Reading Notes: Ancient Egypt Part B
In the story "The Book of Thoth," Nefer-ka-ptah was deceived and intrigued by The Book of Thoth. One day as Nefer-ka-ptah was reading ancient words in the temple, a priest appeared and laughed at him for reading "the worthless writings" and instead the priest spiked an interest in this book that had an unknown location. Nefer-ka-ptah was very curious and asked many questions. The priest said that if Nefer-ka-ptah does what he is told, then he can have the location of this holy book. My first impression of this story is that Nefer-ka-ptah is being deceived and tricked. Does this book actually exist and will it be worth finding? Since the priest made this book sound like treasure, Nefer-ka-ptah made it a mission to get his hands on it. His wife even begged him to not go on the journey, but he insists that he find it.
In part two of the story, Nefer-ka-ptah went to the location that the priest provided and the book was there. After days and nights of searching the found the sandy bottom where the boxes on boxes lay. Nefer-ka-ptah separated the sea and the box lay there with snakes and scorpions surrounding it. Nefer-ka-ptah put a spell on the crawling and slithering creatures to where they could not move. Did Nefer-ka-ptah always have powers? Nefer-ka-ptah had to battle "the snake that no man could kill" in order to get to the box and after a few times trying to slay it, he outsmarted it and the snake lay helpless. Nefer-ka-ptah got to the box and opened all the obstacles, and sure enough, the Book of Thoth was inside and when he read it, all the power that the priest mentioned became true. The ending of part two was interesting. I had a feeling that the priest was being mischievous and deceiving, but everything he said was true.
Part three of the story opened boldly. Thoth found out that Nefer-ka-ptah stole his book and kept ahold of it. He begged to the God, Ra, to help avenge him. Thoth wanted the sorrow that Nefer-ka-ptah's wife warned would happen to him, to come true. Ra granted the desire of Ra and the first thing that happened was Nefer-ka-ptah's son was magically pushed into the river and drowned. The same thing happened to his wife, Ahura. Nefer-ka-ptah was finally feeling the sorrow that Thoth wished upon him. Nefer-ka-ptah then did the same thing to himself that was done to his wife and kid. He drowned himself with the Book of Thoth tied to him. The vengeance of Thoth was fulfilled, but book would always lie with Nefer-ka-ptah.
Bibliography: The Book of Thoth (Parts 1-3) from Ancient Egyptian Unit by Donald Mackenzie
In part two of the story, Nefer-ka-ptah went to the location that the priest provided and the book was there. After days and nights of searching the found the sandy bottom where the boxes on boxes lay. Nefer-ka-ptah separated the sea and the box lay there with snakes and scorpions surrounding it. Nefer-ka-ptah put a spell on the crawling and slithering creatures to where they could not move. Did Nefer-ka-ptah always have powers? Nefer-ka-ptah had to battle "the snake that no man could kill" in order to get to the box and after a few times trying to slay it, he outsmarted it and the snake lay helpless. Nefer-ka-ptah got to the box and opened all the obstacles, and sure enough, the Book of Thoth was inside and when he read it, all the power that the priest mentioned became true. The ending of part two was interesting. I had a feeling that the priest was being mischievous and deceiving, but everything he said was true.
Part three of the story opened boldly. Thoth found out that Nefer-ka-ptah stole his book and kept ahold of it. He begged to the God, Ra, to help avenge him. Thoth wanted the sorrow that Nefer-ka-ptah's wife warned would happen to him, to come true. Ra granted the desire of Ra and the first thing that happened was Nefer-ka-ptah's son was magically pushed into the river and drowned. The same thing happened to his wife, Ahura. Nefer-ka-ptah was finally feeling the sorrow that Thoth wished upon him. Nefer-ka-ptah then did the same thing to himself that was done to his wife and kid. He drowned himself with the Book of Thoth tied to him. The vengeance of Thoth was fulfilled, but book would always lie with Nefer-ka-ptah.
Bibliography: The Book of Thoth (Parts 1-3) from Ancient Egyptian Unit by Donald Mackenzie
An actual Book of Thoth
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