Extra Reading Diary Week 4: Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories

Image information: The Egyptian god Ra by Tutaankhamun: Source: Ancient Egypt

This week I decided to do another short story unit focusing on tales instead of an essay. I chose Ancient Egyptian Myths and Stories. Feel free to ignore at will.

Creation:

 At the beginning the world was a water entity named Nu. Birthed the Sun god (Khepera at dawn, Ra at noon, and Tum at evening). Light as a god born from an egg floating on the water Ru. Ra was greater than his father Nu—the ruler of the gods. It is he who created the other gods and the world. Ra made the Earth rise from the waters of Nu. Created man and became the first king on Earth. Lived centuries as years.

The Secret Name of Ra:

One secret name that was the reason behind his divine power—known by neither man nor god. The goddess Isis wished to know his secrets so she made a serpent from his own saliva that stung him and made him ill. All in an effort to get the same divine power as Ra. It worked and she saved him. Themes of jealousy in women, serpents, etc.

Ra and Hathor:

Ra grew old and the humans sought to overtake him and his throne. Ra on the verge of destroying that which he created because they were not as he wished them to be. References to a great flood (Bible). Instead he lets Hathor wreck havoc on mankind only to change his mind at the last moment and save remnants of humankind. He does this by bringing forth the flood he mentioned before. She got drunk on the waters and stopped murdering people. Cool. Then Ra died/left earth. 

The Sun’s Journey:

Forgiveness after sacrifice. That was how the constellations and the heavens and hell were made. Kind of a cool story. The hours of the day as a journey of the sun.

Osiris:

I thought Ra was God of all things? How is Osiris the lord of all things? Oh okay, he is to be the next pharaoh. Human race no longer as civilized as before the flood and betrayal. Bringing of peace and civilization. Taught men to harvest with help of wife, Isis. Traveled the world to spread his wisdom and peace and prosperity.

The Death of Osiris:

Jealousy of a brother. Tricked by a gift from his brother, he was betrayed and trapped by his brother’s followers. That was the end of the good periods in Egypt. Isis went into mourning and wandered looking for Osiris and Set took the throne. The world suffered under the reign of the false king.

The Journey of Isis:

Runaway and exiled, Isis had a child that Set wanted to kill so that he wouldn’t be able to ascend to the throne. Destined to revenge his father and mother by killing his uncle. Killed someone's son to open her husband’s casket and give him a proper burial?

King of the Dead:

Horus finally old enough to take on his uncle and take back Egypt. Horus lost an eye. Osiris in the afterlife became the Judge and King of the dead.

The Wax Crocodile:

Illicit affair between a young man and a married woman. The scribe finds out and seeks his revenge. Made a crocodile that seized the youth and did everything the scribe said. It just took the youth and hid him away. Also the wife got burned at the stake, so. There is that.

The Green Jewel:

Women to make your day better—act as eye candy. Gross. Magic all to get back a beloved object.