Story Summary
Explore the sun god Ra's perilous journey through The Twelve Gates of Night in the Duat, where he must defeat chaos to ensure the dawn of a new day for humanity.
Every evening as the sun dips below the horizon, the sun god Ra enters the Duat, the Egyptian underworld, aboard his solar barque. His journey through the twelve hours of night is a perilous voyage through twelve gated regions, each guarded by fierce deities and monstrous serpents. To pass each threshold, Ra must possess the divine knowledge of the guardians' secret names, a power that keeps the cosmos in balance. The most dangerous trial occurs in the dark waters of the night, where the Great Serpent Apep, the embodiment of chaos, seeks to swallow the sun and plunge the world into eternal darkness. Aided by protective gods like Set and the wisdom of Thoth, Ra repels the chaos-serpent, allowing the boat to move forward through the trials. After navigating the treacherous halls and witnessing the judgment of souls, Ra reaches the final gate. Transformed and renewed by his victory over the dark, he emerges from the eastern horizon, bringing light back to the living world as the morning sun.
The Moral
Life is an eternal cycle of struggle and renewal, where wisdom and persistence are necessary to overcome the forces of chaos.
“The shadows of the Duat flee before the light of the true name.”
Fun Fact
This journey was so central to Egyptian belief that it was frequently painted on the walls of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings to guide pharaohs through the afterlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Twelve Gates of Night?
The story teaches that the battle between order and chaos is constant, and that through knowledge and resilience, one can emerge from the darkest trials to be reborn.
What does the Duat represent in Egyptian mythology?
The Duat is the realm of the dead where souls are judged and where the sun god travels at night to be regenerated for the coming day.
Who is Apep in the journey of the sun god?
Apep, also known as Apophis, is a giant serpent and the deity of chaos who attempts to stop Ra's boat to prevent the sun from rising.
Why are there exactly twelve gates in the story?
The twelve gates correspond to the twelve hours of the night, representing a chronological and spiritual journey through the underworld.
How did Ra successfully pass through each gate?
Ra used the power of 'Heka' or magic, specifically by knowing and speaking the secret names of the gatekeepers, which granted him authority to pass.
What is the Book of Gates?
It is an ancient Egyptian funerary text found in tombs that describes the journey of the sun through the twelve gates of the underworld.
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