This week I decided to write over the Unit Ancient Egypt, and below are my notes concerning the readings.
This story reminds me of the beginning of the bible. It tells how Nu created all that we know out of water, and from this he also creates his son Ra. Ra has many forms, since he is also known as the sun god, and he is the one who interacts with the humans. This reminds me how God made the world in seven days then, over time, had appointed certain followers to perform jobs for him. Ra would be similar to God since he was the one to create earth, the universe, and man. I like this story a lot because there are a lot of religious ties in the middle east, even if the characters are changed, the same principles are still followed.
(Egyptian Dieties, Source)
In a sense this story makes Isis seem either an evil being, to some, but at the same time other's can argue she is one of the first leaders of feminism. She did play tricks in order to obtain Ra's secret name, to obtain divine power, but at the same time she also did not abuse this power when she received it. It seems that she simply wanted to be an equal of the great god. She promised that if Ra revealed the secret powers to her she would save it, and she ultimately did.
Again, referencing the bible, this story has a slight significance of what God had done to man with the help of Noah. Ra is angry that the human has rebelled and spoken against him. He consults with Nu and states that he would like to just disappear. Nu calms him down and suggests that instead of leaving he should punish mankind of it's deceiving ways. In the end Hathor is sent to the Earth to kill all that cross her path. Days of slaughter when on before Ra completely calms down, and he then decides that man would be punished no more. He sends jars of an unknown substance to cross Hathor's path. This substance happens to be beer, which she drank merrily. Although the story of Noah doesn't talk about the discovery of beer it does tell how mankind temporarily turned their back on God's teachings. In his anger he decides to flood the earth, and he only saves Noah and his closest companions. In both stories Ra and God decide in the end that they will not repeat this event for how extreme it was.
The Journey of Ra is interesting for it tells how at each hour of the day he has to overcome a different evil or challenge. He must make this journey each day, and he ages at the different stages of the day such as sunrise, noon, and sunset.
Osiris is a great leader, one that many can look up to. I like that instead of having his brother, Set, take over the kingdom he leaves Isis in charge as he goes on a journey. This story portrays the typical evil and good that most stories possess. Orsis is the good, and his brother represents evil. When Osiris is in rule he combines the man to create a united kingdom. Set wishes to cause turmoil and sabotages his coming home feast.
During her journey, in recovering her husband's body, Isis gains the help of many gods and goddesses. She gives birth to Horus, but entrusts his survival to the goddess Buto while she continues the search for Orsis' remains. I felt moved by her passion and love that she held for her husband, though I also felt that many of her choices that she made during her journey were a bit outlandish.
I enjoyed this story for Horus had grown into an adult, and was successfully able to overthrow Set as the ruler. I like how neither Set or Horus necessarily had to die, but the council of gods was able to determine who rightly deserved the throne. I also liked how Horus worked hard for the throne, then used it wisely like his father had.
I liked this story since it displays the Egyptians thoughts on magic, and it explains how the "virgins" were treated by the Pharaoh. This story shows how leisurely life was lived back then in general. It makes one wonder what they were necessarily working towards other than beautiful monuments and control of surrounding lands.
The Two Brothers (Part One-Four):
These stories were interesting, and it surprised me how quick Apnu was to believe his wife without actually consulting with his brother. Especially since he took his dagger and was prepared to kill him, all without asking for his side of the story. When they are able to confront each other, when Ra placed a river between them, everything was sorted but Bata's further journeys confused me. I didn't understand why he sent himself into the land of the acacia. When this story ends I was left wondering why the gods didn't just make him king instead of making him go through so many transformations.
I liked this selection and how the robber was pardoned in the end, for the king saw the potential he held. It is that his brother still died, but in the end it was not in vain. This story reminds me of Aladdin, and his adventures prior to meeting the princess.
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