Description
Apep (𓇕𓊪𓊪𓆚) is an ancient Egyptian deity who appeared as a giant serpent. Apep was the greatest enemy of Ra the solar deity and had the title "Lord of Chaos" as Ra upheld order and brought light. [1,2]
Described as reaching 16 yards in length and having a head made of flint he was said to have a great battle against Ra who would take the form of a cat in order to defeat the serpent. [2,3]
Although mostly being depicted as a snake Apep is sometimes depicted as a crocodile. [4]
Origin
There are two commonly described origins of Apep. The first being that he existed from the beginning of time in the waters of Nu of primeval chaos. [2]
The other explanation ties Apep even closer to Ra saying that he was born from Ra's umbilical chord. [5]
Worship
Egyptian priests and worshippers prayed each night to ensure Ra's victory and they practiced a number of rituals that were thought to ward of Apep. In an annual rite called the Banishing of Chaos the priests would build an effigy of Apep and burn it.
The Books of Overthrowing Apep was considered a detailed guide to fighting the deity and included these steps:
Spitting Upon Apep
Defiling Apep with the Left Foot
Taking a Lance to Smite Apep
Fettering Apep
Taking a Knife to Smite Apep
Putting Fire Upon Apep
[6]
Similar Myths
It is easy to draw similarities between Apep and other creatures of myth simply due to there existing a large number of serpent deities. One interesting connection however is with the Norse world serpent Jörmungandr as Apep gained the title World-encircler due to him being described as living in many different places. [2]
Also similar is Sköll child to the great Norse wolf Fenrir as he is destined to consume the sun in a similar fashion to Apep's battle against the sun and the sun deity.
Resources:
[1]: G. Pinch, Egyptian Mythology, (2004)
[2]: C. Wolterman, in Jaarbericht van Ex Oriente Lux, Leiden Nr.37 (2002).
[3]: J. Assmann, Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom, transl. by A. Alcock (London, 1995), 49-57.
[4]: S., Mercatante, Anthony (2009). The Facts on File encyclopedia of world mythology and legend. Dow, James R. (3rd ed.). New York: Facts On File. ISBN 9780816073115. OCLC 184982566.
[5]: Kemboly, Mpay. 2010. The Question of Evil in Ancient Egypt. London: Golden House Publications.
[6]: P.Kousoulis, Magic and Religion as Performative Theological Unity: the Apotropaic Ritual of Overthrowing Apophis, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Liverpool (Liverpool, 1999), chapters 3-5.
