The Egyptian Heaven and Hell · 88 of 96 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 26 (part 3)

Above the hind-quarters of the lion is the head of the god ANA (?), wearing the Crown of the South; on the one side we have four gods of the South assisting in the raising of a column surmounted by the Crown of the South, and on the other four gods of the North assisting in the raising of a column surmounted by the Crown of the North.

These ceremonies appear to have some connexion with the magical rites which were performed in Egypt in primitive times in the making ready of the crowns for the Sun-god to wear on his rising.

Beyond these gods are: 1.

The serpent SHEMTI, with four heads at each end of his body, and his warder APU.

2.

The serpent BATA, with a head at each end of his body.

3.

The serpent TEPI, with four human heads and bodies at each end of his body, and his warder ABETH.

These are faced by two gods who are about to attack these serpents with nets, and who assist Horus by reciting words of power for him.

Themes

◆Maat Cosmic Ordercosmology

The Egyptian principle of truth, balance, and right order underlying both the cosmos and human conduct; the parallel to Zoroastrian asha and Greek dike.

The narrative depicts the restoration of order by slaying the chaos monster Apep to clear the path for the sun god Ra.

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◇Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] Deities are depicted with human-like actions such as wailing and taking forms like mummied warders or serpents.

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◇Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

[auto] The passage contrasts the Sun-god Ra with the darkness where gods must abide, highlighting light as a divine attribute.

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◇Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage explicitly describes the Book of Gates and the Tuat as regions guiding the spirits of the dead through specific divisions and gates.

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◇Numerical Mysticismtheology

Numbers, proportions, and mathematical relationships as the underlying structure of divine reality.

[auto] The cosmology is structured around specific numbered divisions (Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh) which define the regions of the Tuat.

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◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The text details the guided passage of AFU-Ra through guarded gates and corridors within the afterlife realm.

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◇Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

[auto] Fire is described as a specific element sweeping the corridor of the gate, acting as a medium of presence or protection.

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