Lecture: The Egyptian Underworld Part 3

Divisions of the Ṭuat

According to the Book of Pylons the Ṭuat is a long, narrow valley, with sandy slopes, and is divided into two equal strips by the river on which the boat of the sun sails ; it is made to contain twelve nomes or divisions, which correspond to the twelve hours of the night.

First Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The First Hour of the Night.

In the First Division, i.e., the First Hour, we have the Mountain of the West,, divided into two portions, and along its lowest part is a path which forms the entrance from this world to the Ṭuat. On the right-hand side is a jackal-headed standard, , and on the left a ram-headed standard,; each of these is adored by the god of the mountain, Set,, and the god of the Ṭuat,.

On the right are the twelve gods of the mountain, and on the left the twelve gods of Set-Ȧmentet, . In the centre is the boat of the sun, and we see in it a disk containing a beetle ; the disk is encircled by a huge serpent in folds, which holds its tail in its mouth. In the bows of the boat stands the god Sa,, and in the stern, Ḥeka, , the god of magical words.

Second Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Second Hour of the Night.

The boat, having moved on, approaches a pylon with closed doors, guarded by a huge serpent which stands on his tail and bears the name Saa-Set,. This pylon forms the entrance to the Second Division, or Second Hour, and when the god has passed through it “those who dwell in their Set,, cry out.”

On the right are twenty-four human forms, which represent those who praised Rā upon earth,, and who directed their words of power against the archfiend Apep,. In the centre is the boat of the sun, in which the god stands in a shrine ; he is ram-headed, and holds in his hand a sceptre.

The shrine is protected by the serpent Mehen,, and a serpent stands upright on its tail before him ; the boat is being towed along by four beings of the Ṭuat, , and is met by the seven gods called

1. Nepmeḥ, ,
2. Nenḥā, ,
3. Ba (?),
4. Horus,
5. Uā-ȧb, ,
6. Khnemu,
7. and Setchet, ,

and by six gods of the āqet,, and a god with a staff.

On the left hand of the divine boat are :—

1. The god Tem, leaning on a staff,,
2. four dead men lying on their backs, and twenty men standing with their arms tied together behind their backs.

These last are, according to M. Lefebure’s rendering of the text,

“the criminals in Rā’s great hall (the world), those who have insulted Rā on the earth, those who have cursed that which is in the Egg, those who have frustrated justice, those who have uttered blasphemies against Khuti.”

The pylon which the god now approaches is quite different from the first, but it resembles all the others which have to be passed through. The opening is protected like a fortress by some advanced work, and through the wall is an entrance to a corridor which runs between two walls crowned with a series of spear heads.

This corridor bends at right angles, and in each angle is a uraeus, from the mouth of which drop balls of fire that fill the whole length of it; at each end of the corridor is a god in the form of a mummy,

• one is called Ȧm-āua-qāḥ-f, ,
• and the other, Sekhabsenfunen, .

The pylon itself is called Sepṭet-uauau, , and the name of the snake which guards it and stands upon its tail is Aqebi, . The entrance to the pylon is also protected by nine gods, in mummied form, who represent the “Second Company” of the gods, .

Third Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Third Hour of the Night

The door of the pylon is opened towards the Third Division of the Ṭuat, or the Third Hour. The gate is called Sepṭet uauau setet-sen-Rā, . On the right hand of the boat of the god are twelve holy gods of the Ṭuat, each in his shrine, with the doors open, and twelve gods of the lakes of fire ; a huge snake lies along the tops of all the shrines, and before each god of the basins of fire is an ear of corn.

On the left hand are:—

1. The god Tem ;
2. the serpent Āpep ;
3. the nine gods who are called the “chiefs who drive back Āpepi,” ; and
4. Tem and the nine gods of things, .

The boat of the sun is towed through this division by eight gods of the Ṭuat, and the middle of the rope is fastened to a long pole or beam, each end of which terminates in the head of a bull. This pole is supported by eight gods in mummied form, and upon it are seated seven gods; in front and behind these stands a bull, and at the end of the division stand four shrouded mummy forms.

The gods who are on the left hand of the boat of the sun, and are under the direction of Tem, form two companies, whose special duty it was to carry out the commands of this god in respect of the slaughter of the arch-fiend Ȧpepi.

This monster was first of all to be enchanted by the incantations which were recited over him, and then his head was to be cut off, and his body to be hacked in pieces at the joints. As the god passes out of the Third Division and the door closes, all the beings who are fated to remain in it lift up their voices and weep.

Fourth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Fourth Hour of the Night:

The pylon of the Fourth Division or Fourth Hour is called Nebt-s-tchefau,, and the name of the serpent which guards it and stands upon its tail is tcheṭbi,; the gods in mummied forms who stand one at the beginning and one at the end of the corridor are called Nenuerbesta,, and Seṭa-ta,, respectively. The nine gods who guard the wall are the “the third company of the great god,” .

On the right side of the boat of the god are twelve gods, who are described as the “bringers of their doubles,” , and twelve jackal-headed figures, who are walking on the Lake of Life, and ten uraei, who rise out of the Lake of uraei ; to all these the Sun-god addresses words of comfort, and they respond suitably.

The uraei, who are called “those who live,” , are ordered to preserve their fames and fire for use against the enemies of Rā, and they answer the god, saying,

“Come to us, unite thyself to Tanen,”

.

On the left side of the boat of the god is Horus the Aged, who follows eleven human forms as they march behind the uraeus called Flame,, to a shrine in which the god Osiris, wearing the crown of the South, stands upon a serpent. Behind Osiris are the twelve gods, “who are behind the shrine,” and four gods, who preside over pits in the earth, and the “prince of destruction,” who holds a sceptre in his left hand andin his right.

In the middle is the boat of the sun being towed along the river of the Ṭuat by four gods as usual, and it is made to approach a long low sepulchral building in which are nine chapels, each containing a mummied god lying flat on his back; these are called

“the gods who are in the train of Osiris in their caves,”

.

At the end of this building are two groups, each containing six women, who are the personifications of the twelve hours in the Ṭuat; between them is the serpent Ḥerert,, with multitudinous coils and windings, and he is said to give birth to twelve young ones to devour the hours. In this division, as in the others, Rā addresses the beings who are in it, and makes arrangements for their supply of food, and reminds them of their duties to him their creator.

Fifth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Fifth Hour of the Night.

The pylon of the Fifth Division or Fifth Hour is called Ȧrit,, and the serpent who guards it bears the name of Teka-ḥrȧ,; the jackal-headed mummy at one end of the conidor is Āau,, and he at the other is Tekemi, . Along the front of the wall are nine gods in mummied forms who represent the fourth company of the gods.

On the right hand of the boat of the god are :—

1. The twelve worshippers in the Ṭuat;
2. Twelve bearers of cord,; and
3. Four gods with sceptres.

These beings are said to be those who knew Rā upon earth, and who made offerings to him, and in return for this Rā awarded them meat and drink in the most holy place in Ȧmentet, and said to them,

“I am satisfied with what you did for me, whether I was shining in the Eastern heaven, or whether I was in the temple,, of my eye.”

Therefore they feed upon the food which Rā eats, and offerings are made to them upon earth on account of the praise which they ascribe to Rā in Ȧmenti. The beings who carry the cords are supposed to measure the “fields of the spirits,”, and their cords are supposed to represent the cord of law, i.e.,  the measuring cord by which law and justice are represented, and “Rā says to them, Their law is the cord in Ȧmentet,” . On the left side of the boat of the sun are:—

1. Horus the Elder leaning upon a stick ;
2. Sixteen men, four of whom are, i.e., Egyptians, four are Āamu,, four are Negroes,, and four are Libyans,;
3. Twelve men, called “those who bear ladders (?) in Ȧment,, and who are holding a long serpent; and
4. Eight divine sovereign chiefs in Ȧment.

To these four classes of men, whom Horus describes as being in the Ṭuat of Egypt and the Red Land,, it is said by the god, “Ye are the tears from my Eye,”, “in your name of ‘men,’”. He then tells the Āamu, , and the Negroes and the Libyans that he has created them, and that it is the goddess Sekhet,, who redeems · their souls,.

Finally, the god addresses those who hold the ladder (?), and bids them take measurements of the souls that are appointed for destruction, and destroy the souls that have to be destroyed ; in the hands of these beings was the power of determining the length of the period which had to be passed by souls in Ȧmentet, and it is undoubtedly passages like these which have given rise to the idea that the Egyptians believed in purgatory.

In the centre of this Division the boat of the sun is being drawn along by four gods belonging to it as before. Before these are nine gods with projecting elbows and covered shoulders called “holders of Ennutchi,” ; they are joined together by a rope; these gods follow twelve men who are described as the “ souls of the men who are in the Ṭuat,” and both groups of beings proceed towards a god who holds a sceptre, and is called Ḥer-qenbet-f,. The duty of this god was to call the souls of the righteous and put them in their dwellings, by the corner of those who lived near him. Rā addresses the gods who tow his boat aloŋg, and bids them to pull with vigour, and to be strong of arm and firm of limb, and swift of foot, and bold of soul to make a prosperous way for him to the hidden circles,.

Next he addresses the figures with draped shoulders who bear the serpent Ennutchi, and bids them to draw him along; and then praises those who have spoken truth, , upon earth, and have magnified the forms of God,, and decrees for them cakes for their souls, wind for their nostrils, green herbs from Sekhet-Ȧaru, and a place among the gods of right and truth,, in the corner of the abode of Rā where the companions of the god pass sentences of doom. The doctrine here preached is essentially that of Osiris, and there is no wonder that the Book of Pylons was not popular with the priests of Ȧmen.

Sixth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Sixth  Hour of the Night.

The name of the pylon of the Sixth Division (TODO: NOTE) or the Sixth Hour is Nebt-āḥa, , the guardian at the entrance to the corridor is Maā-ȧb,, “Right of heart,” and he who is at the end is Sheta-ȧb, , “Secret Heart.” The wall is guarded by twelve gods in mummied forms, who are called “the gods and  “goddesses who are in this Pylon,”.

Behind the wall is a chamber, the wall of which has upon it a row of spear heads, and inside we see the god Osiris seated upon the top of a flight of nine steps, on each of which stands a god ; thus the whole company of the gods of Osiris are here represented. Osiris wears a double crown,, and holds in his hands the sceptre,, and the emblem of “life.”

Before him stands a mummied figure who forms the pillar of a pair of scales, and who may be regarded as the personification of the Great Balance with which we are familiar in the Judgment Scene as depicted in papyri. In the pan of the scales is the bird of evil,. Near the scales is a boat in which are an ape and a pig ; the ape is urging the pig along with a stick. In the upper part of the scene are the heads of four oryxes and a figure of the god Anubis.

The difficult texts which accompany this scene tell us that the

“enemies of Osiris are beneath his feet, the gods and the spirits are before him ; he is the foe of the damned, he repulses the enemies, and he destroys them, and effects their slaughter.

The bearer of the hatchet, and the supporter of the scales protect him who is in Ȧmenti, who resteth in the Ṭuat, and who passeth through darkness and shadow.

Above is Joy, and below are Right and Truth (). The god resteth and giveth forth the light of Maāt which he hath made.”

The ape in the boat is said to hand over the pig to punishment “when the god riseth,” and Anubis says,

“O ye who bring words true or false to me [remember] that it is Thoth who weigheth them.”

Concerning Osiris we read,

“When the weighing of words taketh place he smiteth evil; he hath a right heart, and he holdeth the words in the Scales in the holy place wherein the trial of the secret things of the secrets of the spirits taketh place. It is the god who riseth who hath made all the beings who are in the Ṭuat.”

The text which relates to the four inverted heads of oryxes is not clear in its meaning, but it says that their dwelling-place is the Ȧmeḥet, a district in the Elysian Fields, and that they hide or protect the spirits. We must note in passing the position of the Sixth Division of the Ṭuat. Assuming that the Ṭuat was regarded as a nearly circular valley which curved round from the West, where the sun set, to the North, and curved round from the North to the East, where the sun rose, it follows if all the twelve divisions of the Ṭuat be equal in length, that the Sixth Division would be very near the most northerly part of the Ṭuat.

And this is exactly where it was intended to be, for the most northerly part of the Ṭuat would include the greater part of the Delta, where the principal shrines of Osiris, i.e., Mendes and Busiris, were situated, and it was only right to make the position of the kingdom of Osiris on earth to correspond with that of his domain in the Ṭuat.

Unlike the other divisions of the Ṭuat, the Sixth Division contains no representation of the god Rā, and the texts belonging to it do not even mention his name ; the Book of Pylons made Osiris absolutely supreme in his own dominions, and the exclusion of Rā, or Ȧmen-Rā, from them was clearly the cause which made the work unpopular with all the worshippers of the great god of Thebes.

The position of Osiris on the top of a flight of steps explains the allusions to the “god who is on his staircase” in the Book of the Dead, and it proves that it is this god who is represented on the wooden plaque of Semti, and before whom the king is dancing. The Sun-god Rā, having arrived at the north of the Ṭuat, must now make his way towards the East.

Seventh Division of the Ṭuat

The serpent who guards the pylon of the Seventh Division or the Seventh Hour is called Ākhan-maati,, and the guardian at the end of the corridor is called Shepi,; but the mutilated state of the scene renders it impossible to give the name of the pylon or of the guardian of the entrance to the corridor.

On the right side of the boat of the god are a number of beings bearing a rope, which is usually made to resemble a serpent, and on the left side are :—

1. A god bending over a staff; his name is Men-sheta,, “Stablisher of what is secret.”
2. A number of mummied forms extended on couches, who are described as the “mighty spirits.”

These beings are commanded by Rā to uncover themselves and to drive away darkness. In the centre is the boat of the Sun-god being towed along, presumably by four gods of the Ṭuat as before. Marching in front of those who tow the boat are twelve gods with sceptres, and four mummied forms who cry out to the inhabitants of this Division of the Ṭuat to praise Rā, for he will weigh words and will destroy their enemy.

Eighth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Eighth Hour of the Night.

The pylon of the Eighth Division or the Eighth Hour is called Bekhkhi, , and the name of the snake-god, its guardian, is Set-ḥrȧ, ; the guardian of the entrance to the corridor is called Benen, , and the guardian at its end is Ḥept-ta, . The wall is protected by nine gods in mummied forms, .

On the right side of the boat of the god are :—

1. Twelve beings in human form, who are described as the “sovereign chiefs who give bread, Maāt, and green herbs to “the souls of Ta-neserser,”.
2. Nine souls, in the form of bearded human-headed hawks, with their hands raised in adoration ; these are the “souls of Ta-neserser,” which are fed with bread and green herbs by the command of the god Rā.

On the left hand side of the boat of Rā are :—

1. Horus leaning on a staff.
2. Twelve men, who represent the enemies of Osiris that have been burnt in the fire, with their arms tied together behind their backs, each group of four in a different way.

Opposite the first of these is a huge serpent called Kheti,, which belches forth a stream of fire into his face ; on the back of the serpent stand seven gods.

The twelve beings are those on whom punishment has been inflicted by Horus at the command of Rā, who has decreed the death both of their bodies and of their souls because of what they did against Osiris, whose mysteries they despised, and whose image they tore from the sanctuary. The serpent Kheti, which is commanded by Horus to consume the foes of his father Osiris, is adjured to burn up both the souls and the bodies of these wicked ones.

In the centre of this division are:—

1. The boat of the sun being towed by four gods as before.
2. “The dweller in Nu” leaning on a staff.
3. A rectangular lake in which are sixteen men, four of whom bathe, , four float, , four swim, , and four dive, .

The gods who tow the boat say,

“Let there be praise to the soul of Rā in heaven, and adoration to his body upon earth; for heaven is made new by his soul, and earth is made new by his body. Hail!

We open for thee heaven, we make straight for thee the ways of Ȧḳert. Rest thyself, O Rā, upon thy hidden things ; the hidden ones are adored in thy forms.”

He who dwelleth in Nu also addresses those who are in the lake.

Ninth Division of the Ṭuat

The Ninth Hour of the Night

The pylon of the Ninth Division or Ninth Hour, is called Āāt-shefsheft, ; the serpent which guards it is Āb-ta, ; and the guardians of the corridor are Ānḥefta, , and Ermen-ta, . The wall is guarded by nine gods in mummied forms, .

On the right hand side of the boat of the Sun-god are:—

1. Four gods of the South,, each wearing the white crown, and grasping a rope which is also held by a man who is called “the master of the front,”, between the man and these four gods is a pillar surmounted by a bearded head, with a white crown on it, which is being raised by means of the rope.
2. A liawk-headed sphinx with the white crown on his head, and a bearded head, with a white crown on it, resting on his hind quarters. Standing on his back is a human figure which is surmounted by the heads of Horus and Set.
3. Four gods of the North,, each wearing the red crown, and grasping a rope which is also held by a man who is called “the master of the back,”; between the man and these four gods is a pillar, surmounted by a bearded head with a red crown on it, which is being raised by means of the rope.
4. A personage called Ȧpu,, holding the serpent Shemti,, which has four heads at each end of his body.
5. A personage holding the serpent Bȧth,, with a head at each end of his body; on his back stands a serpent which is called Ṭepi,, and which is provided at each end of his body with four human heads, breasts, and arms, and four pairs of human legs.
6. Two men holding a rope (?).

On the left hand of the boat of the god are:—

Sixteen human forms which represent the

1. souls of Amentet,
2. the followers of Thoth,
3. the followers of Horus,
4. the followers of Osiris ;

the first four have the heads of men,
the second four the heads of ibises,
the third four the heads of hawks,
and the fourth four the heads of rams.

These sixteen beings draw a rope to which is attached a double serpent with four heads, two at each end of his body, and one pair of legs at each end which support the larger serpent. The serpent is called Khepri,, and on one of his folds is perched the hawk Ḥeru-ṭuati,. At the other end of the rope are eight human forms called Ȧkhmiu, . In the centre of this Division the boat of the god is being towed along as before.

Before him march :—

1. Six human forms, four apes, and four women, each holding a rope (?); and
2. Three men holding a rope Avhich is thrown over the head and held in the hands by a prostrate man who has the ears of an ass, and who is called Ȧai,, i.e., “Ass.”

Each man holds a pike which he is about to drive into the prostrate body.

In front of the man are :—

1. The serpent Āpep, and
2. The crocodile, with a tail which terminates in a serpent’s head, called Shesshes,.

The beings here described are those who work magic for Rā on the arch-fiend Āpep, and they bid him come to the place of slaughter that he may be slain ; they say,

“the slaughtering places are against thee, and the Ȧai gods are against thee,”

.

The three beings with pikes drive their weapons into Āpep, and destroy utterly the serpent Sesi,; and they keep fast hold of the rope of Ai,, and do not let that serpent rise up towards the boat of the god.

Tenth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Tenth Hour of the Night.

The pylon of the Tenth Division or the Tenth Hour is called Tcheserit,; the serpent-god who guards it is Sethu, ; and the guardians of the corridor are Nemi, , and Kefi, . The wall is guarded by sixteen uraei.

On the right hand of the boat of the god are:—

1. Four beings, each holding a knife and a rope (?).
2. Four beings, similarly armed, but each having four serpents’ heads; these are called Ȧntiu, , and Ḥentiu, , respectively.
3. The serpent Āpep, “whose voice goeth round about in the Ṭuat,” held by a chain which is grasped by four beings, Sṭefiu,, and twelve gods, and a mighty hand called the “hidden body,” .

On the chain, near Āpep’s head, is stretched out the scorpion-goddess Serqet.

Behind the hand, and growing out of the chain are :—

1. Seb, , who grasps a small chain to which is attached the serpent Uamemti, .
2. Mest, , Ḥāpi, , Ṭuamutef, , and Qebḥsennuf, .

At the end stands Khenti-Ȧmenti, or Osiris. The beings on this side of the Ṭuat are engaged in destroying Āpep and the foes of the sun-god so that they may not attack the boat of the sun when it comes to a narrow passage.

On the left hand side of the boat of Rā are:—

1. The twelve Ȧkhmu-seku gods,, holding paddles.
2. Twelve women, who represent the hours.
3. Four gods with sceptres, Bānt,, Seshshȧ, ,  Ka-Ȧment, , and Renen-sebu,.
4. A monkey on a standard, , with a star over his head, described as the “god of Rethenu” (Syria),.
5. An eye (utchat) on a standard,.
6. A god with a sceptre.

Along the middle of this division the boat of the god is towed as usual by four gods.

Before it are:—

1. The star god Unti, .
2. Four deities, Sekhet, Ābesh, , Serq, , and Horus.
3. Three star gods, who tow a small boat in which are the “face of the disk,” , and a uraeus.
4. A winged uraeus called Semi, , standing upon its tail.
5. A god called Besi, , pouring flame upon a standard surmounted by the head of a horned animal.
6. A serpent caled Ānkhi, , with a bearded god in mummied form growing out from each side of its body.
7. Four women, with hands raised in adoration, who are called “the adorers,” .
8. The double god Horus-Set, with two heads and two pairs of arms and hands on one body, standing upon a platform which rests on two bows; from each end of the platform spring three uraei.

All these beings are supposed to be employed in helping Rā to continue his course through the Tenth Division, and to make his way to the region of the sunrise ; it is evident that most of them are personifications of the stars which herald the approach of the dawn.

Eleventh Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Eleventh Hour of the Night.

The pylon of the Eleventh Division or the Eleventh Hour is called Shetat-besu,, and the serpent which guards it is called Ȧm-net-f,; the guardians of the corridor are Meṭes,, and Sheṭāu,. Before the wall are two large sceptres surmounted by the white crown ; one of these is called Sar,, i.e., Osiris, and the other Horus.

On the right hand of the boat of Rā are:—

1. Four gods, called “bearers of light,” , holding disks on their right hands.
2. Four gods, called “bearers of stars,” , holding stars in their right hands.
3. Four gods “who go out,” .
4. The gods Ba, , Khnemu, , Penṭer, , and Ṭenṭ, , ram-headed.
5. Four gods, Horus, Horus-Sepṭ, Sepṭ, and “he who is in his double boat,” , hawk headed.
6. Eight women, the Hours, seated on coiled up serpents and each holding a star in her hand ; these are the “protecting hours,” .
7. The god Sebek-Rā, crocodile-headed.

All these are personifications of stars which bear along the boat of Rā towards the day-break, for they wish to see it floating once more on the bosom of Nut, ; and when

“the arms of the sky-god Nu receive Rā they shout praises with the stars which they carry, and go to him in the heights of heaven in the bosom of Nut.”

In connexion with the idea of the stars praising Rā at sunrise we may note its similarity to that expressed in Job xxxviii. 7,

“When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”

On the left of the boat of Rā are:—

1. Four beings, Sethuniu-ṭep,, wearing white crowns.
2. Four bearded gods called Ȧkebiu, i.e., “wailers,” .
3. Four beings, Khnemiu,, wearing red crowns.
4. Four bearded gods called Renniu,.
5. Twelve goddesses, the female counterparts of the first three groups of gods.
6. Four gods, with bowed bodies, and
7. The cat-headed goddess Mȧti,.

These beings were supposed to place white crowns on the heads of the gods in the train of Rā, and though their souls rose up, they were never able to leave this Division of the Ṭuat or pass out of the pylon. Their duty was to weep for Osiris after Rā had passed out of Ȧment, and to be with him, as far as their souls were concerned, but their bodies had to stay in their places ; they also had to raise up Maāt and to stablish it in the shrine of Rā.

It was they who

“fixed the period of the years which those who were decreed for the Ṭuat should pass there, and the period of those who were to live in heaven;”

but they

“tore their hair in grief before the great god in Ȧmentet, for although they drove away Set from the pylon they themselves were not allowed to enter into the heights of heaven.” 

In the centre of this division we have the boat of Rā being drawn along by four of its gods as usual. Preceding these are :—

1. A group of nine gods, each of whom holds a knife,, in the right hand, and a sceptre,, in the left; the first four are jackal-headed. They are described as the “nine gods who annihilate Āpep,”.
2. The serpent Āpep chained to the earth by five chains which are called the “gods who produce winds,”.
3. Four apes,, each holding before him a large hand.
4. The god of Ȧmenti,, wearing the crown of the South.
5. The goddess of the North, Ḥerit (?),, wearing the crown of the North.
6. The god Sebekhti,.

These gods of the Ṭuat say,

“[This is] the exit from Ament, and the place for rest in the two divisions of Nu, and [the god] maketh his transformations in the hands of Nu. This god doth not enter heaven () , but he openeth the Ṭuat upwards in his transformations [which take place] in Nu.

What openeth the Ṭuat into heaven are the two hands of the god whose name is hidden,  . He existeth in the darkness which is a solid thing,  , and Rā cometh forth [in] it from the night,  .

Those who are in this portion take their knives in their hands, and grasp their weapons, and smite Āpep, and effect his slaughter, and smash his joints which are in heaven. The chains of this fiend are in the hands of the children of Horus, they advance to the god with their fetters in their fingers.

The god counteth his members after the hidden one hath opened his [arms] to the Eye of Horus. The Worm () who is in this scene is fettered by the children of Horus.”

The other of gods

“acclaim Kā in the Eastern horizon of heaven, and the four apes guide him who created them, two on the right hand, and two on the left, to the double ȧtert () of this god.”

Twelfth Division of the Ṭuat

image right: The Twelfth Hour of the Night.

The pylon of the Twelfth Division or Twelfth Hour is called Ṭesert-baiu,, i.e., “Red-Souls,” and its serpent god is Sebi,; the two guardians of the corridor are Pai, , and Ȧkhekhi, . In front of the wall are two poles, each of which is surmounted by a bearded head; on one head is the disk of the god Tem, and on the other the beetle of the god Kheperȧ, i.e., two forms of the Sun-god.

Close to the pylon “Red-Souls” was the pylon of the serpent god Reri, , each side of which was guarded by the two uraei of Isis and Nephthys, one on each side.

When Rā had passed through these doors he emerged triumphantly from the Ṭuat, and his boat floated on the waters of Nu, i.e., in the sky. In the scene in which this is depicted we see the boat containing the beetle of Kheperȧ and the disk of Rā, with the five gods Seb, Shu, Ḥek (for Ḥeka), Ḥu, and Sa, and the two goddesses Isis and Nephthys, and three gods of pylons. The god Nu, , is seen holding up the boat with his hands, which “come forth from the water, and bear up this god.”

A little distance away from the boat is a sort of island which is formed by Osiris, the body of the god being bent round in such a way as to cause the tips of his toes to touch the back of his head; the text says that it is Osiris himself who forms the encircling border of the Ṭuat. On the head of the god stands the goddess Nut, , with arms outstretched ready to receive Rā. Thus the god reaches the end of the Ṭuat and passes by an opening through its border, which is painted black, dotted everywhere with red spots. We have seen that Rā was omnipotent in all divisions of the underworld, except one, which was sacred to Osiris ; in this neither Rā nor his name appears.