Egyptian Myths: Volume Two

Published in Great Britain in MMXXII by The Salariya Book Company Ltd 25 Marlborough Place, Brighton BN1 1UB www.salariya.com

ISBN: 978-1-913971-35-9 © The Salariya Book Company Ltd MMXXII All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

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Fiona Macdonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia, both in England. She has taught adult education, and in schools and universities, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.

Alida Massari is an Italian artist, specialising in children’s illustration and stationery. She studied illustration at the European Institute for Design.

Meredith Brand is an archaeologist and writer in the Rhetoric and Composition Department at the American University in Cairo, where she teaches research and academic writing. She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto on the socio-economic organisation of pottery production in New Kingdom Egypt, and her archaeological research and publications have focused on pottery and material culture from excavations in Egypt and Sudan. She is also the assistant director and the ceramicist of the Wadi el-Hudi Expedition that excavates and surveys ancient Egyptian mines and settlements in the Eastern Desert.

For Angela Williams, with many thanks for her help and kindness. FM

EGYPTIAN MYTHS FIONA MACDONALD Illustrations by: Alida Massari

VOLUME TWO

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.......................................................................6 STRONGER THAN DEATH........................................................9 EVERLASTING LIFE...............................................................25 GODS ON EARTH...................................................................34 FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE...................................................51 PRINCESS POWER..................................................................60 THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR.................................................70 THE RIVER OF TRUTH............................................................81 GLOSSARY..............................................................................88

INTRODUCTION

T

he ancient Egyptians lived in North Africa, where the world’s longest river, the Nile, flowed through the desert.

Every year, the Nile waters flooded, covering land beside the river with rich black mud. Grains, fruits, vegetables and cattle all flourished there; so did Egyptian families. Egypt became a land of plenty, wealthy and powerful. It was home to a magnificent civilisation that lasted for thousands of years – from around 3100 BC to 30 BC. Egyptian myths were closely linked to the land of Egypt, and to the ideas, hopes and fears of Egyptian people. Many myths praised gods and god-like kings, others described the natural world, from life-giving Nile floods to deadly desert snakes 6

and scorpions. Perhaps most important of all, myths told how Egypt’s people and their homeland could be kept safe and strong by following the rules of truth, honesty and justice – and how, magically, mysteriously, they might go on living in the kingdom of the dead.

Egyptian myths and legends were often not collected and recorded in a neat and tidy way.

Instead, they were memorised in many different versions by priests and story-tellers, and passed down by word of mouth. Many have long been forgotten. But some myths have survived, as a whole or in part. They were written down by scribes on sheets of papyrus (paper made from plants that grew by the Nile) or carved in hieroglyphs on temples and tombs, or pictured in paintings and statues, and on mummies’ coffins.

They were also described by ancient Greek and Roman travellers who visited Egypt – although we don’t know how accurately they reported them.

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The myths and legends in this book have been pieced together from evidence surviving from ancient Egyptian times. And, like Egyptian myths remembered and re-told by storytellers long ago, each one is a new version of a very old tale.

Sometimes, parts of the story may be mixed up or missing. Sometimes they may be puzzling. But they still show us an amazing ancient world of imagination, love, hate, joy and reverence, full of strangeness and wonder.

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STRONGER

THAN DEATH

H

is biggest mistake – perhaps the only one he ever made – was going to that party. If only, if only... but it’s easy to know what to do, after things have already happened...

Osiris was the first pharaoh to rule Egypt when sun-god Ra returned to the sky. As the oldest son of sky-goddess Nut and earth-god Geb, he was pretty nearly perfect. Handsome, wise, honest, brave, respected and popular, it was his destiny to rule. People said he was born wearing a crown.

9

Egyptian Myths As an extra blessing, Osiris had clever, kind, lovely Isis as his wife. She, too, was a child of the earth and the sky. They were a devoted couple. He taught Egyptian people how to grow crops and raise animals, make good laws and worship the gods. She showed them how to prepare food and drink, how to weave cloth and make clothes to wear. For many years, they ruled wisely. Until...

Osiris and Isis had a little sister, Nephthys, and a brother, Set. Nephthys and Isis were best friends.

But Set and Osiris? Were they friendly, too? Oh no. Set was jealous of his big brother’s fame and good fortune. All his life he’d felt unhappy, overlooked, second-best. ‘I’d make just as good a pharaoh,’ he said to himself. ‘But I’ve never been given the chance; it’s not fair!’ Sometimes, Set started fights with Osiris. He never forgave his big brother for the kicks and bruises he got in return.

Osiris had been away, travelling. Now he was coming home. ‘My brother!’ said Set, with a deceitful smile. ‘It’s good to see you! I’ve planned a 10

Stronger Than Death big party to welcome you home. Tomorrow night.

Just for us men. Don’t be late!’

It was a very good party, with lots to eat and drink, music and laughter. ‘And now, let’s play a game!’ said Set, with a wicked grin. ‘The winner will get a prize!’ He clapped his hands, and his servants came running. ‘Bring it here!’ he commanded.

‘Oooh!’ cried the guests, as Set’s servants carried a huge wooden chest into the room. Not an ordinary chest, for storing clothes and blankets, but a chest decorated with gold and silver and glittering precious stones. ‘That must be worth a fortune!’ they said. ‘It is indeed,’ smirked Set. ‘And the man who can fit best inside it will win it. Let’s all try!’

Whether it was magic, or just clever planning by Set, it worked out just as he had hoped. The only man who could fit perfectly inside the chest was Osiris. ‘Stay there for a bit longer, brother,’ said Set, laughing and beckoning his guests to come over. ‘Let them see how clever you are!’

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Egyptian Myths Then he slammed the lid shut. Osiris was trapped inside. The guests – all friends of Set – slipped quietly away. Immediately, Set got busy. First, he covered the chest in lead to make it very, very heavy. Then he dragged it down to the River Nile and – splash! – threw it into the water. The river carried it northwards, far out to sea.

‘Now I will be pharaoh!’ cried Set. ‘I will have power. I’ll be in charge! I will rule!’

Poor, poor Isis! She was heartbroken. ‘My husband!’ she sobbed. ‘My dear, dear husband! Set has stolen you from me. But I will find you, and hold you in my arms once again. I promise you.

Trust me! My love for you is as strong as life itself.

Stronger than Set’s hatred. Stronger than death.’

For months, weeks, years, Isis roamed through the land of Egypt, searching for lost Osiris. The people pitied her and tried to help. But the chest with Osiris’s body inside – surely, he would be dead by now – was nowhere to be seen. At last, 12

Egyptian Myths rumours reached Isis that a beautiful chest had been washed up at Byblos, in a country far away.

Isis hurried there, still weeping bitterly.

Yes, the chest was there. But a tree had grown all around it. A tree so splendid that the king of Byblos had chopped it down, still with the chest inside, and carried it into his palace.

‘I must get to see it,’ said Isis. ‘But how?’ Then she had an idea. She made friends with the queen’s maidservants, braiding their hair in the latest Egyptian style, and sharing the beautiful perfume that wafted from her skin. (All good gods smell divine.) The queen was so impressed that she asked Isis to be her companion. ‘And you can help look after my baby son,’ she said.

All day, every day, Isis managed to stay calm and smiling. The queen, and the baby, soon grew to love her. But at night? Ah, that was different. At night, Isis sobbed and sobbed, as quietly as she could. She longed for her husband. To be near 14

Stronger Than Death him, she changed herself into a bird, and flew round and round the beautiful tree. ‘Can you hear me?’ she trilled, as she swooped through the branches. ‘I’ve come to rescue you, my darling.’

As the ancient Egyptians said, Isis was ‘great in magic’. And now she used it to help the queen.

She lit a magic fire and placed the queen’s baby in it, to burn away his human flesh and turn him into a holy creature that would live forever. What a wonderful gift! But the queen didn’t understand.

‘Murderer!’ she shrieked. ‘Get out, you wicked witch! Go away!’

‘I’ll only go if I can take that chest with me,’ said Isis, pointing to the tree.

Back in Egypt, Isis gently opened the chest.

Osiris was still inside. But how he’d changed! His handsome face and strong body had rotted and turned green. Isis kissed him tenderly, all the same.

‘I’ll heal you and bring you back to life,’ she said.

‘My dearest...’

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Egyptian Myths Suddenly, she heard a noise. Footsteps, followed by a grim chuckle. It was Set! With his brutal hunting knife, he hacked Osiris’s body into pieces and threw them far and wide, all over Egypt. ‘Now heal your husband,’ he said, with a voice full of hate and scorn.

‘I will, I will,’ said Isis. ‘You can’t stop me!’

For months, weeks, years, Isis again searched for her husband all over Egypt. This time, her sister Nephthys helped her. They changed themselves into beautiful, keen-sighted birds; their mournful cries echoed round the sky. But cruel Set followed all the time. Could they ever escape him?

Yes, they did, thanks to jackal-headed Anubis, god of burial grounds, who guarded them like a watchful, faithful dog.

And – by the way – do you know, they say that’s how leopards got their spots? One night, Set disguised himself as a leopard. A swift, silent, 16

stealthy hunter. His coat was smooth and tawny, like a lion. Closer and closer he crept towards Isis. Ready to spring. ‘Woof !

Woof !’ yelled Anubis. ‘Danger! Danger!’

He snatched up a burning stick from the fire.

‘Hiss! Sizzle!’ He stabbed the flames into Set-theleopard’s fur. ‘Hiss! Sizzle!’ And everywhere they burned, they left little dark spots behind. Howling with pain, Set-the-leopard ran away to hide.

Safe, for a while, Isis and Nephthys continued their search for Osiris. It was not easy. All the liquids from his rotting body had blended with the Nile floods; his flesh had crumbled into the fertile soil of Egypt. ‘Look, Osiris is there!’ said the farmers, pointing to fresh green shoots growing in their 18

Stronger Than Death fields. ‘Life comes after death, like death comes after life. He is with us. He is our land.’

But Isis didn’t give up hope. At last, she and Nephthys found the scattered pieces of Osiris’s body. All except one. With great care and patience, they fitted them together. Anubis helped, and so did Thoth, god of learning. Together, they wrapped the body in bandages, to hold all the parts together. Osiris had become the first mummy.

Osiris lay still and peaceful. Like a god, asleep. Isis and Nephthys fanned his body with their beautiful wings, wafting the breath of life towards him. Isis hovered above him, giving him soft kisses. Osiris opened his eyes, and smiled.

‘My dearest, I love you,’ he whispered. ‘And you have saved me. I long to go back to our old lives again. But,’ he sighed, and a tear trickled down his cheek, ‘that won’t be possible. The gods will not allow me to reign on earth. So I will rule the Underworld! But do not despair! Our son will be 19