Geoffrey Hodson explores a great deal of the Egyptian symbology, showing for example the similarity in meaning between the Barque of Ra and the Ark of Noah. The Barque of Ra is represented by a stationary dual-natured prakritic envelope, the upadhi or material container, positive on the outside and negative on the inside, while the Solar Disc represents the ensouling Spirit-Life. One can also see similarities between the ram-headed Ra and the Christian “Lamb of God”, both related to the astrological Aries, and question how the Egyptian religion, in using natural symbols, could ever be accused of animal worship.
It took me a long time to work out what the animal-headed god forms meant.
Eventually I discovered that at least some of those gods were humanoid but with distinctive features. For example Sekhmet has quite leonine facial features that were depicted in following millennia as the animal form by artists with limited understanding.
Equally however, some non-humanoid features were suppressed - e.g. Osiris is sometimes depicted in human form with scales, and his wife Isis is often depicted with a fish tail at the back of her head. She is also depicted as a serpent (cobra).
One legend states that each day, Ra was born and began a journey across the sky. Ra was believed to travel in the Manjet-boat or the 'Barque of Millions of Years". He was joined on this daily journey by a crew of many gods . The Manjet-boat would sail through the twelve provinces, representing the twelve hours of daylight. At the end of each day Ra was thought to die and embarked on his night voyage. For this journey he was called Auf, which means 'corpse'. Ra sailed in a boat called the Mesektet-boat or night-barque on his journey through the twelve hours of darkness
The Master open his lodge with the assistance of his crew.. The Manjet (what else ) boat passes through Twelve (banners?).. The Lodge is closed by the WSW and NOT the Master.. (thought to die) .. The South represents 12 hours of daylight, the North represents 12 hour of darkness.. and then there is the 24 inch gauge.
Equally however, some non-humanoid features were suppressed - e.g. Osiris is sometimes depicted in human form with scales, and his wife Isis is often depicted with a fish tail at the back of her head. She is also depicted as a serpent (cobra).
Maintaining Order from Chaos?
Maybe a few clues here..
Apep (Apepi, Aapep, Apophis) was a demon of the underworld, in the form of a giant water snake. It was believed that he was created when Nit spat into the primeval waters of Nun. He was the enemy of the sun god, trying to stop him as he travelled on his barque through the underworld each night. He was so powerful that little could defeat him, and even then, he was back again the following evening to threaten Ra. He was a demon outside of ma'at, the opposite of order, a demon of darkness and chaos.
Darkness we equate with death and chaos. Light with life and order. The Sufis tell us that Noah's Ark is really 'a receptacle' for the seed atoms, or individual life essence if you prefer, between lives on the physical plane. Talents and prior experience/s gained are preserved for future use.
This is what the ancient Egyptians are telling us. This is what the Masonic rituals are telling us. There is no death in reality, all lives, changes and evolves. When the body is laid low that which is within is raised up, yet again, until the next 'lodge meeting'.
Well, it is all so obvious to me at least
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
It seems to me that Apep is/was a physical entity and the stories about him in various cultures (treading upon the head of the serpent with the left foot) have been used to illustrate religious and philosophical themes
Apep may well be the same as the King of Terrors in the Book of Job
) boat passes through Twelve (banners?)..
