Apophis: every ancient Egyptian's greatest fear after death

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Apophis was a malevolent deity or demon, often depicted as a giant serpent or snake.

He was considered to be the embodiment of chaos, of destruction, and deep darkness.

Ultimately, it was believed to be the primary enemy of the gods and the pharaoh.

Since Apophis was seen as a constant threat to the order of the universe, his ultimate goal was to devour the sun god Ra and plunge the world into eternal darkness.

As such, Apophis was an important figure in Egyptian religious beliefs and rituals.

It was often invoked in protective spells and incantations to ward off evil and ensure the continued prosperity of the kingdom.

The mysterious figure of Apophis appears in a variety of ancient Egyptian texts.

Apophis is first mentioned in several spells of the Coffin Texts, which were a collection of funerary spells that were inscribed on the coffins of the elite during the Middle Kingdom period (c. 2055-1650 BCE).

It also features prominently in the Book of the Dead. This was another a collection of funerary spells and instructions, but dates from the much later New Kingdom period (c. 1550-1069 BCE).

In particular, in the Book of the Dead, Apophis is portrayed as a powerful enemy of the deceased.

He must be defeated during the person's journey to the afterlife in order for the soul to pass safely into the Field of Reeds.

According to Egyptian beliefs, after death, the soul of the deceased would embark on a perilous journey through the underworld.

On the way, they had to face a series of trials and obstacles. As is obvious by now, one of the most significant obstacles was Apophis himself.

In many of the accounts, he would lie in wait for the soul in the underworld, ready to attack and devour it.

Frequently Apophis was really lying in wait for Ra. It was thought that if Apophis were to succeed in attacking Ra, it would bring about the destruction of the entire cosmos.

As a result, Apophis was difficult to defeat, which only added to the fear and respect he commanded. 

To protect the soul from Apophis, the ancient Egyptians developed a variety of funerary spells and rituals.

For example, in the Book of the Dead, there are several spells that instruct the deceased on how to identify and defeat Apophis.

These spells often involve the use of protective amulets, incantations, and symbolic gestures.

These texts often contain instructions on how to identify and defeat Apophis and how to protect oneself from his malevolent influence.

In the Book of Gates, the gods are depicted as assisting Ra in his battle against Apophis.

The text describes the gods as forming a protective barrier around Ra's boat, which shields him from Apophis' attacks.

The gods then use their magical powers to defeat Apophis, firing magical arrows at the serpent and using spells to banish him from the realm of the gods.

The Book of Gates also describes the role of the deceased in this battle. According to the text, the deceased is seen as an ally of the gods, and is depicted as helping to defend Ra's boat from Apophis' attacks.

Ultimately, the text suggests that the deceased can earn their place among the gods by assisting in the defeat of Apophis.

At the end, the defeat of Apophis in the Book of Gates represents the triumph of order over chaos, and highlights the importance of the gods in protecting the universe from the forces of darkness.

It also emphasizes the role of the deceased in this battle, and the belief that they can assist the gods in maintaining the balance of the universe.

The story of Apophis' defeat is just one example of the many rituals and beliefs that the ancient Egyptians used to protect themselves from the malevolent forces that threatened their world.