Part 44 (1/2)

Let it be seen or heard by no one, excepting by the princ.i.p.al _Khereb-heb_(585) and the _Sam_.(586) Two women, beautiful in their members, having been introduced, are made to sit down on the ground at the princ.i.p.al door of the Great Hall.(587) (Then) the names of Isis and Nephthys are inscribed on their shoulders.

Crystal vases (full) of water are placed in their right hands; loaves of bread made in Memphis in their left hands.

Let them pay attention to the things done at the third hour of the day, and also at the eighth hour of the day.

Cease not to recite this book at the hour of the ceremony!

It is finished.

The Litany Of Ra

Translated by Edouard Naville

The following Litany of Ra is the translation of a long text which is to be found at the entrance of several of the largest tombs of the kings, in the valley called Biban el Moluk at Thebes. It is a kind of introduction to the long pictures which adorn the walls of the royal sepulchres, and which generally represent the course of the sun at the different hours of night.

Although very nearly connected with the ”Book of the Dead,” this text has not yet been found complete in any funereal papyrus; the second section of the fourth chapter only is contained in a papyrus of the British Museum.

The importance of this text consists in this, that it gives us an idea of the esoteric doctrine of the Egyptian priests, which was clearly pantheistic, and which certainly differed from the polytheistic wors.h.i.+p of the common people.

The present translation has been made from the book ”_La Litanie du Soleil_” (Leipzig, 1875, _avec un vol. de XLIX planches_), where this text has been first translated in French, with a commentary. Among the different tombs where this inscription was collected, that of Seti I, commonly called Belzoni's tomb, has been chosen as the standard text.

THE LITANY OF RA

CHAPTER I

_t.i.tle._ The beginning of the book of the wors.h.i.+p of Ra in the Ament(588) of the wors.h.i.+p of Temt(589) in the Ament. When anyone reads this book, the porcelain figures are placed upon the ground, at the hour of the setting of the Sun, that is of the triumph of Ra over his enemies in the Ament. Whoso is intelligent upon the earth, he is intelligent also after his death.

1 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, the master of the hidden spheres who causes the principles to arise, who dwells in darkness, who is born as(590) the all-surrounding universe.

2 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, the beetle that folds his wings, that rests in the empyrean, that is born as his own son.

3 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, Tonen(591) who produces his members,(592) who fas.h.i.+ons what is in him, who is born within his sphere.

4 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, he who discloses the earth and lights the Ament, he whose principle has (become) his manifestation, and who is born under the form of the G.o.d with the large disk.

5 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, the soul that speaks, that rests upon her high place, that creates the hidden intellects which are developed in her.

6 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, the only one, the courageous one, who fas.h.i.+ons his body, he who calls his G.o.ds (to life), when he arrives in his hidden sphere.

7 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, he who addresses his eye, and who speaks to his head,(593) he who imparts the breath of life to the souls (that are) in their place; they receive it and develop.

8 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, the spirit that walks, that destroys its enemies, that sends pain to the rebels.

9 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, he who s.h.i.+nes when he is in his sphere, who sends his darkness into his sphere, and who hides what it contains.

10 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, he who lights the bodies which are on the horizon, he who enters his sphere.

11 Homage to thee, Ra! Supreme power, he who descends into the spheres of Ament, his form is that of Tum.