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Apep
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:''This article is about the Egyptian demon. For the
Stargate SG-1 character, see
Apophis (Stargate). For the
Near-Earth asteroid see
99942 Apophis.''
Image:Apep_1.jpg right|250px|thumbnail|An [[Deities#Egyptian_mythology|Egyptian deity wards off the snake-like Apep]]
In
Egyptian mythology, '''Apep''' (also spelled '''Apepi''', and '''Aapep''', or '''Apophis''' in
Greek language Greek) was an
evil demon, the deification of
darkness and
chaos, and thus opponent of light and
Ma'at (
Order (philosophy) order/
truth), whose existence was believed about from the
Middle Kingdom of Egypt Middle Kingdom onwards.
Development
Apep formed part of the more complex cosmic system resulting from the identification of
Ra as
Atum, i.e. the creation of ''Atum-Ra'', and the subsequent merging of the
Ogdoad and
Ennead systems. Consequently, since Atum-Ra, who was later referred to simply as Ra, was the
solar deity, bringer of light, and thus the upholder of Ma'at, Apep was viewed as the greatest enemy of Ra, and thus was given the title ''Enemy of Ra''.
As the personification of all that was evil, Apep was seen as a giant
snake,
crocodile,
Serpent (symbolism) serpent, or in later years, in a few cases, as a
European dragon dragon, leading to titles such as ''Serpent from the Nile'', and ''Evil
lizard''. Indeed, his name is thought to translate roughly as ''Great snake''. Some elaborations even said that he stretched 16
yards in length and had a head made of
flint.
Apep's name can also mean ''(he who was) spat out''; the
Ancient Rome Romans referred to Apep by this translation of his name.
Apparently because of the ''spat out'' interpretation of the name Apep, it was said that he had been formed by
Neith, who had been the deification of the primordial waters in the
Ennead, from a length of
spittle spit she had spat at
Naunet Nu, the deification of the primordial waters in the
Ogdoad. Some subsequent commentators speculated that Apep must have been an earlier creator, and chief god, thus explaining why he had so much
enmity towards Ra, but evidence for such a conclusion is slight.
After the end of the Middle Kingdom, the foreign
Hyksos, now rulers over Egypt, chose
Set (god) Set, as their favourite deity, since he had been protector of Ra, and was associated with Lower Egypt, where their power base was. Consequently, because the foreign overlords were hated by
nationalism nationalistic groups, Set became gradually demonised, and started being thought of as an evil god. Indeed, because of the extreme level of nationalism and
xenophobia, Set eventually became thought of as the god of evil, and gradually took on all the characteristics of Apep. Consequently, Apep's identity was eventually entirely subsumed by that of Set.
Battles with Ra
Image:Apep_2.jpg right|175px|thumbnail|An [[Deities#Egyptian_mythology|Egyptian deity slays the snake-like Apep]]
Tales of Apep's battles against Ra were elaborated during the
New Kingdom. Since nearly everyone can see that the sun is not attacked by a giant snake during the day, every day, story tellers said that Apep must lie just below the horizon. This appropriately made him a part of the
duat underworld, which attacked the sun each night. In some stories Apep waited for Ra in a western mountain called
Bakhu, where the sun
sunset set, and in others Apep lurked just before
dawn, in the ''Tenth region of the Night''. The wide range of Apep's possible location gaining it the title ''World Encircler''. It was thought that his terrifying roar would cause the underworld to rumble. Myths sometimes say that Apep was trapped there, because he had been the previous chief god and suffered a
coup d'etat by Ra, or because he was evil and had been imprisoned.
In his battles, Apep was thought to use a
magic (paranormal) magical gaze to
hypnotise Ra and his entourage, attempting to devour them whilst
choking the river on which they travelled through the underworld with his coils. Sometimes Apep had assistance from other demons, named
Sebau and
Nak. Ra was assisted by a number of defenders who travelled with him, the most powerful being
Set (god) Set, who sat at the
helm. Other gods who feature in later tales as the defenders include fierce warriors such as
Mehen,
Serket,
Maahes, and
Bast (goddess) Bast, together with
Shu.
In a bid to explain natural phenomona it was said that occasionally Apep got the upper hand. The damage to order caused thunderstorms and earthquakes. Indeed: it was even thought that sometimes Apep actually managed to swallow Ra during the day, causing a solar eclipse, but since Ra's defenders quickly cut him free of Apep, the eclipse always ended within a few minutes. On the occasions when Apep was said to have been killed, he was able to return each night (since he lived in the world of the dead already). In
Atenism it is
Aten who kills the monster, obviously, since Aten is the only god in the belief system.
Worship
Apep was not so much
worshipped, as worshipped against. His defeat each night, in favour of Ra, was thought to be ensured by the prayers of the
Ancient Egypt Egyptian priests and worshipers at
temples. The Egyptians practiced a number of
rituals and
superstitions that were thought to ward off Apep, and aid Ra to continue his journey across the sky.
In an annual
rite, called the ''Banishing of Apep'', priests would build an effigy of Apep that was thought to contain all of the evil and darkness in
Egypt, and burn it to protect everyone from Apep's influence for another year, in a similar manner to modern rituals such as
Zozobra.
The Egyptian priests even had a detailed ''guide'' to fighting Apep, referred to as ''The Books of Overthrowing Apep'' or (in Greek) the ''Book of Apophis''. The chapters described a gradual process of dismemberment and disposal, and include:
*''Spitting Upon Apep''
*''Defiling Apep with the Left Foot''
*''Taking a Lance to Smite Apep''
*''
Fettering Apep''
*''Taking a Knife to Smite Apep''
*''Putting Fire Upon Apep''
In addition to stories about Apep's defeats, this guide had instructions for making
wax models, or small drawings, of the serpent, which would be spat on, mutilated and burnt, whilst reciting
spells that would aid Ra. Fearing that even the image of Apep could give power to the
demon, any rendering would always include another deity to subdue the monster.
As Apep was thought to live in the underworld, he was sometimes thought of as an ''Eater-up of
Egyptian soul Souls''. Thus the dead also needed protection, so they were sometimes buried with spells that could destroy Apep. The
Book of the Dead frequently described occasions when Ra defeated Apep.
External links
-
Apep, Water Snake-Demon of Chaos, Enemy of Ra...
-
ancient Egypt: The Mythology - Apep
-
Apophis (Apep), the Enemy of Re
{{Ancient Egypt}}
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