Aker, also referred to as Akeru, stands out as one of the earliest deities in ancient Egypt, predating many other earth gods such as Geb. He served as a personification of the horizon and held a vital role as the protector of the eastern and western horizons in the afterlife. Aker was responsible for opening the gates of the earth, enabling the king to transition into the Amduat, or Underworld.
Portrayed as the horizon, Aker was emblematic of the transition between day and night, initially illustrated as a slim stretch of land flanked by lion heads that faced away from each other, a representation of boundaries. Over time, these heads evolved into complete lion figures, with one symbolizing the past and the other the future. An epithet of Aker was “He who looks both forward and behind.” The hieroglyph for horizon often appeared between the lions, depicted as the sun’s disc positioned atop two mountains. In later representations, Aker was sometimes illustrated as two intertwined sphinx-like torsos topped with human heads.
Aker’s role as the guardian of the transition from night to day extended to his duty in the underworld, where he would open the gates for Re’s sun barque to travel at dusk and dawn. The spirits of the deceased needed to appeal to Aker to gain passage into the underworld. It was also believed that Aker had the power to cleanse the dead of any harmful substances, ensuring they remained healthy in their afterlife journey. His more prominent responsibility was to contain the celestial serpent Apophis, whose destruction was orchestrated by the goddess Aset. As Apophis assailed Re’s sun barque each night, it was the combined efforts of the Gods and those deemed just that helped to vanquish the serpent. Aker provided safe transit for Re’s vessel as it navigated the night sky from west to east.
The Egyptians perceived divinity in the natural world, leading to concerns regarding eclipses and overcast days. These phenomena were interpreted as difficulties that Re faced while maneuvering his sun barque back into the sky, often attributed to the regenerative capabilities of Apophis. During the New Kingdom, texts emerged, like The Book of Overthrowing Apophis, which were based on ancient oral stories. According to Egyptologist Geraldine Pinch, these texts called upon some of the most fearsome deities within the Egyptian pantheon to address the chaos represented by Apophis, aiming to obliterate all manifestations of him, including his body, name, shadow, and magic. Priests reenacted this eternal battle by creating models or drawings of Apophis, which were then cursed and destroyed through various means like stabbing, trampling, and burning.
The belief that Aker guarded the morning and evening gates led to the custom of placing twin lion statues at the entrances of Egyptian palaces and tombs. These statues served as protectors from malevolent spirits and were later adopted by the Greeks and Romans. The practice endures today, with twin lions commonly positioned at the entrance of prestigious buildings. Lion statues carry varied significances based on their locations; for instance, the renowned marble lions at the New York Public Library are named Patience and Fortitude. In Buddhist culture, lion sculptures are seen as symbols of peace and prosperity, while in Europe, they are often associated with power and prestige. Although Aker lacked dedicated temples due to his strong association with ancient earth powers, his guardian lions are now found in various forms around the globe.
