Reproduction Details
Object Type: Tomb painting
Date: c. 1315–1314 BC
Period: Dynasty 19, New Kingdom
Findspot: Tomb of Ramesses I, Valley of the Kings
Print Reference: DP17B
My reproduction of a scene from the ancient Egyptian Book of Gates features the creation god Atum repelling the serpent of chaos, Apep (Apophis). It is based on a wall painting from the tomb of Ramesses I in the Valley of the Kings (KV16).
The Book of Gates is a funerary text dating from the New Kingdom. It narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world, corresponding to the journey of the sun through the underworld during the hours of the night.
During the soul’s journey, they face many dangers and challenges, including attack from the serpent god of chaos and evil, Apep. Atum, a creator god, is shown protecting the deceased from the snake, surrounded by the words from the Third Hour of the Book of Gates.
Translation
What Atum has done for Ra to glorify the god to overthrow the rebel. (Spoken by Atum) “You are upside down so you can't stand You are bewitched so that you can't find yourself My father has triumphed over you, I have triumphed against you I have driven you away on behalf of Ra I have punished you on behalf of Akhty"
𓁹𓏏𓈖𓏏𓍃𓈖𓇳𓏤𓀭
What Atum has done for Ra
𓊃𓅜𓐍𓏏𓏛𓊹𓏤
to glorify the god
𓊃𓐍𓂋𓏏𓀒 𓋴𓃀𓐨𓆙
to overthrow the rebel.
𓊃𓐍𓂧𓂻𓎡𓂜𓏏𓅱𓅪 𓊢𓂝𓂻𓎡
(Spoken by Atum) “You are upside down so you can't stand
𓎛𓂓𓀁 𓎡𓂜𓏏𓅱𓅠𓐝𓎡
You are bewitched so that you can't find yourself
𓐙𓌳𓂝(𓊤)𓇋𓏏𓆑 𓀀𓀭𓂋𓎡
"my father has triumphed over you,
𓐙𓌳𓂝𓊤𓀀𓂋𓎡
I have triumphed against you
𓂧𓂋𓂡𓀀𓏏𓏲𓈖𓂋𓁚
I have driven you away on behalf of Ra
𓊃𓊃𓃹𓈖𓅪𓀀𓏏𓅱𓈖𓈌𓏏𓏭
I have punished you on behalf of Akhty"
𓏏𓍃𓐝 =Atum
𓉻𓊪𓊪 = Apep or Apophis
𓊃𓌉𓆓𓇳𓆑𓎡𓎡𓇰 = he illuminates the darkness