Apep, known as Aapep, Apepi, or Apophis, is recognized as the ancient Egyptian embodiment of malevolence, darkness, and destruction. He stands as the primary adversary of Ra, the sun god, and represents an unending threat that can never be fully eradicated. Each night, he would unleash his powerful roar, attacking as the sun journeyed through the underworld.
Origins and Historical Context
While Apep is considered to have existed since ancient times, he is first explicitly referenced in texts from the Middle Kingdom. Some scholars suggest that he emerged from the tumult and uncertainty that followed the Old Kingdom’s downfall. There is also debate regarding whether the First Intermediate period was genuinely a dark age, with some connections made to large serpentine imagery found in Predynastic pottery that may signify his presence.
In early Egyptian literature, various serpent deities or demonic figures symbolize chaos or evil, but the detailed mythology surrounding Apep crystallized primarily during the New Kingdom, especially in texts pertaining to the afterlife, like the Duat (or Amduat). In later Roman times, Apep was sometimes called “he who was spat out,” a lineage traced back to Neith, the goddess from whom he was said to have sprung.
Myths of Conflict
Numerous myths portray Apep as a treacherous adversary capable of hypnotizing Ra and his companions, with the exception of Set, who fiercely defends against him using a formidable spear. In some stories, Apep would ensnare Ra’s solar vessel in his extensive coils or initiate floods in the underworld to overpower him. Notably, Apep’s chaotic essence sometimes aligned him with Set, forming a formidable coalition of deities, including Isis, Neith, Serqet (Selket), Geb, Aker, and a host of other gods, often personified as monkeys. Even departed souls, sometimes represented as Shu, would take up arms against Apep to uphold Ma’at, the principle of order. If Apep succeeded in swallowing Ra, the cosmic order would be threatened unless a way was found for Ra to escape through incision.
Much like Set, Apep was also associated with disruptive natural phenomena, including unexpected darkness during eclipses, tumultuous storms, and earthquakes. Both deities were linked to the cold and perilous northern sky and occasionally connected to Taweret, a demon-goddess. However, Apep’s nature was inherently evil, making him impossible to negotiate with.
Iconography and Representation
Apep was frequently depicted as a vast serpent, his tightly coiled shape reinforcing the impression of his enormous size. Funerary texts often illustrate his dismemberment. A notable representation in the tomb of Ramesses VI shows twelve serpent heads above, symbolizing the souls consumed by Apep, which are freed momentarily when he is destroyed before being re-imprisoned at night’s end. In other artistic renditions found in private tombs, deities such as Hathor or Ra metamorphose into cats, driving daggers into the great serpent. Additionally, Apep’s presence was suggested by the emblematic “evil eye,” often portrayed struck by the pharaoh in temple iconography.
Referred to by numerous titles such as “the evil lizard,” “the encircler of the world,” “the enemy,” and “the serpent of rebirth,” Apep was not the object of worship but rather a figure of dread. He was arguably the sole deity, alongside The Aten during the Amarna period, viewed as omnipotent. Remarkably, he required no sustenance and was thought incapable of complete destruction; he could only be temporarily subdued.
Rituals of Defiance
Apep commanded a legion of demons that threatened both the living and deceased. To counteract his evil, a ritual known as “Banishing Apep” was performed annually by Ra’s priests. This involved taking an effigy of Apep into the temple, infusing it with the region’s accumulated malevolence, followed by a series of actions including beating, crushing, muddying, and burning it. Additional practices included crafting a wax Apep model for ritual dismemberment, alongside the incineration of papyrus depicting the serpent. The “Book of Apophis” is a compilation of magical incantations from the New Kingdom intended to restrain or repel Apep’s malicious influence.
Although Apep was universally hated and feared, two rulers from the Hyksos adopted his name, albeit with a slight variation in spelling.
