Coffin Texts

Spell for enduring on earth, not eating excrement in the necropolis, not perishing in the necropolis by a living or dead ba-spirit, not dying by means of a serpent, not dying by entering and exiting through the eastern portals of heaven, being healthy on earth by a living or dead ba-spirit, having power over offerings that an heir makes for his fathers in the necropolis, knowing the spirits of the west. I know that mountain of Bakhu upon which the sky leans. Of crystal it is, three hundred rods in its length, one hundred twenty rods in its width. On the east of that mountain is Sobek, Lord of Bakhu. Of carnelian is his temple. On the east of that mountain is a serpent, thirty cubits in his length, with three cubits of his forefront being of flint. I know the name of that serpent who is on the mountain. His name is “He who overthrows.” Now at the time of evening he turns his eye over against Re, and there occurs a halting among the solar crew, a great astonishment within the voyage, so that Seth bends himself against him. Let me stand against you so that the voyage be set right. O you whom I have seen from afar, close your eye since I have bound you! I am the male! Cover your head so that you may be well and I may be well! I am “Great of Magic.” I have used it against you. What is it? It is effectiveness. O you who goes on his belly, your strength belongs to your mountain. But watch me as I go off with your strength in my hand! I am one who lifts up strength. I have come just so that I might plunder the serpent-formed earth gods. As for Re, may he who is in his evening—that is, Re—be satisfied with me when we have circled the sky, while you the serpent are in your fetters. It is what has been commanded against you in the divine presence. Thus does Re set in life. I know the souls of the west. One is Re. One is Sobek, Lord of Bakhu. One is Hathor, Lady of the Evening.

I extended everywhere, in accordance with what was to come into existence.⁠a I know, as the One, alone, majestic, the indwelling Soul, the most potent of the gods. An amulet of serpent skin would add to a person’s craftiness and cunning. The serpent was revered for its ability to discover whatever was hidden or concealed, including knowledge of the past, present, and future. Lidless eyes that never closed were thought to see in the darkness of the underground. This ability may have been related to the view that the serpent inspired nighttime dreams and the prophetic daytime visions of human beings.