Apophis: every ancient Egyptian's greatest fear after death

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Apophis, also known as Apep, 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, Apophis was believed to be the primary enemy of the gods and the pharaoh.

Apophis wanted to overthrow the order of the universe and plunge the world into eternal darkness by devouring the sun god Ra. 

Ra was considered to be one of the most powerful deities in ancient Egypt and his regular battles with Apophis were seen as essential to preserving Ma'at, the balance of the universe.

Because of his destructive goals, Apophis was an important figure in Egyptian religious beliefs and rituals.

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

The oldest known references to Apophis appear in the Pyramid Tests from the Old Kingdom period (c. 2400 BCE). Here he is introduced as a serpent threatening Ra's solar barque, or sun boat, during its journey across the sky and through the underworld. 

Apophis is also 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).

He also features 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 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, with one of the most significant obstacles being 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 defeating Ra, it would bring about the destruction of the entire cosmos and unending darkness.

Apophis was said to be 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 and how to protect oneself from his malevolent influence.

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

In the Book of Gates, the gods are depicted as assisting Ra in his repeated battles against Apophis and thereby protecting the universe from the forces of darkness.

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 and helping to maintain the balance of the universe.

The defeat of Apophis in the Book of Gates represents the triumph of order over chaos, and 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.