Legends of the Gods: The Egyptian Texts, edited with TranslationsBudge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir
General
Legends of the Gods: The Egyptian Texts, edited with Translations
Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir
Egyptian literature -- Translations into English; Mythology, Egyptian
creator of the days. I am the opener (i.e., inaugurator) of the
festivals, and the maker of the floods of water. I am the creator of
the fire of life whereby the works of the houses are caused to come
into being. I am Khepera in the morning, and Ra (at the time of his
culmination (i.e., noon), and Temu in the evening."[FN#71]
Nevertheless the poison was not driven from its course, and the great
god felt no better. Then Isis said unto Ra, "Among the things which
thou hast said unto me thy name hath not been mentioned. O declare
thou it unto me, and the poison shall come forth; for the person who
hath declared his name shall live." Meanwhile the poison burned with
blazing fire and the heat thereof was stronger than that of a blazing
flame. Then the Majesty of Ra, said, "I will allow myself to be
searched through by Isis, and my name shall come forth from my body and
go into hers." Then the divine one hid himself from the gods, and the
throne in the Boat of Millions of Years[FN#72] was empty. And it came
to pass that when it was the time for the heart to come forth [from the
god], she said unto her son Horus, "The great god shall bind himself by
an oath to give his two eyes."[FN#73] Thus was the great god made to
yield up his name, and Isis, the great lady of enchantments, said,
"Flow on, poison, and come forth from Ra; let the Eye of Horus come
forth from the god and shine(?) outside his mouth. I have worked, and
I make the poison to fall on the ground, for the venom hath been
mastered. Verily the name hath been taken away from the great god.
Let Ra live, and let the poison die; and if the poison live then Ra
shall die. And similarly, a certain man, the son of a certain man,
shall live and the poison shall die." These were the words which spake
Isis, the great lady, the mistress of the gods, and she had knowledge
of Ra in his own name. The above words shall be said over an image of
Temu and an image of Heru-Hekennu,[FN#74] and over an image of Isis and
an image of Horus.
[FN#66] Here we have another instance of the important part which the
spittle played in magical ceremonies that were intended to produce evil
effects. The act of spitting, however, was intended sometimes to carry
a curse with it, and sometimes a blessing, for a man spat in the face
of his enemy in order to lay the curse of impurity upon him, and at the
present time, men spit upon money to keep the devils away from it.
[FN#67] The gods were, according to one belief, nothing more than the
various names of Ra, who had taken the forms of the various members of
his body.
[FN#68] Thus the god's own name became his most important talisman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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