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Anubis, Anpw, Dua
6 years ago
General
Let me begin this, as shall follow, my story and my genesis, by telling you what has been written.
I was once the ruler of the Underworld, the place often cited as the source of inspiration for the Christian "Hell", inspired perhaps in turn by a common lineage with the Greeks and their Hades.
My father Osiris, the Inundator, God the Nile took this throne from me. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say I offered it freely. Why?
The days of old were anything but peaceful. The worship of mortals, the very essence of our existence in the Western Lands was cause for many a great strife. You will know of Seth the Deceiver, the Evil One, my uncle, and you will know of War in Heaven, when all was brought to folly, when God fought God.[1]
That war was horrid, but my tale, as it exists to you today, only begun later. When the ashes of war had subsided and it was not worship, but petty jealousy, that would lead us to a new cataclysm. The Evil One killed my father and threw his corpse into the Nile, spread his parts to the 8 corners.
My mother Isis, the ever virtuous, called to me. What power I had I used that day, all that I knew, all that I was, consumed in a moment of sheer desperation. But succeed I did. My father was reborn, Osiris, green of skin as the reeds from whence I built his new body, cheated death of a divine soul and fooled my father's being back into the corporeal. But the dead, even those divine, cannot remain in this realm of men and time.
So it was that I, Anpw, Ruler of the Underworld gave my mantle, my throne, to my father so that he may forever remain as he always has; undying for have you know a summer without heat, an autumn without rains?
I was Anpw, Ruler of the Underworld. I became henceforth Anubis, Friend of the Dead, Opener of the Mouth, Opener of Ways, the Embalmer, Steward of the Weighing of the Heart, Custodian of the Feather of Ma'at, the Master of Ammut. And Nubta Djser. Lord of the Hallowed Lands.
This will seem simplistic and indeed it is so. My story is lengthy, my deeds many and my seed strong. Long before the people of Khemet forged their own way I was already worshipped by tribals. I have existed in worship longer than your modern civilizations have known language. It is not until recently after all that you have rediscovered hieroglyphics, though you call them by an altogether different ineloquent name as is befitting of this age.
I beseech you therefore; harken, listen, accept the simple story from an old being:
I was born of Osiris and Isis, I've been consort to my wife Anput and my aunt Bastet, whom is sometimes also referred to as my wife. I have more children than you could care count, but of them the only one of divine origin is Kebechet.
I created the D'uat, a trial of the spirit to test the mettle of mortals, fully knowing that it ultimately was imperfect. I am called Friend of the Dead because I help those I deem worthy to cheat out of the D'uat. I have no great power, no magic, no will over the seasons or the rain. What you would call power is in planning, in foreknowledge and in the inevitability of death.
There is much, much more to this story, and though parts of it will prove to be untrue you may learn from it yet, at least one valuable lesson in your existence.
You may call me Dua, Egyptian for "God" or "Lord", though I've come to take it as my personal name as well due to the simple reality that no one who speaks the ancient tongues is alive today to speak the prayers.
May you live in wisdom, may you find peace in your death.
Ammen.
I was once the ruler of the Underworld, the place often cited as the source of inspiration for the Christian "Hell", inspired perhaps in turn by a common lineage with the Greeks and their Hades.
My father Osiris, the Inundator, God the Nile took this throne from me. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say I offered it freely. Why?
The days of old were anything but peaceful. The worship of mortals, the very essence of our existence in the Western Lands was cause for many a great strife. You will know of Seth the Deceiver, the Evil One, my uncle, and you will know of War in Heaven, when all was brought to folly, when God fought God.[1]
That war was horrid, but my tale, as it exists to you today, only begun later. When the ashes of war had subsided and it was not worship, but petty jealousy, that would lead us to a new cataclysm. The Evil One killed my father and threw his corpse into the Nile, spread his parts to the 8 corners.
My mother Isis, the ever virtuous, called to me. What power I had I used that day, all that I knew, all that I was, consumed in a moment of sheer desperation. But succeed I did. My father was reborn, Osiris, green of skin as the reeds from whence I built his new body, cheated death of a divine soul and fooled my father's being back into the corporeal. But the dead, even those divine, cannot remain in this realm of men and time.
So it was that I, Anpw, Ruler of the Underworld gave my mantle, my throne, to my father so that he may forever remain as he always has; undying for have you know a summer without heat, an autumn without rains?
I was Anpw, Ruler of the Underworld. I became henceforth Anubis, Friend of the Dead, Opener of the Mouth, Opener of Ways, the Embalmer, Steward of the Weighing of the Heart, Custodian of the Feather of Ma'at, the Master of Ammut. And Nubta Djser. Lord of the Hallowed Lands.
This will seem simplistic and indeed it is so. My story is lengthy, my deeds many and my seed strong. Long before the people of Khemet forged their own way I was already worshipped by tribals. I have existed in worship longer than your modern civilizations have known language. It is not until recently after all that you have rediscovered hieroglyphics, though you call them by an altogether different ineloquent name as is befitting of this age.
I beseech you therefore; harken, listen, accept the simple story from an old being:
I was born of Osiris and Isis, I've been consort to my wife Anput and my aunt Bastet, whom is sometimes also referred to as my wife. I have more children than you could care count, but of them the only one of divine origin is Kebechet.
I created the D'uat, a trial of the spirit to test the mettle of mortals, fully knowing that it ultimately was imperfect. I am called Friend of the Dead because I help those I deem worthy to cheat out of the D'uat. I have no great power, no magic, no will over the seasons or the rain. What you would call power is in planning, in foreknowledge and in the inevitability of death.
There is much, much more to this story, and though parts of it will prove to be untrue you may learn from it yet, at least one valuable lesson in your existence.
You may call me Dua, Egyptian for "God" or "Lord", though I've come to take it as my personal name as well due to the simple reality that no one who speaks the ancient tongues is alive today to speak the prayers.
May you live in wisdom, may you find peace in your death.
Ammen.
