :5 Il1 Q6;J1
; I!id1- t1 iii1 Il1 595-9QJ1]
Ep1 c$iiF
,"%t: Th" Gods H& Th" +oo4 H& Th" D"ad1
Sac#"d T"%ts Eg.pt Ind"% )#"$ios ,"%t
THE GHDS H2 THE +HHR H2 THE DEAD1
Th" &ollowing a#" th" p#incipal gods and godd"ss"s m"ntion"d in th" p.#amid
t"%ts and in th" lat"# $"#sions o& th" +oo4
o& th" D"ad:--
, #"p#"s"nts th" p#im"$al wat"#. mass &#om which all th" gods w"#"
"$ol$"d- and pon which Soats th" !a#4 o& "millions
o& ."a#s" containing th" sn1 This god's chi"& titl"s a#" " 2ath"# o& th" gods-"
and !"g"tt"# o& th" g#"at compan. o& th" gods-"
1 H" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a s"at"d d"it. ha$ing pon his h"ad dis4 and
plm"s1[5]
,t th" &"mal" p#incipl" o& ,< sh" is d"pict"d with th" h"ad o& a sna4"
s#mont"d !. a dis4- o# with th" h"ad o& a cat1[@]
)tah was associat"d with th" god Rhn"m in ca##.ing ot at th" '#"ation th"
mandat"s o& Thoth th" di$in" int"llig"nc"< his nam" m"ans th" "op"n"#-" and
h" was id"nti="d !. th" G#""4s with EG#""4 H^'&aistosF- and !. th" /atins
with Vlcan1
H" was wo#shipp"d at a $"#. "a#l. dat" in *"mphis- which is call"d in
Eg.ptian t"%ts "Th" Hos" o& th" Ra o& )tah-"- and acco#ding to H"#odots his
t"mpl" th"#" was &ond"d !. *"na o# *"n"s1[;] H" is call"d th" ""%c""dingl.
g#"at god- th" !"ginning o& !"ing-" "th" &ath"# o& &ath"#s and pow"# o&
pow"#s-" and "h" c#"at"d his &o#m-
[51 /an>on"- Di>iona#io- ta$1 577- ,o1 @1 2o# &ll"# d"sc#iptions o& th" gods and
th"i# titl"s and att#i!t"s s"" +#gsch- R"ligion nd *.thologi"- /"ip>ig-
566K-66< )i"##"t- /" )anth3on Lg.pti"n- )a#is- 5665< Bi"d"mann- Di" R"ligion
d"# alt"n A"g.pt"#- *Cnst"#- 5698< St#ass and 'o#n".- D"# alta"g.ptisch"
GZtt"#gla!"- H"id"l!"#g- 56691 2o# illst#ations o& th" $a#ios &o#ms in which
th" gods a#" d"pict"d- s"" th" Di>iona#io di *itologia Egi>ia- T#in- 5665 Inot
."t compl"t"J1
@1 /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$$1 576-:51
;1 EG#""4 To_to d"` to_ H^&ai'sto to` i^d#sasaai "`n aWth_F Iii1- 99J1]
Ep1 c$iiiF
and ga$" !i#th to his !od.- and "sta!lish"d n"nding and n$a#.ing #ight and
t#th pon th" "a#th1" As a sola# god h" is
call"d ")tah- th" Dis4 o& h"a$"n- who illmin"th th" wo#ld !. th" =#" o& his
"."s-"< and in th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad h" is said
to ha$" "op"n"d" th" moth o& th" d"c"as"d with th" tool with which h"
op"n"d th" moths o& th" gods1
[5] H" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a mmm. standing pon maat and in his
hands h" holds a sc"pt#" on th" top o& which a#"
th" "m!l"ms o& pow"#- li&"- and sta!ilit.< &#om th" !ac4 o& his n"c4 hangs th"
m"nat Is"" p1 5- not" @J1[@] )tah &o#m"d at
*"mphis th" chi"& m"m!"# o& th" t#iad )tah-S"4h"t and ,"&"#-Tm1
In man. t"%ts th" god )tah is o&t"n [oin"d to th" god S"4"# whos" indi$idal
att#i!t"s it is not "as. to d"sc#i!"< S"4"# is
th" Eg.ptian nam" o& th" inca#nation o& th" Apis !ll at *"mphis1 That S"4"#
was a sola# god is Git" cl"a#- !t wh"th"#
h" "clos"d" th" da. o# th" night is not c"#tain1 H#iginall. his &"sti$al was
c"l"!#at"d in th" "$"ning- wh"#"&#om it
app"a#s that h" #"p#"s"nt"d som" &o#m o& th" night sn< !t in lat"# tim"s
th" c"#"mon. o& d#awing th" imag" o& th" god
S"4"# in th" h"nn !oat #ond th" sancta#. was p"#&o#m"d in th" mo#ning
at dawn- and ths- nit"d with )tah- h"
!"cam" th" clos"# o& th" night and th" op"n"# o& th" da.1 H" is d"pict"d as a
mmmi"d !od. with th" h"ad o& a
haw4- and h" som"tim"s holds in his hands "m!l"ms o& pow"#- so$"#"ignt.-
and #l"1[;]
Anoth"# &o#m o& )tah was )tah-S"4"#-Asa# wh"#"in th" c#"ato# o& th" wo#ld-
th" sn- and Hsi#is as th" god o& th" d"ad-
w"#" #"p#"s"nt"d1 A la#g" nm!"# o& &aV"nc" =g#"s o& this t#in" god a#"
&ond in g#a$"s- and sp"cim"ns "%ist in all ms"ms1 H" is #"p#"s"nt"d as a
dwa#& standing pon a c#ocodil"- and ha$ing a sca#a!Ts pon his h"ad< th"
sca#a! is th" "m!l"m o& th" n"w li&" into which th" d"c"as"d is a!ot to
!#"a4- th" c#ocodil" is th" "m!l"m o& th" da#4n"ss o& d"ath which has !""n
o$"#com"1 Acco#ding to som" th" "l"m"nt o& )tah in th" t#iad is th"
p"#soni=cation o& th" p"#iod o& inc!ation which &ollows
[51 YYY1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 ;K- ll1 K- Q1
@1 /an>on": op1 cit1- ta$$1 6:-951
;1 /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;761]
Ep1 ci%F
d"ath and p#"c"d"s th" "nt#. into "t"#nal li&"- and th" s.m!ols with which h"
is accompani"d "%plain th" cha#act"#
att#i!t"d to this god1[5]
Th" god )tah is also nit"d with th" gods Hapi- , and Tan"n wh"n h"
#"p#"s"nts $a#ios phas"s o& p#im"$al matt"#1
Rhn"m wo#4"d with )tah in ca##.ing ot th" wo#4 o& c#"ation o#d"#"d !.
Thoth- and is th"#"&o#" on" o& th" old"st
di$initi"s o& Eg.pt< his nam" m"ans- "to mold-" "to mod"l1" His conn"%ion
with th" p#im"$al wat"# cas"d him to !"
#"ga#d"d as th" chi"& god o& th" inndation and lo#d o& th" cata#act at
El"phantin"1 H" dw"lt in Ann- !t h" was lo#d o&
El"phantin"- and "th" !ild"# o& m"n- th" ma4"# o& th" gods- and th" &ath"#
&#om th" !"ginning1"
Els"wh"#" h" is said to !"
a#i "nti-s G"mam n"n"t sa %"p"# t"&
*a4"# o& things which a#"- c#"ato# o& what shall !"- th" !"ginning o& !"ings-
&ath"#
t"& ma ma
o& &ath"#s- and moth"# o& moth"#s1
H" sppo#t"d th" h"a$"n pon its &o# pilla#s in th" !"ginning- and "a#th- ai#-
s"a- and s4. a#" his handiwo#41 H" is d"pict"d
in th" &o#m o& a man ha$ing a #am's h"ad and ho#ns s#mont"d !. plm"s-
#Ti with dis4s- "tc1< in on" hand !" holds th" sc"pt#" and in th" oth"# th"
"m!l"m o& li&"1 Hccasionall. h" is haw4-h"ad"d- and in on" #"p#"s"ntation h"
holds th" "m!l"m o& wat"#- in "ach hand1 Hn a lat" !as-#"li"& at )hilT w" =nd
him s"at"d at a pott"#'s ta!l" pon which stands a hman !"ing whom h"
has [st &ashion"d1[@]
Rh"p"#a was a &o#m o& th" #ising sn- and was !oth a t.p" o& matt"# which is
on th" point o& passing &#om in"#tn"ss into
li&"- and also o& th" d"ad !od. which is a!ot to !#st &o#th into a n"w li&" in
a glo#i="d &o#m1 H" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m
o& a man ha$ing a !""tl" &o# a h"ad- and this ins"ct was his t.p" and
"m!l"m among anci"nt nations- !"cas" it was
!"li"$"d to !" s"l&-!"gott"n and s"l&-p#odc"d< to this notion w" ow" th"
m.#iads o& !""tl"s o#
[51 /an>on"- op1 cit1- p1 @KK1
@1 /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;;7- ,o1 ;1]
Ep1 c%F
sca#a!s which a#" &ond in tom!s o& all ag"s in Eg.pt- and also in th" G#""4
islands and s"ttl"m"nts in th" *"dit"##an"an-
and in )hbnicia- S.#ia- and "ls"wh"#"1 Th" s"at o& th" god Rh"p"#a was in
th" !oat o& th" sn- and th" pict#"s which
p#"s"nt s with this &act[5] onl. illst#at" an id"a which is as old- at l"ast- as
th" p.#amid o& (nas- &o# in this monm"nt
it is said o& th" 4ing:-
ap-& "m apt %"n"n-& "m %"p"# "m n"st st
H" Si"th li4" a !i#d- h" alight"th li4" a !""tl" pon th" "mpt. th#on"
amt aa-4 Ra[@]
in th. !oat- H Ra1
In th" UVIIIth d.nast. \""n Hatsh"ps"t d"cla#"d h"#s"l& to !" "th" c#"ato#
o& things which cam" into !"ing li4" Rh"p"#a"-
[;] and in lat"# tim"s th" sc#i!"s w"#" "%c""dingl. &ond o& pla.ing pon th"
wo#d s"d as a non- ad["cti$"- $"#! and p#op"#
nam"1[K]
Tm o# At"m i1"1- "th" clos"#-" was th" g#"at god o& Ann- and th" h"ad o&
th" g#"at compan. o& th" gods o& that plac"1
It wold s""m that h" s#p"d th" position o& Ra in Eg.ptian m.tholog.- o# at
an. #at" that th" p#i"sts o& Ann scc""d"d
in casing th"i# local god- "ith"# s"pa#at"l. o# [oin"d with Ra- to !" acc"pt"d
as th" l"ad"# o& th" di$in" g#op1
H" #"p#"s"nt"d th" "$"ning o# night sn- and as sch h" is call"d in th" UVth
chapt"# o& th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad "di$in" god-"
"s"l&-c#"at"d-" "ma4"# o& th" gods-" "c#"ato# o& m"n-" who st#"tch"d ot th"
h"a$"ns-" "th" light"n"# o& th" tat with
his two "."s-" "tc1'
[51 /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;;81
@1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 i$1- p1 Q: I51 K::J1
; /"psis- D"n4mcl"#- A!th1 iii1- +/ @@1
K 'ompa#" YYY1 *asp"#o- *3moi#"s d" la *ission- t1 i1- p1 Q9Q< and in th"
accont o& th" '#"ation &ond in +1*1 pap.#s
,o1 58-566- 'ol1 %%$i1- YYY1
Q1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 59- @81]
Ep1 c%iF
Th" "cool !#"">"s o& th" no#th wind-" &o# which "$"#. d"ad man p#a."d- w"#"
sppos"d to p#oc""d &#om him1
H" is- as *1 /"&3!#" has point"d ot- alwa.s d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a man<
h" w"a#s th" c#owns and holds !oth th"
sc"pt#" and "m!l"m o& li&" Hn a mmm. cas" at T#in h" is d"pict"d in th"
!oat o& th" Sn- in compan. with th" god
Rh"p"#a< !"tw""n th"m a#" th" !""tl" and sn's dis4 In lat"# tim"s th"
Eg.ptians call"d th" &"minin" &o#m o& Tm T"mt1[@]
Ra was th" nam" gi$"n to th" sn !. th" Eg.ptians in a #"mot" antiGit.- !t
th" m"aning o& th" wo#d- o# th" att#i!t"
which th". asc#i!"d to th" sn !. it- is n4nown1 Ra was th" in$isi!l"
"m!l"m o& God- and was #"ga#d"d as th" god o& this
"a#th- to whom oA"#ings and sac#i=c"s w"#" mad" dail.< and wh"n h"
app"a#"d a!o$" th" ho#i>on at th" c#"ation-
tim" !"gan1 In th" p.#amid t"%ts th" sol o& th" d"c"as"d ma4"s its wa. to
wh"#" Ra is in h"a$"n- and Ra is "nt#"at"d to gi$" it a plac" in th" "!a#4 o&
millions o& ."a#s" wh"#"in h" sails o$"# th" s4.1 Th" Eg.ptians att#i!t"d to
th" sn a mo#ning and an "$"ning !oat- and in th"s" th" god sat
accompani"d !. Rh"p"#a and Tm- his own &o#ms in th" mo#ning and
"$"ning #"sp"cti$"l.1 In his dail. co#s" h" $anGish"d night and da#4n"ss-
and mist and clod disapp"a#"d &#om !"&o#" his #a.s< s!s"G"ntl. th"
Eg.ptians in$"nt"d th" mo#al conc"ption o& th" sn- #"p#"s"nting th" $icto#.
o& #ight o$"# w#ong and o& t#th o$"# &als"hood1 2#om a nat#al point o& $i"w
th" sn was s.non.mos with mo$"m"nt- and h"nc" t.pi="d th" li&" o& man<
and th" s"tting o& th" on" t.pi="d th" d"ath o& th" oth"#1 (sall. Ra is
d"pict"d in hman &o#m- som"tim"s with th" h"ad o& a haw4- and som"tim"s
withot[;]- As "a#l. as th" tim" o& th" p.#amid t"%ts w" =nd Ra nit"d with
Tm to &o#m th" chi"& god o& Ann- and at th" sam" p"#iod a &"mal"
cont"#pa#t Rat was assign"d to him1[K]
Sh- th" s"cond m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was th"
=#st!o#n son o& Ra- Ra-Tm- o# Tm- !. th" godd"ss
Hatho#- th" s4.- and was th" twin !#oth"# o& T"&nt1 H" t.pi="d th" light- h"
li&t"d p th" s4.- ,t- &#om th" "a#th- S"!-
and
plac"d it pon th" st"ps which w"#" in Rh"m"nn1
[51 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;961
@1 I!id1- p1 5@QQ-
;1 I!id1- ta$1 :61
K1 ).#amid o& (nas- l1 @Q;1]
Ep1 c%iiF
H" is sall. d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a man- who w"a#s pon his h"ad a
&"ath"# o# &"ath"#s and holds in his hand th" sc"pt#"1 At oth"# tim"s h"
app"a#s in th" &o#m o& a man with p#ais"d a#ms< on his h"ad h" has th"
"m!l"m YYY- and h" is o&t"n accompani"d !. th" &o# pilla#s o& h"a$"n- i1"1-
th" ca#dinal points1[5] Among th" man. &aV"nc" aml"ts which a#" &ond in
tom!s a#" two which ha$" #"&"#"nc" to Sh: th" littl" mod"ls o& st"ps t.pi&.
th" st"ps pon which Sh #"st"d th" s4. in Rh"m"nn< and th" c#oching
=g#" o& a god sppo#ting th" sn's dis4 s.m!oli>"s his act o& #aising th"
sn's dis4 into th" spac" !"tw""n s4. and "a#th at th" tim" wh"n h"
s"pa#at"d ,t &#om S"!1
T"&nt- th" thi#d m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was th"
daght"# o& Ra- Ra-Tm- o# Tm- and twin-sist"# o& Sh< sh" #"p#"s"nt"d in
on" &o#m moist#"- and in anoth"# asp"ct sh" s""ms to p"#soni&. th" pow"#
o& snlight1 Sh" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman- sall. with th" h"ad o& a
lion"ss s#mont"d !. a dis4 o# #Ts- o# !oth<[@] in &aV"nc"- how"$"#- th"
twin !#oth"# and sist"# ha$" "ach a lion's h"ad1 In th" p.#amid t"%ts th".
pla. a c#ios pa#t- Sh !"ing sppos"d to ca##. awa. hng"# &#om th"
d"c"as"d- and T"&nt his thi#st1[;]
S"! o# \"!- th" &o#th m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was th"
son o& Sh- hs!and o& ,t- and !. h"# &ath"#
o& Hsi#is- Isis- S"t- and ,"phth.s1 H#iginall. h" was th" god o& th" "a#th- and
is call"d !oth th" &ath"# o& th" gods- and th"
""#pa Ii1"1- th" t#i!al- h"#"dita#. h"adJ o& th" gods1" H" is d"pict"d in hman
&o#m- som"tim"s with a c#own pon his
h"ad and sc"pt#" I in his #ight hand< and som"tim"s h" has pon his h"ad a
goos"-[K] which !i#d was sac#"d to him1
In man. plac"s h" is call"d th" "g#"at cac4l"#" and h" was sppos"d to ha$"
laid th" "gg &#om which th" wo#ld sp#ang1
Al#"ad. in th" p.#amid t"%ts h" has !"com" a god o& th" d"ad !. $i#t" o&
#"p#"s"nting th" "a#th wh"#"in th" d"c"as"d
was laid1
[51 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;6Q1
@1 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;9Q1
;1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $1- p1 58 Il1 75J1
K S"" /an>on" op1 cit1 ta$ ;K71]
Ep1 c%iiiF
Asa# o# Hsi#is- th" si%th m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was
th" son o& S"! and ,t- and th" hs!and
o& his sist"# Isis- th" &ath"# o& "Ho#s- th" son o& Isis-" and th" !#oth"# o& S"t
and ,"phth.s1
Th" $"#sion o& his sA"#ings and d"ath !. )lta#ch has !""n al#"ad.
d"sc#i!"d Is"" p1 %l$iii1J1
Bhat"$"# ma. ha$" !""n th" &ondation o& th" l"g"nd- it is p#"tt. c"#tain
that his cha#act"# as a god o& th" d"ad was
w"ll d"=n"d long !"&o#" th" $"#sions o& th" p.#amid t"%ts 4nown to s w"#"
w#itt"n- and th" onl. impo#tant chang"
which too4 plac" in th" $i"ws o& th" Eg.ptians conc"#ning him in lat"# da.s
was th" asc#iption to him o& th" att#i!t"s
which in th" "a#l. d.nasti"s w"#" #"ga#d"d as !"longing onl. to Ra o# to Ra-
Tm1 H#iginall. Hsi#is was a &o#m o&
th" sn-god- and- sp"a4ing g"n"#all.- h" ma. !" said to ha$" #"p#"s"nt"d
th" sn a&t"# h" had s"t- and as sch was th"
"m!l"m o& th" motionl"ss d"ad< lat"# t"%ts id"nti&. him with th" moon1 Th"
Eg.ptians ass"#t"d that h" was th" &ath"#
o& th" gods who had gi$"n him !i#th- and- as h" was th" god !oth o&
."st"#da. and o& to-da.- h" !"cam" th" t.p" o&
"t"#nal "%ist"nc" and th" s.m!ol o& immo#talit.< as sch h" s#p"d not onl.
th" att#i!t"s o& Ra- !t thos" o&
"$"#. oth"# god- and at l"ngth h" was !oth th" god o& th" d"ad and th" god
o& th" li$ing1 As [dg" o& th" d"ad h" was
!"li"$"d to "%"#cis" &nctions simila# to thos" att#i!t"d to God1 Alon"
among all th" man. gods o& Eg.pt-
Hsi#is was chos"n as th" t.p" o& what th" d"c"as"d hop"d to !"com" wh"n-
his !od. ha$ing !""n mmmi="d in
th" p#"sc#i!"d wa.- and c"#"moni"s p#op"# to th" occasion ha$ing !""n
p"#&o#m"d and th" p#a."#s said- his
glo#i="d !od. shold "nt"# into his p#"s"nc" in h"a$"n< to him as "lo#d o&
"t"#nit.-" !. which titl" as [dg" o& th" d"ad
h" was commonl. add#"ss"d- th" d"c"as"d app"al"d to ma4" his S"sh to
g"#minat" and to sa$" his !od. &#om d"ca.1
[5] Th" $a#ios &o#ms in which Hsi#is is d"pict"d a#" too nm"#os to !"
d"sc#i!"d h"#"- !t g"n"#all. sp"a4ing h" is
#"p#"s"nt"d in th" &o#m o& a mmm. w"a#ing a c#own and holding in his
hands th" "m!l"ms o& so$"#"ignt. and pow"#1
A $"#. compl"t" s"#i"s o& illst#ations o& th" &o#ms o& Hsi#is is gi$"n !.
/an>on" in his Di>iona#io- ta$$1 @Q6-@991
Th" c"#"moni"s conn"ct"d with th" c"l"!#ation o& th" "$"nts o& th"
sA"#ings- th" d"ath and th" #"s##"ction o&
Hsi#is occpi"d a $"#. p#omin"nt pa#t in th" #"ligios o!s"#$anc"s o& th"
Eg.ptians- and it s""ms as i& in th" month o&
'hoia4 a #"p#"s"ntation o&
[51 'ompa#" YYY1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 5:91]
Ep1 c%i$F
th"m too4 plac" in $a#ios t"mpl"s in Eg.pt< th" t"%t o& a mint" d"sc#iption
o& th"m has !""n p!lish"d !. *1 /o#"t
in R"c"il d" T#a$a%- tom1 iii1- p1 K; A- and scc""ding $olm"s1 A p"#sal o&
this wo#4 "%plains th" signi=cation o&
man. o& th" c"#"moni"s conn"ct"d with th" !#ial o& th" d"ad- th" s" o&
aml"ts- and c"#tain pa#ts o& th" &n"#al #ital<
and th" wo#4 in this &o#m !"ing o& a lat" dat" p#o$"s that th" doct#in" o&
immo#talit.- gain"d th#ogh th" god who was
"lo#d o& th" h"a$"ns and o& th" "a#th- o& th" nd"#wo#ld and o& th" wat"#s- o&
th" montains- and o& all which th" sn
go"th #ond in his co#s"-"[5] had #"main"d nchang"d &o# at l"ast &o#
thosand ."a#s o& its "%ist"nc"1
As"t o# Isis- th" s"$"nth m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was
th" wi&" o& Hsi#is and th" moth"# o& Ho#s<
h"# wo"s ha$" !""n d"sc#i!"d !oth !. Eg.ptian and G#""4 w#it"#s1[@] H"#
common"st nam"s a#" "th" g#"at godd"ss-
th" di$in" moth"#- th" mist#"ss o& cha#ms o# "nchantm"nts"< in lat"# tim"s
sh" is call"d th" "moth"# o& th" gods-" and
th" "li$ing on"1" Sh" is sall. d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman- with a h"ad-
d#"ss in th" shap" o& a s"at- th"
hi"#ogl.phic &o# which &o#ms h"# nam"1 Th" animal sac#"d to h"# was th"
cow- h"nc" sh" som"tim"s w"a#s pon h"#
h"ad th" ho#ns o& that animal accompani"d !. plm"s and &"ath"#s1 In on"
asp"ct sh" is id"nti="d with th" godd"ss
S"l4 o# S"#G- and sh" th"n has pon h"# h"ad a sco#pion- th" "m!l"m o& that
godd"ss<[;] in anoth"# asp"ct sh" is
nit"d to th" sta# Sothis- and th"n a sta# is add"d to h"# c#own1 Sh" is-
how"$"#- most commonl. #"p#"s"nt"d as
th" moth"# sc4ling h"# child Ho#s- and =g#"s o& h"# in this asp"ct- in
!#on>" and &aV"nc"- "%ist in thosands1
As a nat#" godd"ss sh" is s""n standing in th" !oat o& th" sn- and sh" was
p#o!a!l. th" d"it. o& th" dawn1
H"# o# Ho#s- th" sn-god- was o#iginall. a totall. distinct god &#om Ho#s-
th" son o& Hsi#is and Isis- !t &#om th" "a#li"st tim"s it s""ms that th" two
gods w"#" con&ond"d- and that th" att#i!t"s o& th" on" w"#" asc#i!"d to
th" oth"#< th" =ght which Ho#s th" sn-god wag"d against night and
da#4n"ss was also at a $"#. "a#l. p"#iod id"nti="d with th" com!at !"tw""n
Ho#s- th" son o&
[51 YYY1
@1 'ha!as- (n H.mn" M Hsi#is Iin R"$" A#ch3ologiG"- t1 %i$1- p1 7Q A1J<
Ho##ac4- /"s /am"ntations d'Isis "t d" ,"phth.s-
)a#is- 5677< Th" 2"sti$al Songs o& Isis and ,"phth.s Iin A#chTologia- $ol1 lii1-
/ondon- 5695J- "tc1
; S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;87 A1]
Ep1 c%$F
Isis- and his !#oth"# S"t1 Th" $isi!l" "m!l"m o& th" sn-god was at a $"#.
"a#l. dat" th" haw4 is- which was p#o!a!l. th"
=#st li$ing thing wo#shipp"d !. th" "a#l. Eg.ptians< al#"ad. in th" p.#amid
t"%ts th" haw4 on a standa#d is s"d
indisc#iminat"l. with YYY to #"p#"s"nt th" wo#d "god1" Th" p#incipal &o#ms
o& Ho#s th" sn-god- which p#o!a!l.
#"p#"s"nt th" sn at $a#ios p"#iods o& th" da. and night- a#":--H"#-#
IEG#""4 AW#wh`#"iJ-
"Ho#s th" G#"at"< H"#-m"#ti- "Ho#s o& th" two "."s-" i1"1- o& th" sn and
moon<[5] H"#-n!-
"th" gold"n Ho#s"< H"#-4h"nt-4hat< H"#-4h"nt-an-maa- "Ho#s dw"lling in
!lindn"ss"< H"#-4hti- "Ho#s
o& th" two ho#i>ons-"[@] th" t.p" o& which on "a#th was th" Sphin%< H"#-sam-
tai- "Ho#s th" nit"# o& th" no#th and
soth"< H"#-h"4"n- " Ho#s o& H"4"n"< and H"#-!"ht"t- "Ho#s o&
+"ht"t1"[;] Th" cippi o& Ho#s- which !"cam"
so common at a lat" p"#iod in Eg.pt- s""m to nit" th" id"a o& th" ph.sical
and mo#al conc"ptions o& Ho#s th"
sn-god and o& Ho#s th" son o& Hsi#is and Isis1
Ho#s- th" son o& Hsi#is and Isis- app"a#s in Eg.ptian t"%ts sall. as H"#-p-
4ha#t- " Ho#s th" child-" who a&t"#wa#ds
!"cam" th" "a$"ng"# o& his &ath"# Hsi#is-" and occpi"d his th#on"- as w" a#"
told in man. plac"s in th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad1
In th" p.#amid t"%ts th" d"c"as"d is id"nti="d with H"#-p-4ha#t- and a
#"&"#"nc" is mad" to th" &act that th" god is
alwa.s #"p#"s"nt"d with a =ng"# in his moth1[K] Th" c#ios l"g"nd which
)lta#ch #"lat"s conc"#ning Ha#poc#at"s and
th" cas" o& his lam"n"ss' is p#o!a!l.
[51 A $"#. int"#"sting =g#" o& this god #"p#"s"nts him holding his "."s in his
hands< s"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- p1 7561
@ I1"1- Ho#s !"tw""n th" montains o& +"4hat"t and *an- th" most "ast"#l.
and w"st"#l. points o& th" sn's co#s"- and th" plac"s wh"#" h" #os" and
s"t1
;1 2o# =g#"s o& th"s" $a#ios &o#ms o& Ho#s- s"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 @5K
A1
K1 YYY1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $1- p1 KK Il1 ;85J1
Q1 EG#""4 Th`n dW IW_sin m"ta` th`n t"l"th`n "^4s HWsi'#idos
sgg"nom"'no- t"4"i_n hWlito'mhno- 4ai` aWa"nh_ toi_s 4a'twa"n g.i'ois
to`n A^#po4#a'thn1F D" Isid" "t Hsi#id"- d %i%1]
Ep1 c%$iF
!as"d pon th" passag" in th" histo#. o& Hsi#is and Isis gi$"n in a h.mn to
Hsi#is o& th" UVIIIth d.nast.1[5]
S"t o# St"4h th" "ighth m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann- was
th" son o& S"! and ,t- and th" hs!and o& his
sist"# ,"phth.s1 Th" wo#ship o& this god is "%c""dingl. old- and in th"
p.#amid t"%ts w" =nd that !" is o&t"n m"ntion"d
with Ho#s and th" oth"# gods o& th" H"liopolitan compan. in t"#ms o&
#"$"#"nc"1 H" was also !"li"$"d to p"#&o#m &#i"ndl.
oDc"s &o# th" d"c"as"d- and to !" a god o& th" S"4h"t-Aa#- o# a!od" o& th"
!l"ss"d d"ad1 H" is sall. d"pict"d in hman
&o#m with th" h"ad o& an animal which has not ."t !""n id"nti="d< in lat"#
tim"s th" h"ad o& th" ass was con&ond"d with
it- !t th" =g#"s o& th" god in !#on>" which a#" p#"s"#$"d in th" +#itish
*s"m and "ls"wh"#" p#o$" !".ond a do!t
that th" h"ad o& S"t is that o& an animal n4nown to s1 In th" "a#l.
d.nasti"s h" was a !"n"=c"nt god- and on" whos"
&a$o# was soght a&t"# !. th" li$ing and !. th" d"ad- and so lat" as th"
UIUth d.nast. 4ings d"light"d to call th"ms"l$"s
"!"lo$"d o& S"t1" A!ot th" UUIInd d.nast.- how"$"#- it !"cam" th" &ashion
to #"ga#d th" god as th" o#igin o& all "$il-
and his stat"s and imag"s w"#" so "A"ctall. d"st#o."d that onl. a &"w
which "scap"d !. accid"nt ha$" com" down to s1
H#iginall. S"t- o# St- #"p#"s"nt"d th" nat#al night and was th" opposit" o&
Ho#s<[@] that Ho#s and S"t w"#" opposit"
asp"cts o# &o#ms o& th" sam" god is p#o$"d !. th" =g#" gi$"n !. /an>on"
IDi>iona#io- ta$1 ;:- ,o1 @J- wh"#" w" s"" th"
h"ad o& S"t and th" h"ad o& Ho#s pon on" !od.1 Th" nat#al opposition o&
th" da. and night was at an "a#l. p"#iod
con&ond"d with th" !attl" which too4 plac" !"tw""n Ho#s- th" son o& Isis-
and S"t- wh"#"in Isis int"#$"n"d- and it
s""ms that th" mo#al id"a o& th" !attl" o& #ight against w#ong[;] !"cam"
attach"d to th" latt"# com!at- which was
nd"#ta4"n !. Ho#s to a$"ng" his &ath"#'s m#d"# !. S"t1
,"!t-h"t o# ,"phth.s th" last m"m!"# o& th" compan. o& th" gods o& Ann-
was th" daght"# o& S"! and ,t- th" sist"# o& Hsi#is and Isis- and th"
[51 YYY1 /"d#ain- *onm"nts Lg.pti"ns- pl1 UUV1- ll1 @- ;1
@1 In th" p.#amid o& (nas- l1 598- th". a#" call"d th" YYY o# "two com!atants
"< and s"" p.#amid o& T"ta- l1 79- wh"#" w"
ha$" th" sp"lling YYY1
;1 Hn th" p"#soni=cation o& "$il !. S"t- s"" Bi"d"mann- Di" R"ligion- p1 55:1]
Ep1 c%$iiF
sist"# and wi&" o& S"t1 Bh"n th" sn #os" at th" c#"ation ot o& th" p#im"$al
wat"#s- ,"phth.s occpi"d a plac" in his !oat
with Isis and oth"# d"iti"s< as a nat#" godd"ss sh" "ith"# #"p#"s"nts th" da.
!"&o#" sn#is" o# a&t"# sns"t- !t no po#tion
o& th" night1 Sh" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman- ha$ing pon h"# h"ad
th" hi"#ogl.phics which &o#m h"# nam"-
"lad. o& th" hos""1 A l"g"nd p#"s"#$"d !. )lta#ch[5] ma4"s h"# th" moth"#
o& Anp o# An!is !. Hsi#is1 In Eg.ptian
t"%ts Anp is call"d th" son o& Ra1[@] In #"ligios t"%ts ,"phth.s is mad" to
!" th" companion o& Isis in all h"# t#o!l"s-
and h"# g#i"& &o# h"# !#oth"#'s d"ath is as g#"at as that o& his wi&"1
Anp- o# An!is- th" son o& Hsi#is o# Ra- som"tim"s !. Isis and som"tim"s !.
,"phth.s- s""ms to #"p#"s"nt as a
nat#" god "ith"# th" da#4"st pa#t o& th" twilight o# th" "a#li"st dawn1 H" is
d"pict"d "ith"# in hman &o#m with a
[ac4al's h"ad- o# as a [ac4al1 In th" l"g"nd o& Hsi#is and Isis- An!is pla."d a
p#omin"nt pa#t in conn"%ion with th" d"ad
!od. o& Hsi#is- and in pap.#i w" s"" him standing as a ga#d and p#ot"cto# o&
th" d"c"as"d l.ing pon th" !i"#< in th"
[dgm"nt sc"n" h" is &ond as th" ga#d o& th" !alanc"- th" point"# o& which
h" watch"s with g#"at dilig"nc"1
H" !"cam" th" #"cogni>"d god o& th" s"plch#al cham!"#- and "$"ntall.
p#"sid"d o$"# th" whol" o& th" "&n"#al
*ontain1" H" is alwa.s #"ga#d"d as th" m"ss"ng"# o& Hsi#is1
Anoth"# &o#m o& An!is was th" god Ap-at- th" YYY o& th" p.#amid t"%ts-[;]
o# "Hp"n"# o& th" wa.s-" who also was d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a [ac4al< and
th" two gods a#" o&t"n con&ond"d1 Hn s"plch#al st"lT and oth"#
monm"nts two [ac4als a#" &#"G"ntl. d"pict"d< on" o& th"s" #"p#"s"nts
An!is- and th" oth"# Ap-at- and th". p#o!a!l. ha$" som" conn"%ion with
th" no#th"#n and soth"#n pa#ts o& th" &n"#"al wo#ld1 Acco#ding to *1
*asp"#o- th" god An!is l"d th" sols o& th" d"ad to th" El.sian 2i"lds in th"
G#"at Hasis1[K]
Among th" p#im"$al gods a#" two- H and Saa who a#" s""n in th" !oat o&
th" sn at th" c#"ation1 Th". a#" th" child#"n o& Tm o# Tm-Ra- !t th"
"%act pa#t which th". pla. as nat#" gods has not ."t- it s""ms- !""n
satis&acto#il. mad" ot1 Th" =#st m"ntion o& th"m in th" p.#amid t"%ts
#"co#ds th"i# s![gation !. th" d"c"as"d-[Q] !t in th" Th"!an +oo4 o& th"
D"ad
[51 D" Isid" "t Hsi#id"- d 5K1
@1 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- p1 7Q1
; ).#amid o& (nas- l1 56:1
K S"" /" ,om antiG" d" la G#and"-Hasis Iin ]o#nal AsiatiG"- IU" S3#i"- to i1-
pp1 @;;-K8J1
7 YYY1 ).#amid o& (nas- l1 K;91]
Ep1 c%$iiiF
th". app"a# among th" compan. o& th" gods who a#" p#"s"nt wh"n th" sol
o& th" d"c"as"d is !"ing w"igh"d in th" !alanc"1
T"hti o# Thoth #"p#"s"nt"d th" di$in" int"llig"nc" which at c#"ation tt"#"d
th" wo#ds that w"#" ca##i"d into "A"ct !. )tah and Rhn"m1 H" was s"l&
p#odc"d- and was th" g#"at god o& th" "a#th- ai#- s"a and s4.< and h" nit"d
in hims"l& th" att#i!t"s o& man. gods1 H" was th" sc#i!" o& th" gods- and- as
sch- h" was #"ga#d"d as th" in$"nto# o& all th" a#ts and sci"nc"s 4nown to
th" Eg.ptians< som" o& his titl"s a#" "lo#d o& w#iting-" "mast"# o& pap.#s-"
"ma4"# o& th" pal"tt" and th" in4-[a#-" "th" might. sp"a4"#-" "th" sw""t
tong"d"< and th" wo#ds and compositions which h" #"cit"d on !"hal& o& th"
d"c"as"d p#"s"#$"d th" latt"# &#om th" inS"nc" o& hostil" pow"#s and mad"
him in$inci!l" in th" "oth"# wo#ld1" H" was th" god o& #ight and t#th- wh"#"in
h" li$"d- and wh"#"!. h" "sta!lish"d th" wo#ld and all that is in it1 As th"
ch#onolog"# o& h"a$"n and "a#th- h" !"cam" th" god o& th" moon< and as th"
#"c4on"# o& tim"- h" o!tain"d his nam" T"hti- i1"1- "th" m"as#"#"< in th"s"
capaciti"s h" had th" pow"# to g#ant li&" &o# millions o& ."a#s to th"
d"c"as"d1 Bh"n th" g#"at com!at too4 plac" !"tw""n Ho#s- th" son o& Isis-
and S"t- Thoth was p#"s"nt as [dg"- and h" ga$" to Isis th" cow's h"ad in
th" plac" o& h"# own which was ct oA !. Ho#s in his #ag" at h"#
int"#&"#"nc"< ha$ing #"&"#"nc" to this &act h" is call"d Ap-#"hi- "Th" [dg" o&
th" two com!atants1" Hn" o& th" Eg.ptian nam"s &o# th" i!is was T"4h- and
th" simila#it. o& th" sond o& this wo#d to that o& T"h- th" nam" o& th" moon
as a m"as#"# o& tim"- p#o!a!l. l"d th" Eg.ptians to d"pict th" god in th"
&o#m o& an i!is- notwithstanding th" &act that th" dog-h"ad"d ap" was
g"n"#all. consid"#"d to !" th" animal sac#"d to him1 It has !""n thoght that
th"#" w"#" two gods call"d Thoth- on" !"ing a &o#m o& Sh< !t th" att#i!t"s
!"longing to "ach ha$" not ."t !""n satis&acto#il. d"=n"d1 In th" monm"nts
and pap.#i Thoth app"a#s in th" &o#m o& a man with th" h"ad o& an i!is- which
is som"tim"s s#mont"d !. th" c#own YYY- o# YYY- o# YYY- o# !. dis4
and ho#ns YYY- o# YYY- and h" holds in his l"&t hand th" sc"pt#" YYY and
in th" #ight Eth" an4hF YYY< som"tim"s h" is d"pict"d holding his in4-[a#
and th" c#"sc"nt moon- and som"tim"s h" app"a#s in th" &o#m o& an ap"
holding a pal"tt" &ll o& w#iting-#""ds1' Thoth is m"ntion"d in th" p.#amid
t"%ts[@] as th" !#oth"# o& Hsi#is- !t wh"th"# h" is th"
[51 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;8K- ,o1 51
@1 ).#amid o& (nas- l1 @;71]
Ep1 c%i%F
sam" Thoth who is call"d th" "/o#d o& Rh"m"nn" and th" "Sc#i!" o& th"
gods" is do!t&l1
*aat- th" wi&" o& Thoth- was th" daght"# o& Ra- and a $"#. anci"nt godd"ss<
sh" s""ms to ha$" assist"d )tah and Rhn"m in ca##.ing ot #ightl. th" wo#4
o& c#"ation o#d"#"d !. Thoth1 Th"#" is no on" wo#d which will "%actl. d"sc#i!"
th" Eg.ptian conc"ption o& *aat !oth &#om a ph.sical and &#om a mo#al point
o& $i"w< !t th" &ndam"ntal id"a o& th" wo#d is " st#aight-" and &#om th"
Eg.ptian t"%ts it is cl"a# that maat m"ant #ight- t#"- t#th- #"al- g"nin"-
p#ight- #ight"os- [st- st"ad&ast- nalt"#a!l"- "tc1 Ths al#"ad. in th" )#iss"
pap.#s it is said- "G#"at is maat- th" might. and nalt"#a!l"- and it hath
n"$"# !""n !#o4"n sinc" th" tim" o& Hsi#is-"[5] and )tah-h"t"p cons"ls his
list"n"# to "ma4" maat- o# #ight and t#th- to g"#minat"1"[@] Th" [st- p#ight-
and st#aight man is maat and in a !oo4 o& mo#al p#"c"pts it is said- "God will
[dg" th" #ight ImaaJ[;] YYY[K]1 *aat- th" godd"ss o& th" nalt"#a!l" laws
o& h"a$"n- and th" daght"# o& Ra- is d"pict"d in &"mal" &o#m- with th"
&"ath"# "m!l"matic o& maat- on h"# h"ad- o# with th" &"ath"# alon" &o# a
h"ad- and th" sc"pt#" in on" hand- and Ean an4hF in th" oth"#1[Q] In th"
[dgm"nt sc"n" two *aat godd"ss"s app"a#< on" p#o!a!l. is th"
p"#soni=cation o& ph.sical law- and th" oth"# o& mo#al #"ctitd"1
H"t-h"#- o# Hatho# th" "hos" o& Ho#s-" was th" godd"ss o& th" s4. wh"#"in
Ho#s th" sn-god #os" and s"t1
S!s"G"ntl. a g#"at nm!"# o& godd"ss"s o& th" sam" nam" w"#"
d"$"lop"d &#om h"#- and th"s" w"#" id"nti="d with
Isis- ,"ith- Isas"t- and man. oth"# godd"ss"s whos" att#i!t"s th".
a!so#!"d1 A g#op o& s"$"n Hatho#s is also m"ntion"d-
and th"s" app"a# to ha$" pa#ta4"n o& th" nat#" o& good &ai#i"s1 In on" &o#m
Hatho# was th" godd"ss o& lo$"- !"at.-
[51 )ag" 5:- 51 Q- YYY1
@ )ag" 56- l1 5- YYY1
;1 Am3lin"a- la *o#al"- p1 5;61
K1 Th" $a#ios m"anings o& maat a#" illst#at"d !. a!ndant passag"s &#om
Eg.ptian t"%ts !. +#gsch- BZ#t"#!ch
ISppl1J- p1 ;@91
Q1 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1 ta$1 5891]
happin"ss< and th" G#""4s id"nti="d h"# with th"i# own Aph#odit"1 Sh" is
o&t"n d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman
ha$ing
dis4 and ho#ns pon h"# h"ad- and at tim"s sh" has th" h"ad o& a lion
s#mont"d !. a #Ts1 H&t"n sh" has th" &o#m o& a
cow--th" animal sac#"d to h"#--and in this &o#m sh" app"a#s as th" godd"ss o&
th" tom! o# Ta-s"#t"t- and sh" p#o$id"s m"at
and d#in4 &o# th" d"c"as"d1[5]
*"ht-#t is th" p"#soni=cation o& that pa#t o& th" s4. wh"#"in th" sn #is"s-
and also o& that pa#t o& it in which h" ta4"s his
dail. co#s"< sh" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a cow- along th" !od. o& which
th" two !a#4s o& th" sn a#" s""n sailing1
Al#"ad. in th" p.#amid t"%ts w" =nd th" att#i!t" o& [dg" asc#i!"d to *"h-
#t-[@] and down to a $"#. lat" dat" th"
[dgm"nt o& th" d"c"as"d in th" hall o& do!l" *aat in th" p#"s"nc" o& Thoth
and th" oth"# gods was !"li"$"d to ta4"
plac" in th" a!od" o& *"h-#t1[;]
,"t o# ,"ith- "th" di$in" moth"#- th" lad. o& h"a$"n- th" mist#"ss o& th"
gods-" was on" o& th" most anci"nt d"iti"s o& Eg.pt-
and in th" p.#amid t"%ts sh" app"a#s as th" moth"# o& S"!"41[K] /i4" *"h-
#t sh" p"#soni="s th" plac" in th" s4. wh"#"
th" sn #is"s1 In on" &o#m sh" was th" godd"ss o& th" loom and shttl"- and
also o& th" chas"< in this asp"ct sh" was
id"nti="d !. th" G#""4s with Ath"n"1 Sh" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman-
ha$ing pon h"# h"ad th" shttl" o# a##ows-
o# sh" w"a#s th" c#own and holds a##ows- a !ow- and a sc"pt#" in h"# l"&t
hand< sh" also app"a#s in th" &o#m o& a cow1[Q]
S"4h"t was in *"mphis th" wi&" o& )tah- and th" moth"# o& ,"&"#-Tm and o&
I-"m-h"t"p1 Sh" was th" p"#soni=cation o
& th" !#ning h"at o& th" sn- and as sch was th" d"st#o."# o& th" "n"mi"s
o& Ra and Hsi#is1 Bh"n Ra d"t"#min"d to
pnish man4ind with d"ath- !"cas" th". scoA"d at him- h" s"nt S"4h"t- his
""."-" to p"#&o#m th" wo#4 o& $"ng"anc"<
illst#ati$" o& this asp"ct o& h"# is a =g#" wh"#"in sh" is d"pict"d with th"
sn's "." &o# a h"ad1[Q] (sall.
[51 A good s"t o& illst#ations o& this godd"ss will !" &ond in /an>on"- op1 cit1-
ta$1 ;5K &1
@1 YYY1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 i$1- p1 K6 Il1 K@:J1
;1 )l".t"- 'hapit#"s sppl3m"ntai#"s d /i$#" d"s *o#ts I'happ1 57@- 57@-e
57;J- p1 @71
K1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 i$1- p1 :7 Il1 7@:J1
Q1 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 5::1
71 I!id1- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;7K1]
Ep1 c%%iF
sh" has th" h"ad o& a lion s#mont"d !. th" sn's dis4- #ond which is a
#Ts< and sh" g"n"#all. holds a sc"pt#"- !t
som"tim"s a 4ni&"1
+ast- acco#ding to on" l"g"nd- was th" moth"# o& ,"&"#-Tm1 Sh" was th"
p"#soni=cation o& th" g"ntl" and &#cti&.ing
h"at o& th" sn- as oppos"d to that p"#soni="d !. S"4h"t1 Th" cat was
sac#"d to +ast- and th" godd"ss is sall. d"pict"d
cat-h"ad"d1 Th" most &amos s"at o& h"# wo#ship was th" cit. o& +!astis-
th" mod"#n T"ll +asta- in th" D"lta1
,"&"#-Tm was th" son "ith"# o& S"4h"t o# +ast- and h" p"#soni="d som"
&o#m o& th" sn's h"at1 H" is sall. d"pict"d in
th" &o#m o& a man- with a clst"# o& lots Sow"#s pon his h"ad- !t
som"tim"s h" has th" h"ad o& a lion< in th" littl"
&aV"nc" =g#"s o& him which a#" so common- h" stands pon th" !ac4 o& a
lion1[5] H" no do!t #"p#"s"nts th" sn-god
in th" l"g"nd which mad" him to !#st &o#th &#om a lots- &o# in th" p.#amid
o& (nas th" 4ing is said to
%aa "m- ,"&"#-Tm "m s"ss"n "# s"#t Ra
Ris" li4" ,"&"#-Tm &#om th" lots Ilil.J to th" nost#ils o& Ra-"
and to "com" &o#th on th" ho#i>on "$"#. da.1"[@]
,"h"!-4a is th" nam" o& a godd"ss who is sall. #"p#"s"nt"d with th" h"ad
o& a s"#p"nt- and with whom th" d"c"as"d
id"nti="s hims"l&1
S"!a4 a &o#m o& Ho#s th" sn-god- mst !" distingish"d &#om S"!a4 th"
companion o& S"t- th" oppon"nt o& Hsi#is< o&
"ach o& th"s" gods th" c#ocodil" was th" sac#"d animal- and &o# this #"ason
p#o!a!l. th" gods th"ms"l$"s w"#" con&ond"d1
S"!a4-Ra- th" lo#d o& Hm!os- is sall. d"pict"d in hman &o#m with th"
h"ad o& a c#ocodil"- s#mont"d !. YYY- YYY- o#
YYY- o# YYY1[;]
Ams o# Amsi is on" o& th" most anci"nt gods o& Eg.pt1 H" p"#soni="d th"
pow"# o& g"n"#ation- o# th" #"p#odcti$" &o#c"
o& nat#"< h" was th" "&ath"# o& his own moth"#-" and was id"nti="d with
"Ho#s th" might.-" o# with Ho#s th" a$"ng"#
o& his &ath"# (n-n"&"# o# Hsi#is1 Th" G#""4s id"nti="d
[51 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 5K:1
@ R"c"il d" T#a$a%- i$1- t1 p1 KQ Il1 ;9KJ1
;1 I!id1- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;Q;1
K Also #"ad *in and Rh"m1]
Ep1 c%%iiF
him with th" god )an- and call"d th" chi"& cit. wh"#" his wo#ship was
c"l"!#at"d Rh"nimis-[l] a&t"# on" o& his nam"s1
H" is d"pict"d sall. in th" &o#m o& a man standing pon< and h" has pon
his h"ad th" plm"s and holds th" Sail in his
#ight hand- which is #ais"d a!o$" his shold"#1[@]
,"!-"#-tch"#- a nam" which o#iginall. impli"d th" "god o& th" ni$"#s"-" !t
which was s!s"G"ntl. gi$"n to Hsi#is- and
indicat"d th" god a&t"# th" compl"t"d #"const#ction o& his !od.- which had
!""n hac4"d to pi"c"s !. S"t1
(n-n"&"# a nam" o& Hsi#is in his capacit. o& god and [dg" o& th" d"ad in th"
nd"#wo#ld1 Som" ma4" th"s" wo#ds to m"an
th" "good !"ing-" and oth"#s th" "!"ati&l ha#"1"
Ast"nn a nam" gi$"n to th" god Thoth1
*"#t o# *"#-s"4"#t th" lo$"# o& sil"nc"-" is a nam" o& Isis o# Hatho# as
godd"ss o& th" nd"#wo#ld1 Sh" is d"pict"d in th"
&o#m o& a woman- ha$ing a dis4 and ho#ns pon h"# h"ad1[;]
S"#G o# S"l4 is a &o#m o& th" godd"ss Isis1 Sh" is sall. d"pict"d in th" &o#m
o& a woman- with a sco#pion pon h"# h"ad<
occasionall. sh" app"a#s as a sco#pion with a woman's h"ad s#mont"d !.
dis4 and ho#ns1[K]
Ta-#t- th" Tho"#is o& th" G#""4s- was id"nti="d as th" wi&" o& S"t o# T.phon<
sh" is also 4nown nd"# th" nam"s Apt
and
Sh"pt1 H"# common titl"s a#" "mist#"ss o& th" gods and "!"a#"# o& th"
gods"1 Sh" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a
hippopotams standing on h"# hind l"gs- with dist"nd"d panch and hanging
!#"asts- and on" o& h"# &o#"&""t #"sts
pon YYY< som"tim"s sh" has th" h"ad o& a woman- !t sh" alwa.s w"a#s
th" dis4- ho#ns- and plm"s[K]1
(atchit was a &o#m o& Hatho#- and was id"nti="d with th" app"a#anc" o& th"
s4. in th" no#th wh"n th" sn #os"1 Sh" is
"ith"# d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a woman- ha$ing pon h"# h"ad th" c#own o&
th" no#th and a sc"pt#"- a#ond which a
s"#p"nt is twin"d- o# as a wing"d #Ts w"a#ing th" c#own o& th" no#th1
[51 In Eg.ptian th" town is call"d Ap1
@1 S"" /an>on"- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;;@1
;1 I!id1- ta$ 5@K1
K1 I!id1- op1 cit1- ta$1 ;7@1]
Ep1 c%%iiiF
+"!- +"!ti- +a!a- o# +a!- m"ntion"d th#"" tim"s in th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad- is
th" "=#st!o#n son o& Hsi#is-" and s""ms to
!" on" o& th" gods o& g"n"#ation1
Hapi is th" nam" o& th" g#"at god o& th" ,il" who was wo#shipp"d in Eg.pt
nd"# two &o#ms- i1"1- "Hapi o& th" Soth-
" and "Hapi o& th" ,o#th-"< th" pap.#s was th" "m!l"m o& th" on"- and th"
lots o& th" oth"#1 2#om th" "a#li"st tim"s th"
,il" was #"ga#d"d !. th" Eg.ptians as th" so#c" o& all th" p#osp"#it. o&
Eg.pt- and it was hono#"d as !"ing th" t.p" o& th"
li&"-gi$ing wat"#s ot o& th" midst o& which sp#ang th" gods and all c#"at"d
things1 In t#n it was id"nti="d with all th"
gods o& Eg.pt- n"w o# old- and its inS"nc" was so g#"at pon th" minds o&
th" Eg.ptians that &#om th" "a#li"st da.s th".
d"pict"d to th"ms"l$"s a mat"#ial h"a$"n wh"#"in th" Isl"s o& th" +l"st w"#"
la$"d !. th" wat"#s o& th" ,il"- and th"
app#oach to which was !. th" wa. o& its st#"am as it Sow"d to th" no#th1
Hth"#s again li$"d in imagination on th" !an4s o&
th" h"a$"nl. ,il"- wh"#"on th". !ilt citi"s< and it s""ms as i& th" Eg.ptians
n"$"# scc""d"d in conc"i$ing a h"a$"n
withot a ,il" and canals1 Th" ,il" is d"pict"d in th" &o#m o& a man- who
w"a#s pon his h"ad a clmp o& pap.#s o# lots
Sow"#s< his !#"asts a#" thos" o& a woman- indicating &"#tilit.1 /an>on"
#"p#odc"s an int"#"sting sc"n"[5] in which th"
no#th and soth ,il" gods a#" t.ing a pap.#s and a lots stal4 a#ond th"
"m!l"m o& nion to indicat" th" nit. o& (pp"#
and /ow"# Eg.pt- and this "m!l"m is &ond ct pon th" th#on"s o& th" 4ings
o& Eg.pt to indicat" th"i# so$"#"ignt. o$"# th"
#"gions t#a$"#s"d !. th" Soth and ,o#th ,il"s1 It has al#"ad. !""n said that
Hapi was id"nti="d with all th" gods in t#n-
and it &ollows as a matt"# o& co#s" that th" att#i!t"s o& "ach w"#" asc#i!"d
to him< in on" #"sp"ct- how"$"# h" is
diA"#"nt &#om th"m all- &o# o& him it is w#itt"n
an m"h "n an"# tt h"# ah s"t s"%"t aa#at
H" cannot !" sclpt#"d in ston"< in th" imag"s on which m"n plac" c#owns
and #Ti
an G"mh "nt& an !a4a an %"#p t& an
h" is not mad" mani&"st< s"#$ic" cannot !" #"nd"#"d no# oA"#ings mad" to
him< not
[51 Di>iona#io- ta$1 5961]
Ep1 c%%i$F
s"s"t-t "m s"ta an #"%-t ! "nt& an
can h" !" d#awn &#om [his] m.st"#.< not can !" 4nown th" plac" wh"#" h" is<
not
G"m t"ph"t an1
is h" &ond in th" paint"d sh#in"1[5]
H"#" th" sc#i!" ga$" to th" ,il" th" att#i!t"s o& th" g#"at and n4nown God
its *a4"#1
In th" p.#amid t"%ts w" =nd a g#op o& &o# gods with whom th" d"c"as"d is
clos"l. conn"ct"d in th" "oth"# wo#ld"<
th"s" a#" th" &o# "child#"n o& Ho#s" whos" nam"s a#" gi$"n in th"
&ollowing o#d"#:--Hapi- Ta-mat"&- Ams"t and
\"!hs"nn&1[@] Th" d"c"as"d is call"d th"i# "&ath"#1"[;] His two a#ms w"#"
id"nti="d with Hapi and Tamat"&- and
his two l"gs with Ams"t and \"!hs"nn&<[K] and wh"n h" "nt"#"d into th"
S"4h"t-Aa# th". accompani"d him as gid"s-
and w"nt in with him two on "ach sid"1[Q] Th". too4 awa. all hng"# and
thi#st &#om him-[7] th". ga$" him li&" in h"a$"n
and p#ot"ct"d it wh"n gi$"n-[:] and th". !#oght to him &#om th" /a4" o&
Rh"mta th" !oat o& th" E." o& Rhn"m1[6] In on" passag" th". a#" call"d th"
"&o# Rh's o& Ho#s"-[9] and o#iginall. th". #"p#"s"nt"d th" &o# pilla#s which
sppo#t"d th" s4. o# Ho#s1 Each was sppos"d to !" lo#d o& on" o& th"
Ga#t"#s o& th" wo#ld- and =nall. !"cam" th" god o& on" o& th" ca#dinal
points1 Hapi #"p#"s"nt"d th" no#th- Tamat"& th" "ast- Ams"t th" soth- and
\"!hs"nn& th" w"st1 In th" UVIIIth d.nast. th" Eg.ptians o#iginat"d th"
cstom o& "m!alming th" int"stin"s o& th"
[51 2o# th" hi"#atic t"%t &#om which this "%t#act is ta4"n s"" +i#ch- S"l"ct
)ap.#i- pll1 @8 A1 and 5;K A1 s"" also *asp"#o-
H.mn" a ,il- p!li3 "t t#adit d'ap#Ps l"s d"% t"%t"s A *s3" +#itanniG"-
)a#is- 56761 Kto1
@ ).#amid o& (nas- l1 @59< ).#amid o& T"ta- ll1 78- @67< ).#amid o& )"pi I1- ll1
KKK- Q9;- "tc1
;1 ).#amid o& )"pi I1- l1 Q9;1
K1 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 iii1- p1 98Q Il1 @59 &1J1
Q1 I!id1- t1 $ii1- p1 5Q8 Ill1 @75-7;J1
7 I!id1- t1 $1- p1 58 Ill1 Q9 A1J1
:1 YYY1 I!id1- t1 $iii1- p1 95 Il1 Q9;J1
61 I!id1- t1 $ii1- p1 57: Il1 KKKJ1
91 I!id1- t1 $ii1- p1 5Q8 Il1 @75J1]
Ep1 c%%$F
!od. s"pa#at"l.- and th". plac"d th"m in &o# [a#s- "ach o& which was
d"$ot"d to th" p#ot"ction o& on" o& th" child#"n o&
Ho#s- i1"1- to th" ca#" o& on" o& th" gods o& th" &o# ca#dinal points1 Th" god
o& th" no#th p#ot"ct"d th" small $isc"#T-
th" god o& th" "ast th" h"a#t and lngs- th" god o& th" soth th" stomach
and la#g" int"stin"s- and th" god o& th" w"st
th" li$"# and gall-!ladd"#1 Bith th"s" &o# gods &o# godd"ss"s w"#"
associat"d- $i>1- ,"phth.s- ,"ith- Isis- and S"l4 o# S"#G1
'onn"ct"d with th" god Ho#s a#" a nm!"# o& m.thological !"ings call"d
H"# sh"s[5] Io# sh"ms- as som" #"ad itJ-
who app"a# al#"ad. in th" p.#amid o& (nas in conn"ction with Ho#s and S"t
in th" c"#"mon. o& p#i&.ing and
"op"ning th" moth"< and in th" p.#amid o& )"pi I1 it is th". who wash th"
4ing and who #"cit" &o# him th"
"'hapt"# o& thos" who com" &o#th-" and th" "['hapt"# o&] thos" who
asc"nd1"[@]
In th" [dgm"nt sc"n" in th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad- g#op"d #ond th" pan o& th"
!alanc" which contains th" h"a#t o&
th" d"c"as"d Is"" )lat" III1J- a#" th#"" !"ings in hman &o#m- who !"a# th"
nam"s Shai- R"n"n"t- and *"s4h"n"t1
Shai is th" p"#soni=cation o& d"stin.- and R"n"n"t &o#tn"< th"s" nam"s a#"
sall. &ond copl"d1 Shai and R"n"n"t a#"
said to !" in th" hands o& Thoth- th" di$in" int"llig"nc" o& th" gods< and
Ram"s"s II1 !oasts that h" hims"l& is
"lo#d o& Shai and c#"ato# o& R"n"n"t1"[;] Shai was o#iginall. th" d"it. who
"d"c#""d" what shold happ"n to a man- and
R"n"n"t- as ma. !" s""n &#om th" p.#amid t"%ts-[K] was th" godd"ss o&
pl"nt.- good &o#tn"- and th" li4"< s!s"G"ntl.
no distinction was mad" !"tw""n th"s" d"iti"s and th" a!st#act id"as which
th". #"p#"s"nt"d1 In th" pap.#s o& Ani-
Shai stands !. hims"l& n"a# th" pilla# o& th" +alanc"- and R"n"n"t is
accompani"d !. *"s4h"n"t- who app"a#s to !" th"
p"#soni=cation o& all th" conc"ptions nd"#l.ing Shai and R"n"n"t and
som"thing "ls" !"sid"s1 In th" sto#. o& th"
child#"n o& Ra- as #"lat"d in th" B"stca# pap.#s- w" =nd th" godd"ss
*"s4h"n"t m"ntion"d with Isis- ,"phth.s- H"G"t-
and th" god Rhn"m as assisting at th" !i#th o& child#"n1
[51 R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 iii1- p1 56@ Il1 5:J1
@1 YYY- "tc1 I!id1- t1 $ii1- p1 5:8 Il1 K7;J1
;1 S"" *asp"#o- Romans "t )o3si"s d )ap.#s Ha##is- ,o1 Q88- )a#is- 56:9- p1
@:1
K ).#amid o& (nas- l1 Q7K1]
Ep1 c%%$iF
Disgis"d in &"mal" &o#ms- th" &o# godd"ss"s go to th" hos" o& Ra-s"#-
and- p#o&"ssing to ha$" a 4nowl"dg" o& th"
a#t o& midwi&"#.- th". a#" admitt"d to th" cham!"# wh"#" th" child is a!ot
to !" !o#n< Isis stands !"&o#" th" woman-
,"phth.s !"hind h"#- and H"G"t acc"l"#at"s th" !i#th1 Bh"n th" child is !o#n
*"s4h"n"t com"s and loo4ing pon him
sa.s- "A 4ing< h" shall #l" th#oghot this land1 *a. Rhn"m gi$" h"alth and
st#"ngth to his !od.1
"[5] Th" wo#d m"s4h"n"t is as old as th" p.#amid tim"s- and s""ms th"n to
ha$" had th" m"aning o& lc4- d"stin.- "tc1[@]
Th" god Am"n- his wi&" *t and th"i# associat" Rhons ha$" nothing
what"$"# to do with th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad< !t Am"n-
th" =#st m"m!"# o& this g#"at Th"!an t#iad- mst !" m"ntion"d with th"
oth"# gods- !"cas" h" was sall. id"nti="d
with on" o# mo#" o& th"m1 Th" nam" Am"n m"ans th" "hidd"n on"-" and th"
&onding o& th" =#st sh#in" o& th" god
#"co#d"d in histo#. too4 plac" at Th"!"s d#ing th" UIIth d.nast.< &#om that
tim" ntil th" clos" o& th" UVIIth d.nast.-
Am"n was th" chi"& god o& Th"!"s and nothing mo#"1 Bh"n- how"$"#- th"
last 4ings o& th" UVIIth d.nast. had scc""d"d
in "%p"lling th" so-call"d H.4sos and had d"li$"#"d th" cont#. &#om th" .o4"
o& th" &o#"ign"#- th"i# god assm"d an
impo#tanc" hith"#to n4nown- and his p#i"sts "nd"a$o#"d to ma4" his
wo#ship th" =#st in th" land1 +t Am"n was
n"$"# #"ga#d"d th#oghot th" "nti#" cont#. as its chi"& god- althogh his
$ota#i"s call"d him th" 4ing o& th" gods1
Th" conc"ption which th" Th"!ans had o& th"i# god as a god o& th"
nd"#wo#ld was modi="d wh"n th". id"nti="d him
with Ra and call"d him "Am"n-Ra"< and- sp"a4ing g"n"#all.- in th" tim" o&
th" UVIIIth d.nast. and onwa#ds th" god !"cam"
th" p"#soni=cation o& th" m.st"#ios c#"ating and sstaining pow"# o& th"
ni$"#s"- which in a mat"#ial &o#m was t.pi="d
!. th" sn1 +. d"g#""s all th" att#i!t"s o& th" old gods o& Eg.pt w"#"
asc#i!"d to him- and th" titl"s which among
w"st"#n nations a#" gi$"n to God w"#" add"d to thos" panth"istic "pith"ts
which Am"n had s#p"d1 Th" &ollowing
"%t#acts &#om a =n" h.mn[;] will s"t &o#th th" $i"ws o& th" p#i"sthood o&
Am"n-Ra conc"#ning th"i# god1
[51 E#man- Di" *c#ch"n d"s )ap.#s B"stca#- +"#lin- 5698- +l1 58- 551 5;- 5K1
@1 'ompa#" YYY- "th" night o& th. !i#th- and th" da. o& th. m"s4h"n"t"< s""
R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 $ii1- p1 575 Il1 ;9:J1
; S"" G#3!at- H.mn" M Ammon-Ra- )a#is- 56:K< and Bi"d"mann- Di"
R"ligion- p1 7K A1]
Ep1 c%%$iiF
"Ado#ation to th""- H Am"n-Ra- th" !ll in Ann- th" #l"# o& all th" gods- th"
!"ati&l and !"lo$"d god who gi$"st
li&" !. m"ans o& "$"#. 4ind o& &ood and =n" cattl"1
"Hail to th""- H Am"n-Ra- lo#d o& th" wo#ld's th#on"- tho dw"ll"# in Th"!"s-
tho !ll o& th. moth"# that li$"st in th.
="ld- that "%t"nd"st th. [o#n".s in th" land o& th" soth- tho lo#d o& thos"
who dw"ll in th" w"st- tho go$"#no# o& )nt- tho 4ing o& h"a$"n and
so$"#"ign o& th" "a#th- tho lo#d o& things that "%ist- tho sta!lish"# o&
c#"ation- tho sppo#t"# o& th" ni$"#s"1 Tho a#t on" in thin" att#i!t"s
among th" gods- tho !"ati&l !ll o& th" compan. o& th" gods- tho chi"& o&
all th" gods- lo#d o& *aat- &ath"# o& th" gods- c#"ato# o& m"n- ma4"# o& !"asts
and cattl"- lo#d o& all that "%ist"th- ma4"# o& th" staA o& li&"- c#"ato# o& th"
h"#!s which gi$" li&" to !"asts and cattl" 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Tho a#t th" c#"ato# o&
things c"l"stial and t"##"st#ial- tho illmin"st th" ni$"#s" 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Th" gods
cast th"ms"l$"s at th. &""t wh"n th". p"#c"i$" th"" 1 1 1 1 1 H.mns o& p#ais"
to th""- H &ath"# o& th" gods- who hast sp#"ad ot th" h"a$"ns and laid down
th" "a#th 1 1 1 1 1 tho mast"# o& "t"#nit. and o& "$"#lastingn"ss1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Hail
to th""- H Ra- lo#d o& *aat- tho who -a#t hidd"n in th. sh#in"- lo#d o& th"
gods1 Tho a#t Rh"p"#a in th. !a#4- and wh"n tho s"nd"st &o#th th" wo#d
th" gods com" into !"ing1 Tho a#t Tm- th" ma4"# o& !"ings which ha$"
#"ason- and- how"$"# man. !" th"i# &o#ms- tho gi$"st th"m li&"- and tho
dost distingish th" shap" and stat#" o& "ach &#om his n"igh!o#1 Tho
h"a#"st th" p#a."# o& th" afict"d- and tho a#t g#acios nto him that c#i"th
nto th""< tho d"li$"#"st th" &""!l" on" &#om th" opp#"sso#- and tho
[dg"st !"tw""n th" st#ong and th" w"a4 1 1 1 1 1 Th" ,il" #is"th at th. will1 1 1 1
Tho onl. &o#m- th" ma4"# o& all that is- Hn" onl.- th" c#"ato# o& all that shall
!"1 *an4ind hath com" &o#th &#om thin" "."s- th" gods ha$" com" into !"ing
at th. wo#d- tho ma4"st th" h"#!s &o# th" s" o& !"asts and cattl"- and th"
staA o& li&" &o# th" n""d o& man1 Tho gi$"st li&" to th" =sh o& th" st#"am and
to th" &owl o& th" ai#- and !#"ath nto th" g"#m in th" "gg< tho gi$"st li&"
nto th" g#asshopp"#- and tho ma4"st to li$" th" wild &owl and things that
c#""p and things that S. and "$"#.thing that !"long"th th"#"nto1 Tho
p#o$id"st &ood &o# th" #ats in th" hol"s and &o# th" !i#ds that sit among th"
!#anch"s 1 1 1 1 1 1 tho Hn"- tho onl. Hn" whos" a#ms a#" man.1 All m"n and
all c#"at#"s ado#" th""- and p#ais"s com" nto th"" &#om th" h"ight o&
h"a$"n- &#om "a#th's wid"st spac"- and &#om th" d""p"st d"pths o& th" s"a 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 tho Hn"- tho onl. Hn" who hast no s"cond 1 1 1 1 1 1whos" nam"s a#"
mani&old and innm"#a!l"1"
B" ha$" s""n a!o$"[5] that among oth"# titl"s th" god Am"n was call"d th"
"onl. Hn""- !t th" addition o& th" wo#ds
"who hast no s"cond" is #"ma#4a!l" as showing that th" Eg.ptians had
al#"ad. conc"i$"d th" "%ist"nc" o& a god who
had no li4" o# "Gal- which th". h"sitat"d not to p#oclaim sid" !. sid" with
th"i# d"sc#iptions o& his mani&"stations1
/oo4ing at th" Eg.ptian wo#ds in th"i# simpl" m"aning- it is p#"tt. c"#tain
that wh"n th" Eg.ptians d"cla#"d that
[51 S"" a!o$"- p1 %c$1]
Ep1 c%%$iiiF
th"i# god was Hn" and that h" had no s"cond- th". had th" sam" id"as as
th" ]"ws and *hammadans wh"n th".
p#oclaim"d th"i# God to !" "Hn""[5] and alon"1 It has !""n #g"d that th"
Eg.ptians n"$"# ad$anc"d to p#" monoth"ism
!"cas" th". n"$"# scc""d"d in &#""ing th"ms"l$"s &#om th" !"li"& in th"
"%ist"nc" o& oth"# gods- !t wh"n th". sa. that a god has "no s"cond-" "$"n
thogh th". m"ntion oth"# "gods-" it is Git" "$id"nt that li4" th" ]"ws- th".
conc"i$"d him to !" an "nti#"l. diA"#"nt !"ing &#om th" "%ist"nc"s which- &o#
th" want o& a !"tt"# wo#d- o# !"cas" th"s" poss"ss"d sp"#hman
att#i!t"s- th". nam"d "gods1"
Th" pow"#s o& da#4n"ss o# "$il1
Th" gods a!o$" "nm"#at"d #"p#"s"nt th" pow"#s who w"#" th" gid"s and
p#ot"cto#s and gi$"#s o& li&" and happin"ss
to th" d"c"as"d in th" n"w li&"- !t &#om th" "a#li"st tim"s it is cl"a# that th"
Eg.ptians imagin"d th" "%ist"nc" o& oth"#
pow"#s who oA"#"d opposition to th" d"ad- and who a#" call"d in man.
plac"s his ""n"mi"s1" /i4" so man. o& th" anci"nt
gods- th"s" pow"#s w"#" o#iginall. c"#tain &o#c"s o& nat#"- which w"#"
!"li"$"d to !" oppos"d to thos" which w"#"
#"ga#d"d as !"n"=ci"nt to man- as &o# "%ampl" da#4n"ss to light- and night
to da.< with da#4n"ss and night w"#" also
associat"d th" pow"#s which cont#i!t"d in an. wa. to o!sc#" th" light o&
th" sn o# to p#"$"nt his shining1 +t sinc"
th" d"c"as"d was id"nti="d with Ho#s- o# Ra- and his accompan.ing gods-
th" "n"mi"s o& th" on" !"cam" th" "n"mi"s
o& th" oth"#- and th" w"l&a#" o& th" on" was th" w"l&a#" o& th" oth"#1 Bh"n
th" Eg.ptians p"#soni="d th" !"n"=c"nt
pow"#s o& nat#"- that is sa.- th"i# gods- th". sall. ga$" to th"m hman
&o#ms and conc"i$"d th"m in th"i# own imag"s<
!t wh"n th". p"#soni="d th" opposing pow"#s th". ga$" to th"m th"
shap"s o& no%ios animals and #"ptil"s- sch as
sna4"s and sco#pions1 As tim" w"nt on- th" mo#al id"as o& good and #ight
w"#" att#i!t"d to th" &o#m"#- and "$il and
wic4"dn"ss to th" latt"#1 Th" =#st p"#soni=cations o& light and da#4n"ss w"#"
Ho#s and S"t- and in th" com!at--th"
p#otot.p" o& th" s!s"G"nt l"g"nds o& *a#d4 and Tiamat- +"l and th"
D#agon- St1 G"o#g" and th" D#agon- and man.
oth"#s--which too4 plac" !"tw""n th"m- th" &o#m"# was alwa.s th" $icto#1
+t- thogh th" d"c"as"d was id"nti="d
with Ho#s o# Ra- th" $icto#. which th" god gain"d o$"# S"t onl. !"n"=t"d
th" spi#ital !od. which dw"lt in h"a$"n-
and did not p#"s"#$" th" nat#al !od. which la. in th" tom!1 Th" p#incipal
"n"m. o& th" nat#al !od. was th" wo#m-
and &#om th" "a#li"st tim"s it s""ms that a hg" wo#m o# s"#p"nt was
chos"n !. th" Eg.ptians as th" t.p" o& th" pow"#s
which w"#" hostil" to th" d"ad and also o&
[51 YYY- D"t1 $i1- K1 'ompa#" YYY- D"t1 i$1- ;Q< and YYY- Isaiah %l$1- Q1]
Ep1 c%%i%F
th" &o" against whom th" Sn-god &oght1 Al#"ad. in th" p.#amid o& (nas a
long s"ction o& th" t"%t contains nothing !t
&o#mlT- th" #"cital o& which was int"nd"d to p#ot"ct th" d"c"as"d &#om
$a#ios 4inds o& sna4"s and wo#ms1
[5] Th"s" a#" "%c""dingl. anci"nt- ind""d- th". ma. sa&"l. !" said to &o#m
on" o& th" old"st pa#ts o& th" &n"#al
lit"#at#" o& th" Eg.ptians- and w" =nd &#om th" lat"# "ditions o& th" +oo4 o&
th" D"ad and c"#tain 'optic wo#4s that th"
d#"ad o& th" s"#p"nt as th" "m!l"m o& ph.sical and mo#al "$il "%ist"d among
th" Eg.ptians in all g"n"#ations- and that-
as will !" s""n lat"#- th" !"li"& in a lim!o =ll"d with sna4"s swa."d th"i#
minds long a&t"# th". had !""n con$"#t"d to
'h#istianit.1
Th" cha#ms against s"#p"nts in th" p.#amid t"%ts o& th" Vth and VIth
d.nasti"s ha$" th"i# "Gi$al"nts in th" UUUIst and
UUUIII#d 'hapt"#s o& th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad- which a#" &ond on coDns o& th"
UIth and UIIth d.nasti"s<[@] and in th"
UVIIIth d.nast. w" =nd $ign"tt"s in which th" d"c"as"d is d"pict"d in th" act
o& sp"a#ing a c#ocodil"[;] and o&
slaght"#ing s"#p"nts1[K] In th" Th"!an and SaVt" $"#sions a#" s"$"#al small
chapt"#s[Q] th" #"cital o& which d#o$" awa.
#"ptil"s< and o& th"s" th" most impo#tant is th" UUUIUth 'hapt"#- which
p#"s"#$"d th" d"c"as"d &#om th" attac4 o& th"
g#"at s"#p"nt Ap"& o# Ap"p- who is d"pict"d with 4ni$"s stc4 in his &olds1[:]
In th" p"#iod o& th" lat"# d.nasti"s a s"#$ic"
was p"#&o#m"d dail. in th t"mpl" o& Am"n-Ra at Th"!"s to d"li$"# th" Sn-
god &#om th" assalt o& this ="nd and on "ach
occasion it was accompani"d !. a c"#"mon. in which a wa%"n =g#" o& Ap"p
was !#nt in th" =#"< as th" wa% m"lt"d-
so th" pow"# o& Ap"p was d"st#o."d1 Anoth"# nam" o& Ap"p was ,a4- who
was pi"#c"d !. th" lanc" o& th "." o& Ho#s
and mad" to $omit what h" had swallow"d1[9]
3he *e+ourer of the *ead
Th" [dgm"nt sc"n" in th" Th"!an "dition o& th" +oo4 o& th" D"ad #"$"al th"
!"li"& in th" "%ist"nc" o& a t#i-&o#m"d
monst"#- pa#t c#ocodil"- pa#t lion- and
[51 *asp"#o- R"c"il d" T#a$a%- t1 iii1- p1 @@81
@1 Goodwin- A"g1 ?"itsch#i&t- 5677- p1 QK< s"" also /"psis- A"lt"st" T"%t"- +l1
;Q- l1 5 A1
;1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 KK1
K1 I!id1- +d1 I1- +l1 K71
Q1 I1"1- chapp1 ;@- ;K- ;Q- ;7- ;:- ;6- "tc1
71 2o# th" t"%t s"" ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 Q;< and /"psis-
Todt"n!ch- +l1 561
:1 S"" /an>on"- Di>iona#io- p1 5@51
61 Th" s"#$ic" &o# th" H$"#th#owing o& Ap"pi is p#int"d in A#chTologia- $ol1
lii1- pp1 ;9;-7861
91 YYY1 G#3!at- H.mn"- p1 581]
Ep1 c%%%F
pa#t hippopotams- whom th" Eg.ptians call"d Am-mit- i1"1- "th" "at"# o& th"
D"ad-" and who li$"d in Am"nta<
h"# plac" is !. th" sid" o& th" scal"s wh"#"in th" h"a#t is w"igh"d- and it is
cl"a# that sch h"a#ts as &ail"d to !alanc"
th" &"ath"# o& *aat w"#" d"$o#"d !. h"#1 In on" pap.#s sh" is d"pict"d
c#oching !. th" sid" o& a la4"1
[5] Hth"# t.p"s o& "$il w"#" th" ins"ct Apshai- [@]con&ond"d in lat"# tim"s
with th" to#tois"
[;]- which di"s as Ra li$"s<[K] th" c#ocodil" S"!a4- who a&t"#wa#ds !"cam"
id"nti="d with Ra< th" hippopotams-
th" ass- "tc1
Th" d"$ils o& th" nd"#wo#ld1
Th" p.#amid t"%ts aAo#d scant. in&o#mation a!ot th" ="nds and d"$ils with
which th" lat"# Eg.ptians p"opl"d
c"#tain pa#ts o& th" Tat- wh"#"in th" night sn p#s"d his co#s"- and
wh"#" th" sols o& th" d"ad dw"lt< &o# this w"
mst t#n to th" composition "ntitl"d th" " +oo4 o& what is in th" Tat-"
s"$"#al copi"s o& which ha$" com" down to s
insc#i!"d pon tom!s- coDns- and pap.#i o& th" UVIIIth and &ollowing
d.nasti"s1 Th" Tat was di$id"d into tw"l$" pa#ts-
co##"sponding to th" tw"l$" ho#s o& th" night< and this +oo4 p#o&"ss"d to
aAo#d to th" d"c"as"d th" m"ans wh"#"!. h"
might pass th#ogh th"m scc"ss&ll.1 In on" o& th"s" di$isions- which was
nd"# th" #l" o& th" god S"4"#- th" "nt#anc" was ga#d"d !. a s"#p"nt on
&o# l"gs with a hman h"ad- and within w"#" a s"#p"nt with th#"" h"ads-
sco#pions-[Q] $ip"#s- and wing"d monst"#s o& t"##i&.ing asp"ct< a $ast d"s"#t
plac" was th"i# a!od"- and s""mingl. th" da#4n"ss was so thic4 th"#" that it
might !" &"lt1 In oth"# di$isions w" =nd s"#p"nts spitting =#"- lions- c#ocodil"-
h"ad"d gods- a s"#p"nt that d"$o#s th" d"ad- a hg" c#ocodil"- and man.
oth"# #"ptil"s o& di$"#s shap"s and &o#ms1
2#om th" d"sc#iptions which accompan. th" sc"n"s- it is "$id"nt that th" Tat
was #"ga#d"d !. th" Eg.ptians o& th" UVIIIth
d.nast. &#om a mo#al as w"ll as &#om a ph.sical point o& $i"w1[7] Ap"p- th"
"m!l"m o& "$il- was h"#" pnish"d and o$"#com"
- and h"#" dw"lt th" sols o& th" wic4"d and th" #ight"os- who #"c"i$"d th"i#
pnishm"nts o# #"wa#ds-
m"t"d ot to th"m !. th" d"c#"" o& Ra and his compan. o& gods1 Th" chi"&
inst#m"nts o& pnishm"nt "mplo."d !. th"
gods w"#" =#" and !"asts which d"$o#"d th" sols and !odi"s o& th"
"n"mi"s
[51 S"" !"low- p1 @Q61
@1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 K91
;1 /"psis- Todt"n!ch- +l1 5:1
K1 YYY1 ,a$ill"- Todt"n!ch- +d1 I1- +l1 56K1
Q1 S"" *asp"#o- /"s H.pog3"s Ro.a% d" ThP!"s- p1 :71
71 S"" /"&3!#"- +oo4 o& Had"s IR"co#ds o& th" )ast- $ol1 %1- p1 6KJ1]
Ep1 c%%%iF
T#aditions a!ot h"ll p#"s"#$"d in 'optic tim"s1
o& Ra< and w" ma. s"" &#om th" lit"#at#" o& th" 'opts- o# Eg.ptians who had
"m!#ac"d 'h#istianit.- how long th" !"li"&
in a h"ll o& =#" and to#t#ing ="nds s#$i$"d1 Ths in th" /i&" o& A!!a Sh"nti-
[5] a man is told that th" " "%"ction"#s o& Am"nti will not show compassion
pon th. w#"tch"d sol-"[@] and in th" histo#. o& )is"ntios- a +ishop o& 'optos
in th" s"$"nth c"nt#. o& o# "#a- w" ha$" a s"#i"s o& d"tails which #"S"ct th"
Tat o& th" anci"nt Eg.ptians in a #"ma#4a!l" mann"#1 Th" !ishop ha$ing
ta4"n p his a!od" in a tom! =ll"d with mmmi"s- cas"s on" o& th"m to t"ll
his histo#.1[;] A&t"# sa.ing that his pa#"nts w"#" G#""4s who wo#shipp"d
)os"idon- h" stat"s that wh"n h" was d.ing al#"ad. th" a$"nging ang"ls
cam" a!ot him with i#on 4ni$"s and goads as sha#p as sp"a#s- which th".
th#st into his sid"s- whil" th". gnash"d th"i# t""th at him< wh"n h" op"n"d
his "."s- h" saw d"ath in all its mani&old &o#ms #ond a!ot him< and at that
mom"nt ang"ls withot m"#c. cam" and d#agg"d his w#"tch"d sol &#om his
!od.- and t.ing it to th" &o#m o& a !lac4 ho#s" th". !o#" it awa. to Am"nta1
,"%t- h" was d"li$"#"d o$"# to m"#cil"ss to#m"nto#s- who to#t#"d him in a
plac" wh"#" th"#" w"#" mltitd"s o& sa$ag" !"asts< and- wh"n h" had !""n
cast into th" plac" o& ot"# da#4n"ss- h" saw a ditch mo#" than two hnd#"d
&""t d""p =ll"d with #"ptil"s- "ach o& which had s"$"n h"ads- and all th"i#
!odi"s w"#" co$"#"d as it w"#" with sco#pions1 H"#" also w"#" s"#p"nts- th"
$"#. sight o& which t"##i="d th" !"hold"#- and to on" o& th"m which had t""th
li4" i#on sta4"s was th" w#"tch"d man gi$"n to !" d"$o#"d< &o# =$" da.s in
"ach w""4 th" s"#p"nt c#sh"d him with his t""th- !t on th" Sat#da. and
Snda. th"#" was #"spit"1 Anoth"# pict#" o& th" to#m"nts o& Had"s is gi$"n
in th" *a#t.#dom o& *aca#is o& Antioch- wh"#"in th" saint- ha$ing #"sto#"d
to li&" a man who had !""n d"ad si% ho#s- l"a#n"d that wh"n h" was a!ot
to di" h" was s##ond"d !. ="nds- som" o& whom had th" &ac"s o& d#agons-
oth"#s o& lions- oth"#s o& c#ocodil"s- and oth"#s o& !"a#s1 Th". to#" his sol
&#om his !od. with g#"at $iol"nc"- and th". S"d with it o$"# a might. #i$"# o&
=#"- in which th". plng"d it to a d"pth o& &o# hnd#"d c!its< th"n th". too4
it ot and s"t it !"&o#" th" [dg" o& T#th1 A&t"# h"a#ing th" s"nt"nc" o& th"
[dg" th" ="nds too4 it to a plac" o& ot"# da#4n"ss wh"#" no
[51 S"" Am3lin"a- *onm"nts po# s"#$i# M l'Histoi#" d" Lg.pt" 'h#3ti"nn"-
p1 57:1
@ YYY1
; S"" Am3lin"a- Ltd" s# l" 'h#istianism" "n Lg.pt" a S"ptiPm" SiPcl"-
)a#is- 566:- p1 5K:1]
Ep1 c%%%iiF
light cam"- and th". cast it into th" cold wh"#" th"#" was gnashing o& t""th1
Th"#" it !"h"ld a sna4" which n"$"# sl"pt- with a h"ad li4" that o& a c#ocodil"-
and which was s##ond"d !. #"ptil"s which cast sols !"&o#" it to !"
d"$o#"d- wh"n th" sna4"'s moth was &ll it allow"d th" oth"# #"ptil"s to
"at- and thogh th". #"nt th" sol in pi"c"s it did not di"1 A&t"# this th" sol
was ca##i"d into Am"nta &o# "$"#1 Th" ma#t.# *aca#is sA"#"d in th" #"ign o&
Diocl"tian- and th" *S1 &#om which th" a!o$" "%t#act is ta4"n was copi"d in
th" ."a# o& th" *a#t.#s 7;K g A1D1 9561 Ths- th" old h"ath"n id"as o& th"
Eg.ptian Tat w"#" appli"d to th" const#ction o& th" 'optic H"ll1
[51 S"" H.$"#nat- l"s Act"s d"s *a#t.#s d" Lg.pt"- )a#is- 5667- pp1 Q7- Q:1]
,"%t: Th" )#incipal G"og#aphical And *.thological )lac"s In Th" +oo4 H& Th"
D"ad1
http:00www1sac#"d-t"%ts1com0"g.0"!od0"!od891htm
http:00www1sac#"d-t"%ts1com0"g.0"!od0"!od871htm
CO=C>?8IO=:&&&:
;gy)ian belie+ed in One 2od and se+eral gods. 3hey neither
belie+ed in ''8e+eral 2ods
and one god'' nor belie+ed in ''8e+eral 2ods and se+eral gods''.
3hey belie+ed in One
8u)reme 4eing /without a Pro)er =oun/ but with numerous =ouns.
2od a$$ording to them
was ;ternal/ Infinite/ (lmighty/ ,ost 6igh/ (ttributed by 8u)reme
9ationality @Intellegen$eA
. 6e ;5isted when nothing else ;5isted / and is the ?ltimate
Creator of any thing whi$h did e5ist/
does e5ist and 8hall e5ist.
3his 2od is ?nmade/ ?n)rodu$ed and ?nbegotten.
3his 2od Is ;5isten$e [8elf ;5isting#.
2od ,ade the $osmos and all that there is in @$osmosA.
3his 2od is <ather of fathers and ,other of mothers.
=ote:&
There are certain sentences which appearently imply that This God is not Eternal but
''This God
Came In Existence With Out !a"er ''#
s God is said to be Eternal such sentences may be explaind by '' !anifestations'' and
''Incarnations''#
$or example the sentence He %egets but is ne&er begotten may be interpreted as '(
He !enifests but is ne&er !enifested#
)imilarly the sentence '(
''He is the ma"er of His Own $orm'' may be explained as'(
He is Maker of his own manifestation or He is the Maker of the Form
of His own
Manifestation.
The word Form must not be taken in the meanings of
Ousia,Godhead,Essence,Substance,
Nature,and Per se Subsistent.
God Muti!ieth Himsef "nnumerabe times means He
Menifests#"ncarnates Himsef Muti!e times.
THE $OSMOS%&
From the Prime Matter God Made a $osmoogica Egg, and from this
Egg made a Powerfu
8?PPO8I3?, namely 9a.
3his Produ$ed 8u))ositum was 8ubordinate to the Insubordinate
8u)reme 2od.
2od menifested in this made 8u))ossitum. 2od also in$arnated in
a hea+enly body 8un / and both
8u))ositum and 6ea+enly body were $onne$ted to ea$h other.
<rom this )rime matter 2od made eight other ;lements. *i+ine
Intellegen$e [9ationality # was
manifested as 3huth.
8ome of the *i+ine ,enifestations were made before hea+en and
earth.
One of the menifestation e+ole+d itself as Bhu)ra.
<rom this menifestation two more manifestations $ame out [were
)rodu$ed# whi$h
may be termed as se$ondary menifestations of 2od mensioned
abo+e.
3hese two menifestations reformed their original menifestation
Bhu)ra i.e the
,enifestation whi$h originated them.
3hese two manifestations made ga+e birth to latter generation of
gods.
One of the most !owerfu gods was 'a .(ut e)en this su!!ositum
was not
in)unerabe.
On* God is Perfect and in)unerabe.His
menifestations are not.
Each manifestationma* ha)e its own wi as we.
This is wh* the* often often become ri)as of each
other.
E+!anation%
"t is !ossibe that Pharoah in his ,ea to combat
Might* Pro!het Moses ora*
caimed to be the On* God. Not an incarnation Of God
but the )er* "ncarnated God.
This means that God with out ceasing to be God
became Pharoah as we.
Ob-ection%&
.!ti now no secuar e)idence shew that a Pharoah
caimed to be the incarnated God.
/nswer%&
No secuar e)idence shew E+odus , !agues ect.So if
Moses is not found in secuar sources
it is more di0cut to 1nd con)esation and diaogue of
Pharoah about Moses.
How e)er it was -ust a )erba combat not necessar*
re!resenting the beie)es of Pharoah.
"n his res!onses Pharoah did )ioate his own reigion.
NOTE %&
this is -ust a !ossibe answer not a Necessar* answer,
irres!ecti)e of its !robabiit*
or imm!robait*. The on* condition of this answer is
that it is not im!ossibe.
/s there is no record for each and e)er* word, each
and e)er* sentence which Pharoah of E+odus
s!oke, it is eg*!toogica* im!ossibe to dene* the
Possibbit* of this E+!anation.
2et one must not caim it to be certaini* true
e+!anation. "t is -ust a !robabe answer
with weak or strong !robabiit*.