Reading Notes: Ancient Egypt, Part A
For this week's reading, I chose Ancient Egypt. Part A consisted of stories about creation, Ra, Hathor, Osiris, Isis, and a couple other tales involving magic. These tales come from Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907).
The Secret Name of Ra:
In this story, Isis desires some of Ra's power, so she uses magic to create an invisible snake which bites Ra as he is walking by, causing him to become weak from its venom. In pain, Ra cries out and Isis rushes to his side, offering him healing if he only gives her his secret name, which grants him power and was given to him by Nu, from whom Ra came. After several rounds of Isis asking for the name and Ra refusing, he finally relents and allows her access to the name. Isis then heals Ra and possesses his power.
I found it interesting that this story was most likely written to reconcile Ra's worshippers and Isis' worshippers--the tale offers a way to have both Ra and Isis as superior god and goddess, as Isis has Ra's power, thus elevating her position and strength. I enjoy learning about possible reasoning behind stories and how they are used to explain beliefs, practices, and customs.
If I were to retell this story, I would have Ra be an aging and wealthy father in the United States in the 1800s. Isis would be his daughter. She recognizes that the only way for her to move up in society and to have independence is if she convinces her father to put her name on his will (she had previously fallen out with him over her rebellious and independent behavior which cast social derision on their family). She poisons her father and eventually convinces him to put her name on the will, "magically" finding the cure to his ailment once he signs the new will. The father recovers and truly believes his kind daughter saved his life--their relationship is mended but is based on a lie. The daughter must live with what she has done to her father but also can enjoy financial peace and independence.
This is probably the story I would go with if I chose to retell a story from Part A. I feel like the story of Ra's secret name lends itself best to crafting a story from a story and I like my idea, though it needs to be fleshed out with more details.
The Secret Name of Ra:
In this story, Isis desires some of Ra's power, so she uses magic to create an invisible snake which bites Ra as he is walking by, causing him to become weak from its venom. In pain, Ra cries out and Isis rushes to his side, offering him healing if he only gives her his secret name, which grants him power and was given to him by Nu, from whom Ra came. After several rounds of Isis asking for the name and Ra refusing, he finally relents and allows her access to the name. Isis then heals Ra and possesses his power.
I found it interesting that this story was most likely written to reconcile Ra's worshippers and Isis' worshippers--the tale offers a way to have both Ra and Isis as superior god and goddess, as Isis has Ra's power, thus elevating her position and strength. I enjoy learning about possible reasoning behind stories and how they are used to explain beliefs, practices, and customs.
If I were to retell this story, I would have Ra be an aging and wealthy father in the United States in the 1800s. Isis would be his daughter. She recognizes that the only way for her to move up in society and to have independence is if she convinces her father to put her name on his will (she had previously fallen out with him over her rebellious and independent behavior which cast social derision on their family). She poisons her father and eventually convinces him to put her name on the will, "magically" finding the cure to his ailment once he signs the new will. The father recovers and truly believes his kind daughter saved his life--their relationship is mended but is based on a lie. The daughter must live with what she has done to her father but also can enjoy financial peace and independence.
This is probably the story I would go with if I chose to retell a story from Part A. I feel like the story of Ra's secret name lends itself best to crafting a story from a story and I like my idea, though it needs to be fleshed out with more details.
Wooden statue of Ra, currently in the Louvre. Photo taken by Rama. Source: Wiki Commons
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