He was associated with darkness and chaos. Apopis, also called Apep, Apepi, or Rerek, ancient Egyptian demon of chaos, who had the form of a serpent and, as the foe of the sun god, Re, represented all that was outside the ordered cosmos. An effigy of Apep was taken into the temple and imbued with all of the evil of the land. In some texts, Apep would trap the boat of Ra in his massive coils (referred to as sandbanks) or cause the waters of the underworld to flood to overwhelm him. They were both linked to the northern sky (a place that the Egyptians considered to be cold, dark and dangerous) and they were both at times associated with Taweret, the demon-goddess. The effigy was then beaten, crushed smeared with mud and burned. Other times, Apophis would take the form of a giant sphere of malevolence. Other rituals involved the creation of a wax model of the serpent which was ritually dismembered and the burning of a papyrus bearing an image of the snake. Today we discuss the Egyptian God Apophis, the bringer of chaos and destruction. Some elaborations even said that he stretched 16 yards in length and had a head made of flint. He was the complete opposite of Ra; darkness, evil, chaos, and was often affiliated with a snake. Apep (Aapep, Apepi or Apophis) was the ancient Egyptian spirit of evil, darkness and destruction. Apep was personified with the darkness of the darkest hour of the night, against which the God of light Ra must not only battle, but fight successfully before he could rise in the east in the morning. Apep was viewed as the greatest enemy of Ra, and thus was given the title Enemy of Ra. Apep was furious and vowed to take his … Apep often appeared in the form of a giant, demonic snake, who each night attempted to devour the Sun after it left the sky, only to be repelled by the god Set(who ironically would take his place as the God of Evil of Egyptian Mythology as centuries went by). Apep was known by many epithets, such as “the evil lizard”, “the encircler of the world”, “the enemy” and “the serpent of rebirth”. In an alternative depiction inscribed in a number of tombs of private individuals Hathor or Ra is transformed into a cat who slices the huge serpent with a knife. However, some experts have questioned whether the First Intermediate period was actually a dark age, and it is also possible that depictions of large serpents on Predynastic pottery may relate to him. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Seth, who rode as guardian in the front of Re’s bark, attacked him with a spear and slew him, but the next night Apopis, who could not be permanently subdued, was there again to attack Re. The “Book of Apophis” is a collection of magical spells from the New Kingdom which were supposed to repel or contain the evil of the serpent. He’s known as the god of evil, chaos, darkness and destruction.In some retellings of his legend, Apophis was You may change your settings at any time. He encountered Mathayus, who has the rebuilt Sword of Osiris that was first used by … Apep was usually depicted as an evil serpent that would battle Ra and bring darkness to the world. Watch Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God Episode 5 - Suddenly, Ra and Apep / Suddenly, Presents Thus, the Egyptian god Apepi, for example, was the great serpent of the world of darkness. In ancient Egypt, he is the deification of several evil concepts including darkness, chaos and destruction. Ancient Egypt Apep was the deity of darkness thus opposed the deity of light and Ma’at (truth/order). His name is reconstructed by Egyptologists as *ʕAʔpāpī because of written ʕ3pp(y), surviving into later … Apep was often depicted as a huge serpent with tightly compressed coils to emphasis his huge size. Each night Apopis encountered Re at a particular hour in the sun god’s ritual journey through the underworld in his divine bark. he is 2 blocks tall and a massive 18 blocks wide. As the arch enemy of the sun god, Ra, he was a malevolent force who could never be entirely vanquished. In other texts Apep was equated with Set (who was after all a god of chaos) and an army of major and minor gods and goddesses (including Isis, Neith, Serqet (Selket), Geb, Aker and the followers of Horus and other unnamed gods in the form of monkeys) would defend him. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Apopis, also called Apep, Apepi, or Rerek, ancient Egyptian demon of chaos, who had the form of a serpent and, as the foe of the sun god, Re, represented all that was outside the ordered cosmos. He was released at the beginningSeason 3, and … He is possibly named after Apep, the Egyptian god of chaos. Dover Publications, Inc., 1971. Budge, E. A. Wallis. Apep in Egyptian mythology, was Ra's greatest enemy, whom he had countless battles with. According to the most popular creation myth, the god Atum stood on the primordial mound, amidst the swirling waters of chaos, and began the work of creation. Although many serpents symbolized divinity and royalty, Apopis threatened the underworld and symbolized evil. HAIL LORD APEP, THE MASTER OF THE WORLD! Apep. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apopis-Egyptian-god, Apopis - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Omissions? Every night, as the sun travelled though the underworld (or across the sky), his roar would fill the air and he would launch his attack. Apep would swallow the sun god, but they would cut a hole in the belly of the snake to allow the sun god to escape. The dead themselves (sometimes in the form of the god Shu) could also fight Apep to help maintain Ma´at (order). From Fetish to God … He was not worshipped, he was feared, but was possibly the only god (other than The Aten during the Amarna period) who was considered to be all powerful. Although he was believed to have existed since primeval times, Apep is not mentioned by name until the Middle Kingdom. Every night, as the sun travelled though the underworld (or across the sky), his roar would fill the air and he would launch his attack. If they failed, the world would be plunged into darkness. But the Greeks and Romans, though accepting the Middle Eastern idea of the serpent as an evil power, also at times conceived the. Apophis has quite the reputation. Prior to his overthrow, Apep was the head god in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. Like Set, Apep was also associated with various frightening natural events such as unexplained darkness caused by solar eclipse, storms and earthquakes. A cookie which helps me track how many visitors come to my site and what pages they look at. (Apophis) Apep was a huge serpent (or crocodile) which lived in the waters of Nunor in the celestial Nile. First Intermediate period was actually a dark age, Bard, Kathryn (2008) An introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, Pinch, Geraldine (2002) Handbook Egyptian Mythology, Redford Donald B (2002) Ancient Gods Speak, Watterson, Barbara (1996) Gods of Ancient Egypt, Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003) The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. They do not store any information about you other than that which is strictly required for navigation and function, and I have no aceess to any of the data. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Because Apep’s place of dwelling was the underworld, Egyptians also placed spells and recited prayers to protect their deceased from Apep. In Mortal Kombat 11's Krypt has you control a character, who currently, is oficially known as "Descendant of Apep". Cookies that are necessary to enable my site to function. Although many serpents symbolized divinity and royalty, Apopis threatened the underworld and symbolized evil. The Egyptians believed that the king could help maintain the order of the world and assist Re by performing rituals against Apopis. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Apep led an army of demons that preyed on the living and the dead. Ra was the solar deity, bringer of light, and thus the upholder of Maat. Apep was an Ancient Egyptian demon that was the supreme God of the Egyptians and the Egyptian Gods. Apep is the serpent god of evil and destruction. Home:: the Gods:: Apep. In Egyptian Mythology, Apep (Aapep, Apepi or Apophis) was the ancient Egyptian cosmic spirit of evil, darkness, chaos, and destruction who threatened to destroy the Sun god Ra as he traveled through the sky at night. In funerary texts he is usually shown in the process of being dismembered in various ways. Apepis the Ancient Egyptian god of Chaos. In a detailed depiction in the tomb of Ramesses VI twelve heads are painted above the head of the snake representing the souls he has swallowed who are briefly freed when his body is destroyed, only to be imprisoned again the following night. For official Godchecker merch please visit our God Shop where a wide range of items are available to buy. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Budge, E. A. Wallis. Apep was a serpent and was never shown to have any special weapon or item that was synonymous with him, however, Apep was considered to be one of the all-powerful gods in Egypt. Facts about Apep 2: names. Apep is known in various names such as Aapep, Apepi, Apophisis, Apothis … In Egyptian mythology, Apep (also spelled Apepi, and Aapep, or Apophis in Greek) was an evil demon, the deification of darkness and chaos, and thus opponent of light and Ma'at (order/truth), whose existence was believed about from the Middle Kingdom onwards. According to one myth, Apep would hypnotise the sun god and all of his followers, except Set who would repel the serpent by piercing his side with a great spear. But god Set, who always accompanied Ra on Atet (Solar barge) defended Ra and killed Apep with his spear. Your choices will not impact your visit. During the Roman Period, he was sometimes referred to as “he who was spat out” and considered to have been born of the saliva of the goddess Neith. Apep, commonly known in Greece as Apophis, was a god of chaos in Egyptian mythology.He is often portrayed as a snake and was the enemy of Ma'at.He is defeated daily by Ra and those aboard his Solar barge on is journey through Duat.He is also the TRUE embodiement of chaos so he is unable to be killed. Ra was a prominent upholder of Ma’at and order in the world so Apophis was also given the moniker Enemy of Ra and the title Lord of Chaos. This meant that he could not be killed and did not require nourishment. Do we sell Apep graphic novels, books, video or role-playing games (RPG)? The three Gods rebelled against Apep and were able to defeat him and throw him to the underworld. Apep (also spelled Apepi, and Aapep, or Apophis in Greek) in Egyptian mythology was an evil demon. When Ra was passing the realms of the underworld each night, he was attacked by the serpent god, Apep. Apep was the Egyptian god of darkness. A variation on this myth has the goddess Neith emerge from the primal waters and, again with Heka… Do you know that Apep is the mortal enemy of the sun of God, Ra? Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. Apep was also represented by a circular ball, the “evil eye” of Apep, being struck by the pharaoh in numerous temple scenes. The images and pictures of Apep, the Egyptian god of evil, chaos and destruction depicted the god as a giant snake in various forms of ancient Egyptian art such as tomb paintings, hieroglyphics and stone carvings. In ancient Egypt, the serpent Apep (Apophis) was known as the evil god who lived in the underworld, and was the most wicked enemy of Ra. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Egyptian Magic. Apophis, also known as Apep, was the ancient Egyptian embodiment of chaos. Apep was created to protect the gates from the Underworld to the Land of the Living. He was associated with darkness and chaos. It is to be noted that already on a … Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. To defeat this malevolent force a ritual known as “Banishing Apep” was conducted annually by the priests of Ra. He was the primary enemy of Egypt’s sun god, Ra, and symbolized darkness, chaos and destruction. There a number of serpent gods or demons who appear in early texts (such as the Pyramid Texts) as representatives of evil or chaos. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Apophis -- also known as Apep -- was a god of evil. When Set, Isis, and Ra decided that they too should be given power to rule over Egypt; Apep refused to give them anything. However,JudsonandCharlenemanaged to seal him in a sarcophagus, centuries ago. In Mortal Kombat X, Apep is mentioned in the "Fallen Friend" premiere tower where Apep was killed by Quan Chi, and Bo' Rai Cho has to free his soul. Apep was first mentioned in the Eighth Dynasty, and he was honored in the names of the Fourteenth Dynasty king 'Apepiand of the Greater Hyksos king Apophis. He was depicted as the threatened divine order in the Egyptian mythology. As the arch enemy of the sun god, Ra, he was a malevolent force who could never be entirely vanquished. The Norse had their Kraken and great wolf, Fenrir. He did not require any nourishment and could never be completely destroyed, only temporarily defeated. Apep: Great Snake of Chaos (Egyptian Mythology) There weren’t too many true monsters in Egyptian mythology, unlike the myths of many other cultures. Each day he attempted to disrupt the passage of the solar barque of Re. Apep, or Apophis, was the Egyptian god of evil and darkness, until Set became the main sybol of evil in the later ages. Corrections? Hieroglyphics: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Apopis, relief from the temple of Horus, Idfū, Egypt. Bibliography. Apep is the Egyptian god of chaos. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. He was voiced by Mark Hamill, who provided the voice of the Joker from the Batman: Arkham videogame series. Apep. ALL PRAISE UNTO THE GREAT DEVOURER WHO VANQUISHED THE EGYPTIAN SUN GOD RA, AND WHO OFFERS THE VERY SAME FATE TO THE TYRANT GOD YAHWEH! Apep is a triple star system containing a Wolf–Rayet binary and a hot supergiant, located in the constellation of Norma. However, the mythology surrounding him largely developed during the New Kingdom in funerary texts such as the Duat (or Amduat). 1 Biography 2 Personality 3 Powers 4 Real Life Counterpart 5 Appearances 5.1 The Librarians 5.1.1 Season 3 Apep has been one of the biggest enemies of the forces of Good since time immemorial. In Egyptian mythology, Apep (also spelled Apepi, and Aapep, or Apophis in Greek) was an evil god, the deification of darkness and chaos (isfet in Egyptian), and thus opponent of light and Ma'at (order/truth), whose existence was believed from the Middle Kingdom onwards. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Some myths claim that … This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Apep is the Snake God and a supporting antagonist of The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Apep was hated and feared by the Egyptians, but two of the Hyksos rulers took his name as their coronation name (although they used a slightly different spelling). To purchase such goodies we suggest you try Amazon, Ebay or other reputable online stores. We are often asked about mythology merchandise. Gallery HAIL APEP SAATET-TA, SNAKE GOD OF HELL! The Greeks had their Scylla, Charybdis, Echidna, and Typhon. The god Heka, personification of magic, was with him, and it was through the agency of magic that order rose from chaos and the first sunrise appeared. However, unlike Set he was always a force for evil and could not be reasoned with. Updates? It is possible that he was born out of the chaos and uncertainty brought about by the end of the Old Kingdom. The god Set was usually depicted as a man with a head resembling that of the sha, Set animal. Apep dwells in the Duat, where it is a massive threat to the player. In some myths, Apep was an earlier and discarded sun-god himself. As the personification of all that was evil, Apep was seen as a giant snake/serpent, or occasionally as a dragon in later years, leading to such titles as Serpent from the Nile and Evil Lizard. He may also be known as Aepep, Apophis or Apepi. Apep (Aapep, Apepi or Apophis) was the ancient Egyptian spirit of evil, darkness and destruction. He was also considered the embodiment of chaos and sought to bring about the end of light and life within the mortal universe and plunge it into darkn… Apep (also spelled Apepi, and Aapep, or Apophis in Greek) in Egyptian mythology was an evil demon. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. This is the reason why Ra has not killed him yet for he is only ever … He was one of the main nemeses of the sun god Ra, and also the opponent of Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of order and truth. Usually depicted as the greatest enemy of the world would be plunged into.! 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