Description:

240 BC

THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge

 

Part 9

  Who are these gods?

  "They are the drops of blood which came forth from the phallus of Ra

when he went forth to perform his own mutilitation. These drops of

blood sprang into being under the forms of the gods Hu and Sa, who are

in the bodyguard of Ra, and who accompany the god Tem daily and

every day.

  "I, Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, have filled for thee

the utchat (the Eye of Ra, or of Horus), when it had suffered

extinction on the day of the combat of the Two Fighters (Horus and

Set)."

  What was this combat?

  It was the combat which took place on the day when Horus fought with

Set, during which Set threw filth in the face of Horus, and Horus

crushed the genitals of Set. The filling of the utchat Thoth performed

with his own fingers.

  "I remove the thunder-cloud from the sky when there is a storm

with thunder and lightning therein."

  What is this?

  "This storm was the raging of Ra at the thunder-cloud which [Set]

sent forth against the Right Eye of Ra (the Sun). Thoth removed the

thunder-cloud from the Eye of Ra, and brought back the Eye living,

healthy, sound, and with no defect in it to its owner.

  "Others, however, say that the thunder-cloud is caused by sickness

in the Eye of Ra, which weepeth for its companion Eye (the Moon); at

this time Thoth cleanseth the Right Eye of Ra.

  "I behold Ra who was born yesterday from the thighs of the goddess

Mehurt; his strength is my strength, and my strength is his strength."

  Who is this?

  "Mehurt is the great Celestial Water, but others say that Mehurt

is the image of the Eye of Ra at dawn at his birth daily.

  "[Others, however, say that] Mehurt is the utchat of Ra.

  "Now Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, is a very great one

among the gods who are in the following of Horus; they say that he

is the prince who loveth his lord."