Overthrowing Apep
Set was at one point a very powerful and neutral, if not benevolent, Egyptian god. It wasn’t until political tension occurred that he began to be demonized, and despised by the other gods and goddesses in the Egyptian hierarchy. This is a fundamental difference in the two deities, Set and Apep; while Set’s cult and worshipers might have decreased in number, quite a few endured despite his new negative demeanor during the New Kingdom era in Egypt. Apep, on the other hand, never actually had a cult following or official group of worshipers. Apep was not so much followed, as warned against, and spiritually fought.
The duty of many priests and priestesses in Egypt was to pray, and participate in several rituals which were believed to aid Ra in his battle with Apep each night. Every day when the sun rose once more, each prayer and lengthy ritual was immediately vindicated, and believed to have been successful. The methods of worshiping against Apophis, or Apep, are listened in a detail and specific manner by Egyptian priests, in a manuscript titled “The Book of Apophis”. Its chapters are ways to battle, dismember, and finally dospose of Apep’s bloody remains. Listed below, they are:
Spitting Upon Apep
Defiling Apep with the Left Foot
Taking a Lance to Smite Apep
Fettering Apep
Taking a Knife to Smite Apep
Laying Fire Upon Apep
The book contained specific instructions on making figurines of Apep’s countenance, in order to spit, smash, or dismember his spirit, or physical self. During the mutilation of Apep, priests would chant prayers and spells to strengthen, and assist the god Ra in his battles. Apep was also believed to eat the souls that lived in the underworld; so the book also contained spells to protect the dead while they were wandering in the underworld.
