Apep, The Egyptian Dragon of Chaos

Throughout the ancient mythological texts of Egypt, the theme of resurrection and rebirth can be found time and again. In one such myth, we are introduced to the mighty and dangerous dragon, Apep. A mysterious creature bearing many names, Apep was also known as Apophis, Aaapef and Rerek. Some people, however, preferred this serpent-like dragon to remain Nameless. Whatever his true name may have been, it was kept secret so as not to grant any further power to this tremendous being. The power contained in Apep represented the chaotic elements of the universe, the destructive and dark side of Nature.

Although later mythologies described Apep as evil, the early myth-tellers were aware life was the coexistence of all opposite values. True power could be seen in the contrasting elements of Apep as the destructive darkness, and Re, the heat and light giving sun-god traveling through the sky in his solar barque.

Each day Apep attempted to disrupt the passage of the solar barque carrying the sun-god Re, as it traveled from east to west across the sky. Storms, darkness, rain, eclipse - all were weapons used against Re's fiery presence in the heavens. The dying god Re made his way to the Underworld as night shrouded daylight, only to be reborn each and every morning at sunrise. The battle between Re and Apep was played out daily as a very visible symbol of the natural cycle of life and death.

Many ancient hieroglyphs show Re in his solar barque surrounded by a protective entourage of gods and goddesses. The gods Set and Mehen battled the dragon with knives and spears. Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, along with his wife/sister, Isis, and the goddess Nephthys, used prayers and supplication as an affirmation of their protective powers. On Earth, the Egyptians and their priests would recite spells and prayers to help ensure Re's continued victory over the darkness.

Just in case prayers, offerings and chanting weren't enough, the Egyptian priests armed themselves with some magical books known as "The Books of Overthrowing Apep." Every year they would gather and perform a ritual called "The Banishing of Apep".

Drawings and small clay effigies of the monster were squashed, burned, mutilated, fractured, spat upon, stabbed, stomped on and more. The "Books of Overthrowing Apep" even had details about the proper destruction of Apep. For example, the titles of the chapters of the first book are as follows:

Chapter of Spitting Upon Apep
Chapter of Defiling Apep with the Left Foot
Chapter of Taking a Lance to Smite Apep
Chapter of Fettering Apep
Chapter of Taking a Knife to Smite Apep
Chapter of Putting Fire Upon Apep

The god Set who sits in the front of the barque shouted out, "Apep, O Enemy of Ra! Turn your face away! Ra hates the very sight of you." The head of Apep was then cut off, hacked in pieces and thrown away on either side of the roads ... "Your head is crushed, O Groundling! Your bones are broken up and your flesh cut in pieces. Ra has consigned you to the earth, O Apep! Enemy of Ra!"

According to the author April McDevitt and her Egyptian research, Apep couldn't be fully destroyed until he was first speared, then sliced with red-hot knives so that every bone of his body had been separated, and his head, legs and tail were cut off. His remains were then to be scorched, singed, and roasted, finally to be consumed by fire. The same fate awaits Apep's confederates and everything which formed parts of him, them, and all their offspring (their shadows, souls, doubles, and spirits).

These rituals ensured that harm would come to no one and that there would be a sunrise each day.