Hi Ritva,

> Afaik, there are also texts (or so my books claim)
> where Apep's coils are the "sandbanks". But all in
> all, I think all of this is symbolic for the sun
> not shining. I don't see it necessarily only as
> the sun setting, either.
> Heheh, I don't see the pBR as "vague reference to
> being swallowed", I think it is rather clear on
> that point.

I'm going only by the quote that you gave. In the Late Period, swallowing refers to setting in some texts. If Apep is waiting on the western horizon to swallow the sun, that's what it sounds like.

As far as the coils as sandbanks, I think there are many allusions to the sun being stopped because of some dryness. The celestial water being drunk is just one. There are references to portage in some texts, and maybe that even links to being dragged or pulled as in the secret road of Rosetau.


> > Seth in the early texts is the conqueror of
> > Apophis. He is the one who can resist the
> gaze of
> > Apophis, the only one in the sun's boat who
> can.
> > He also spears Apophis and he is the one who
> can
> > make the serpent regurgitate the water. As
> Seth
> > became vilified, other deities take over the
> role,
> > like the solar cat.
>
>
> Well, in the pBR Seth is still the one to "severe
> the vertebrae of Apep, cut him to pieces and stab
> him with the spear". But you are right, the whole
> Great Ennead is behind the overthrowing. The
> reason to this may be the nature of the papyrus:
> it is a ritual book i.e. daily rituals acted in a
> temple.

I thought it was a Ptolemaic Afterlife book?

> What is the evidence of this union
> > dating
> > > tp FIP or OK?
> >
> > You don't consider the PT to be OK?
>
>
>
> Yes, I do. But as I wrote, the allusions in the
> said utterances could be something else, and hence
> have nothing to do with the said union of Ra and
> Osiris.

Of course, but as I said, different scholars have different opinions. DuQuesne has his opinion. I agree with him.