CHAPTER XVII.—TrExts. ,

[From the Papyrus of Ani (Brit. Mus. No. 10,470, sheets 7—10), and from the Papyrus of Nebseni (Brit. Mus. No, 9,900, sheet 14, 1. 16 ff.).]
Text: (1) HmrRE BEGIN THE PRAISES AND GLORI- FYINGS OF COMING OUT FROM AND OF GOING INTO THE GLORIOUS UNDERWORLD WHICH IS IN THE BEAUTIFUL AMENTET, OF COMING OUT (2) BY DAY IN ALL THE FORMS OF EXISTENCE WHICH PLEASE HIM (i.e, THE DECEASED), OF PLAYING AT DRAUGHTS AND SITTING IN THE HALL, AND OF COMING FORTH (3) AS A LIVING SOUL.
Chap. xvii. 13] RA THE SELF-BEGOTTEN 93
Saith Osiris, the scribe Ani, (4) after he hath come to his haven of rest—it is good for [a man] to recite [this work whilst he is] upon earth, for [then] all the words of (5) Tem come to pass :—
“Tam the god Tem in rising; I am the only One. “T came into existence in (6) Nu. Iam Ra who rose “in the beginning, the ruler of... . this.” ! (7)
Who then is this ?
It is Ra when at the beginning he rose in (8) the city of Suten-henen (Heracleopolis Magna), crowned like a king in [his] rising. The pillars? of the god Shu* were not as yet created, when he was (9) upon the high ground’ of him that dwelleth in Khemennu (Hermopolis Magna).
“Tam the great god who gave birth to himself, even “Nu, (10) who made his name[s to become] the company “of the gods as god.”
Who then (11) is this?
It is Ra, the creator of the name[s] of his limbs, which came into being (12) in the form of the gods who are in the train of Ra.
“Tam he whois not driven back among the gods.” (13)
Who then is this?
1 Var. “‘ the ruler of what he hath made” (Papyrus of Nebseni),
2 T.e., the cardinal points. 3 Shu was the first-born son of Ra, by the goddess Hathor, the sky ; he typified the light, and lifted up the sky (Nut) from the
earth (Seb), and placed it upon the steps a which were in Khe- mennu (Hermopolis). 4 Or ‘‘ stair-case.”
94 YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY (Chap. xvii. 14
It is Tem the dweller in his disk, or (as others say), (14) It is Ra in his rising in the eastern horizon of heaven.
“Tam Yesterday ; I know (15) To-day.”
Who then is this?
Yesterday is Osiris, (16) and To-day is Ra on the day when he shall destroy the enemies of Neb-er-tcher,' (17) and when he shall establish as prince and ruler his son (18) Horus, or (as others say), on the day when we commemorate the festival (19) of the meeting of the dead Osiris with his father Ra, and when the battle of the (20) gods was fought in which Osiris, the lord of Amentet, was the leader.
What then is this? (21)
It is Amentet, [that is to say| the creation of the souls of the gods when Osiris was leader in Set- Amentet ; or (22) (as others say), It is Amentet which Ra hath given unto me; when any god cometh, he doth arise and (23) doeth battle for it.
“T know the god who dwelleth therein,” (24)
1 f.e., Osiris.
2 Le., the ‘Mountain of Amentet,” or the ‘‘Mountain of the Underworld.”
Chap. xvii. 35] OSIRIS AND THE BENNU 95
Who then is this?
It is Osiris; or (as others say), Ra is his name, (or) It is the (25) phallus of Ra wherewith he was united to himself.
“Tam the Bennu bird (26) which is in Annu (Helio- “ polis), and I am the keeper of the volume of the book ‘of things which are and of things which shall be.”
Who then (27) is this ?
en || oa
The dead body of Osiris on his bier,
It is Osiris; or (as others say), It is his dead body, or (as others say), (28) It is his filth. The things which are and the things which shall be are his dead body; or (as others say), (29) They are eternity and everlastingness. Hternity is the day, and everlasting- ness is the (30) night.
“Tam the god Amsu in his coming forth; may his “two plumes (31) be set upon my head for me.”
Who then is this ?
Amsu is Horus, the avenger (32) of his father, and his coming forth is his birth. The plumes (33) upon his head are Isis and Nephthys when they go forth to set themselves (34) there, even as his protectors, and they provide that which his head (85) lacketh, or (as
96 PURIFICATION OF OSIRIS (Chap. xvii. 35
others say), They are the two exceeding great urael which are upon the head of their father (86) Tem, or (as others say), His two eyes are the two plumes which are upon his head.
“ Osiris Ani, (37) the scribe of all the holy offerings, “yiseth up in his place in triumph, he cometh into (38) “his city.”
What then is this ?
It is the horizon of his father Tem. (39)
“T have made an end of my short-comings, and I “have put away my faults.”
What then (40) is this ?
“Tt is the cutting off of the corruptible in the body “of Osiris, the scribe Ani, (41) victorious before all the “oods; and all his faults are driven out.”
What (42) then is this?
It is the purification [of Osiris] on the day of his birth. (43)
“T am purified in my great double nest which is in “Suten-henen (Heracleopolis Magna), (44) on the day “of the offerings of the followers of the great god who “is (45) therein.”
The god of Great Green Lake, Re-stan, The Utchat, Millions of Years.
Chap. xvii. 59] RE-STAU AND THE TUAT Q7
What then is this ?
“Millions of years” is the name of the one [nest], “Great Green Lake” (46) is the name of the other; a pool of natron, and a pool of nitre (47); or (as others
?
say), “The Traverser of millions of years” is the name of one, “ Great Green Lake” (48) is the name of the other; or (as others say), “ The Begetter of millions of years” is the name of one, “ Great Green Lake ” (49) is the name of the other. Now as concerning the great god who dwelleth therein, it is Ra (50) himself,
“T pass over the way, I know the head of the Pool of Maati.” (51)
What then is this ?
It is Re-stau; that is to say, it is the underworld on the (52) south of Na-arut-f,' and it is the northern door of the tomb. ’
Now as concerning (53) the Pool of Maati, it is Abtu (Abydos) ; or (as others say), It is the way by which his father (54) Tem travelleth when he goeth forth to Sekhet-Aaru, (55) which bringeth forth the food and nourishment of the gods who are behind | their] shrines. (56) Now the gate of Tchesert is the gate of the pillars of Shu, (57) the northern gate of the Tuat (under- world); or (as others say), It is the two leaves of the door (58) through which the god Tem passeth when he goeth forth to the eastern horizon of heaven. (59)
““Q ye gods who are in the presence [of Osiris], grant
1 Or An-rut-f, the “ place where nothing groweth.” VOLE tT, H
98 THE FIGHT BETWEEN HORUS AND SET (Chap. xvii. 60
“me your arms, for Iam the god who (60) shall come “into being among you.”
Who then are these ?
They are the drops of blood which (61) came forth ' from the phallus of Ra when he went forth to perform mutilation (62) upon himself. They sprang into being as the gods Hu and Sa, who are in the following (63) of Ra, and who accompany (64) the god Tem daily and every day.
“T, Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant, (65) have ‘filled for thee the Utchat after it had suffered failure ‘“(66) on the day of the combat of the two Fighters” (.e., Horus and Set).
What then (67) is this ?
It is the day on which Horus fought with Set, (68) who cast filth in the face of Horus, and when Horus destroyed the members (69) of Set. Now this Thoth did with his own fingers.
“T lift up the (70) hair{-cloud] when there are “storms and quakings in the sky.”
What then is this? (71)
It is the right Hye of Ra, which raged against [Set | when (72) he sent it forth,
Thoth raised up the hair[-cloud], and brought the Eye (73) alive, and whole, and sound, and without defect to [its] lord; or (as others say), It is the Kye of ta when it is sick and when it (74) weepeth for its fellow-eye ; then Thoth standeth up to cleanse it. (75)
“T behold Ra who was born yesterday from the
Chap. xvii. 86] THE GODS IN THE TRAIN OF HORUS 99
“buttocks of (76) the goddess Meh-urt ; his strength
“is my strength, and my strength is his strength.”
Meh-urt, The gods in the train of Horus,
What then is this? (77)
It is the watery abyss of heaven, or (as others say), It is the image (78) of the Eye of Ra in the morning at his daily birth. (79) Meh-urt is the Eye (Utchat) of Ra. Therefore Osiris, (80) the scribe Ani, triumphant, is a great one among the gods who are in the train of (81) Horus. The words are spoken for him that loveth his lord. .
What (82) then is this ?
{|The gods who are in the train of Horus are] Mestha, Hapi, Tuamautef, and Qebhsennuf.'
(83) “Homage to you, O ye lords of right and truth, “ye sovereign princes who [stand] behind Osiris, who “utterly do away with (84) sins and crimes and who ‘are ip the following of the goddess Hetep-sekhus, (85) “orant [ye] that I may come unto you. Destroy ye “lall] the faults which (86) are within me, even as ye
! These four are the gods of the cardinal points, and each watched oyer a portion of the intestines of the deceased,
I00 THE GODS OF THE NORTHERN SKY [Chap. xvii. 87
“did for the Seven Spirits! (87) who are among the ‘followers of their lord Sepa.* Anubis appointed (88) “their place on the day [when was said], ‘ Come therefore “ thither,’ ”
The Three Spirits and Anubis,
What then (89) is this ?
These lords of right and truth are Thoth and (90) Astes,* the lord of Amentet. The sovereign princes [who stand] behind Osiris, even Mestha, (91) Hapi, Tuamautef, and Qebhsennuf, are they who are (92) behind the Thigh in the northern sky.
Now those who do utterly away with (93) sins and crimes and who are in the following of Hetep-sekhus (94) are the god Sebek [and his company] who dwell in the water.
The goddess Hetep-sekhus is the Hye of (95) Ra; or (as others say), It is the flame which followeth after Osiris to burn up (96) the souls of his enemies,
As concerning all the faults which are in (97) Osiris, the scribe of the offerings of all the gods, Ani, trium-
1 The Seven Khus have been identified with the seven stars of the constellation of the Great Bear.
2 A name of Osiris. ’ This god was an associate of Osiris and Anubis,
Chap. xvii.108] THE SEVEN GREAT SPIRITS IoL
phant, [this is all that he hath done against the lords of eternity] since he came forth from (98) his mother’s womb.
The Seven Spirits.
As concerning the Seven Spirits (99), even Mestha, Hapi, Tuamautef, Qebhsennuf, (100) Maa-atef-f, Kheri- beq-f, and Herukhenti-[an]maati, (101) Anubis ap- pointed them to be protectors of the dead body of Osiris, or (as others say), [set them] (102) behind the place of purification of Osiris; or (as others say), those Seven Spirits are (103) Netcheh-netcheh, Aatqetqet,'! Anerta- nef-bes-f-khenti-heh-(104)f? Aq-her-ami-unnut-f,> Tesh- ermaati-dmi-(105)het-Anes,! Ubes-hra-per-em-khet- khet,? and (106) Maa-em-kerh-an-nef-em-hru.® The chief of the sovereign princes (107) who are in Na- irut-f is Horus, the avenger of his father.
As concerning (108) the day [upon which was said],
“Come therefore thither,” it referreth to the words,
I.e., ‘‘ He who is mighty in revolving.”
‘“'The dweller in his flame giveth not his flame.”
*“ He entereth in his hour.”
“The Red-eyed one in the house of Anes.”
‘The Fiery-face who cometh onwards and retreateth,”
1 Sy ys 4
D ‘* He seeth in the dark and bringeth in the day.”
102 OSIRIS AND RA IN TATTU _ [Chap. xvii, 109
“Come (109) then thither,” which Ra spake unto Osiris. Lo, may this be said unto me in Amentet!
‘Tam the divine Soul which dwelleth in the divine Twin-Gods.” (110)
The Souls of Ra and Osiris in Tattu.
What then is this?
It is Osiris [when] he goeth into Tattu (111) and findeth there the Soul of Ra; there the one god em- braceth (112) the other, and divine souls spring into being within the divine 'win-Gods.
[The following lines are from the Papyrus of Nebseni (Brit. Mus. No. 9900, sheet 14, 1. 16 ff.).]
(16) As concerning the divine Twin-Gods they are Heru-netch-hra-tef-f ! (17) and [Jeru-khent-an-maati ; or (as others say), the double divine Soul which dwelleth in the divine Twin-Gods is the Soul of Ra and the Soul of Osiris ; [or (as others say),| It is the
1 T.e., * Horus, the avenger of his father (Osiris).” 2 T.e., ‘‘ Horus, the dweller in darkness,” ¢.e., Blind Horus.
Chap. xvii. 22] THE CAT BY THE PERSEA TREE 103
Soul (18) which dwelleth in Shu, [and] the Soul which dwelleth in Tefnut,! and these are the double divine Soul which dwelleth in Tattu.
“Tam the Cat which fought (?) hard by the Persea “tree (19) in Annu (Heliopolis), on the night when the “foes of Neb-er-tcher were destroyed.”
Ras
&
ose S Ae, 5 6 ast : *e a TO PBEM CL z. CY Basa paw mate thes Sf . ol ‘e) % x ¥ spe! 7 ‘Ase
From the Papyrus of Ani, From the Papyrus of Hu-nefer.
Who then is this?
The male Cat is Ra (20) himself, and he is called ‘Mau’ by reason of the speech of the god Sa, [who said] concerning him: “ He is like (maw) unto that which he hath made” ; thus his name became ‘ Mau’ ; ” or (as others say), it is the god (21) Shu who maketh over the possessions of Seb to Osiris.
As concerning the fight (?) hard by the Persea tree in Annu, it concerneth the children of impotent revolt when (22) justice is wrought on them for what they have done.
‘ I.e., the feminine counterpart of Shu.
2 This is a very ancient pun on the words mau ‘‘cat” and mdw “like.”
I04 THE HEADSMAN OF OSIRIS (Chap, xvii. 22
As concerning the night of the battle [these words refer to] the inroad [of the children of impotent revolt] into the eastern part of heaven, whereupon there arose a battle in heaven and in all the earth.
“O thou who art in thine egg (23) (7.c., Ra), who “shinest from thy Disk and risest in thy horizon, and ‘dost shine like gold above the sky, like unto whom “there is none among the gods, who sailest over the “pillars (24) of Shu (i.e, in the ether), who givest “blasts of fire from thy mouth, [who makest the two “lands bright with thy radiance, deliver] thou the ‘pious Nebseni from the god (25) whose form is hidden, “whose eyebrows are like unto the two arms of the ‘Balance on the night of reckoning destruction.”
Who then is this?
It is An-a-f (i.¢.,1 the god who bringeth his arm), (26)
As concerning “the night of reckoning destruction,” it is the night of the burning of the damned, and of the overthrow of the wicked at the block, (27) and of the slaughter of souls.
Who then is this?
It is Nemu, the headsman of Osiris, or (as others say), It is Apep when he riseth up with one head bear- ing Maat (i.e, right and truth) [upon it]; (28) or (as others say), It is Horus when he riseth up with a double head, whereof the one beareth right and truth and the other wickedness. (29) He bestoweth wicked-
1 A name of Amsu, the god of generating power and fertility.
Chap. xvii. 36] THE KNIVES OF TORTURE 105
ness on him that worketh wickedness, and right and truth upon him that followeth righteousness and truth; or (as others say), It is Horus the Great who (30) dwelleth in Sekhem (Letopolis) ; or (as others say), It is Thoth; or (as others say), It is Nefer-Tem; [or (as others say),| It is Sept who doth thwart the acts of the foes of Neb-er-tcher.
“Deliver thou the scribe Nebseni, victorious, from “the Watchers who bear slaughtering knives, and who “have cruel fingers, and who slay those who are in the “following of Osiris. (31) May they never gain the ‘mastery over me, may I never fall under their knives.”
What then is this?
It is Anubis, and it is Horus in the form of Khent- (32)an-maati; or (as others say), It is the sovereign princes who thwart the works of their weapons ; or (as others say), It is the chiefs of the Sheniw! chamber.
“ May (33) their knives never gain the mastery over “me, may I never fall under their instruments of “cruelty, for (84) I know their names, and I know the “being Matchet who is among them in the House of “Osiris, shooting rays of light from [his] eye, but who “himself is unseen. (35) He goeth round about “heaven robed in the flame of his mouth, commanding “Wlapi, but remaining himself unseen. May I be “strong upon earth before Ra, may I come happily “into haven (36) in the presence of Osiris. Let not
! A place where tortures were inflicted on the enemies of Ra.
106 THE WATCHER OF AMENTET (Chap. xvii. 36
“your offermgs be wanting to me, O ye who preside “over your altars, for I am among those who follow ‘after Neb-er-tcher according to the writings (37) of “Khepera. I fly as a hawk, I cackle as a goose; I “ever slay, even as the serpent goddess Neheb-ka,”
What then is this? (38)
Those who preside over their altars are the similitude of the Kye of Ra and the similitude of the Eye of Horus.
“Q Ra- (39) Tem, thou lord of the Great House,! “thou Sovereign (Life, Strength and Health!) of all “the gods, deliver thou the scribe Nebseni, victorious, “from the god whose face (40) is like unto that of a ‘“oreyhound, whose brows are as those of a man, and “who feedeth upon the dead, who watcheth at the “Bight of the Lake (41) of Fire, and who devoureth “the bodies of the dead and swalloweth hearts, and “who shooteth forth filth, but he himself remaineth ; “unseen.”
Who then is (42) this ?
‘“ Devourer for millions of years” is his name, and he liveth in the Aat. As concerning the Aat of flame, it is that which is in Anrut-f, hard by (48) the Sheniw chamber. The unclean man who would walk thereover doth fall down among the knives; or (as others say), His name is “ Mates,”* (44) and he is the Watcher of
1 T.e., the great temple of Ra in Heliopolis. ? Var. ‘‘and he dwelleth in the Lake of Unt.” ® T.e., ‘he who hath the flint knife.”
Chap. xvii. 49] THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OSIRIS 107
the door of Amentet ; or (as others say), His name is ‘“Beba,” and it is he who watcheth the Bight of Amentet; or (as others say), “ Heri-sep-f” is his name.
“ Hail, Lord of terror, chief of the lands of the North “and South, thou lord of the red glow (or red lands), (45) who preparest the slaughter-block, and who dost “feed upon the inward parts!”
Who then is this?
The guardian of the Bight of Amentet. (46)
What then is this ?
It is the heart of Osiris, which is the devourer of all slaughtered things. The Ureret crown hath been given unto him with gladness of heart as lord of Suten-henen (Heracleopolis Magna).
What then (47) is this ?
He to whom hath been given the Ureret crown with gladness of heart as lord of Suten-henen is Osiris. He was bidden to rule among the gods on the day of the union of earth (48) in the presence of Neb-er-tcher.
What then is this ?
He that was bidden to rule among the gods is [Horus] the son of Isis, who was appointed to rule in the place of his father (49) Osiris. As concerning the “day of the union of earth with earth,” it is the mingling of earth with earth in the coffin of Osiris, the Soul that liveth in Suten-henen, the giver of meat and drink, the destroyer of wrong, and the guide of the everlasting paths.
108 PRAYER TO KHEPERA [Chap, avii. 213
Who then is this ? It is Ra himself. “Deliver thou the Osiris Nebseni, victorious,”
[The following lines are from the Papyrus of Ani (Brit. Mus. No. 10,470, sheet 10, 1. 7 ff.).]
(113) from the great god who carrieth away the soul, ‘who eateth hearts, and who feedeth upon (114) offal, “the guardian of the darkness, the dweller in the Seker “boat; those who live in crime (115) fear him.”
Who then is this?
It is Suti, or (as others say), It is Smam-ur, (116) the soul of Seb.
The deceased and his wife adoring Khepera. The Two Apes.
‘“ Hail, Khepera in thy boat, the two-fold company of “the gods is thy body! Deliver thou Osiris (117) Ani, “victorious, from the Watchers who give judgment, “who have been appointed by the god Neb-er-tcher (118) to protect him and to fasten the fetters on his ‘foes, and who slaughter in the (119) shambles ; there “is no escape from their grasp. May they never stab “me with their knives, (120) may I never fall helpless ‘into their chambers of torture. (121) Never have the
Chap, xvii. 132] THE CHAMBER OF TORTURE 10g
“things which the gods hate been done by me, for I “am pure within the Mesqget.' (122) Cakes of saffron “have been brought unto him in Tanenet.”
Who then is this ? (123)
It is Khepera in his boat. It is Ra himself. As concerning the Watchers (124) who give judgment, they are the apes Isis and Nephthys. As concerning the things which are abominated by the gods they are wickedness (125) and falsehood; and he who passeth through the place of purification within the Mesget is Anpu (Anubis), who is behind the chest (126) which containeth the inward parts of Osiris. He to whom saffron cakes have been brought (127) in Tanenet is Osiris ; or (as others say), The saffron cakes (128) in Tanenet are heaven and earth; or (as others say), They are Shu, strengthener of the two lands in (129) Suten-henen (Heracleopolis Magna). The saffron cakes are the Kye of Horus; and Tanenet (130) is the burial- place of Osiris. Tem hath built thy house, and the double Lion-god hath founded thy habitation; (131) lo! drugs are brought, and Horus purifieth and Set strengtheneth, and Set purifieth and Horus strength- eneth. (182)
“The Osiris, the scribe Ani, victorious before Osiris, “hath come into the land, and he hath taken possession “thereof with his two feet. He is Tem, and he is in “thy city.”
! A chamber where tortures are inflicted on the enemies of Ra,
110 REHU AND UATCHIT [Chap. xvii. 133
(133) “Turn thou back, O Rehu, whose mouth “shineth, whose head moveth, turn thou back from ‘before his strength,” or (as others say), “Turn thou
Temu in his boat. Rehu and Uatchit.
“back from him who keepeth (134) watch and is un- “seen.” The Osiris Ani is safely guarded. He is “Tsis, and he is found (135) with [her] hair spread over “him, I shake it out over his brow. He was conceived ‘in Isis and begotten (136) in Nephthys; and they eut ‘off from him the things which should be cut off.” “Fear followeth after thee, terror is upon (137) thine “arms. Thou hast been embraced for millions of years ‘by the arms [of the nations]; mortals go round about “thee. Thou smitest down the mediators (158) of thy “foes, and thou seizest the arms of the powers of dark- “ness, The two sisters (7., Isis and Nephthys) are “oiven to thee for thy delight. (139) Thou hast “created that which is in Kher-a’ha and that which is “in Annu (Heliopolis). Every god feareth thee, for “thou art exceeding great and terrible: thou [avengest| “every (140) god on the man that curseth him, and thou ‘“‘shootest out arrows,.... Thou livest according to
Chap. xvii. 145 ] ISIS AND HER HAIR 1 iO
“thy will; thou art Uatchit, the Lady of Flame. “ Hvil cometh (141) among those who set themselves up “against thee.”
What then is this?
“Hidden in form, granted of (142) Menhu,” is the name of the tomb. ‘ He seeth what is on his hand” is the name of Qerau; or (as others say), (143) the name of the block.
Now he whose mouth shineth and whose head moveth is the member of Osiris, or (as others say) (144) of Ra. “Thou spreadest thy hair and I shake it out over his brow” is spoken concerning Isis, who hideth in her hair (145) and draweth her hair over her. , Uatchit, the Lady of Flames, is the eye of Ra.
II2 THE SPEECH OF AN-MAUT-F