LEGENDS OF THE GODS: Part-2
THE LEGEND OF THE DESTRUCTION OF MANKIND
Ra
THE text containing the Legend of the Destruction of Mankind is written
in hieroglyphs, and is found on the four walls of a small chamber which
is entered from the "hall of columns" in the tomb of Seti I., which is
situated on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. On the wall facing the
door of this chamber is painted in red the figure of the large "Cow of
Heaven." The lower part of her belly is decorated with a series of thirteen
stars, and immediately beneath it are the two Boats of Ra, called
Semketet and Mantchet, or Sektet and Matet. Each of her four legs is
held in position by two gods, and the god Shu, with outstretched uplifted
arms, supports her body. The Cow was published by
Champollion, without the text. This most important mythological text
was first published and translated by Professor E. Naville in 1874. It
was republished by Bergmann and Brugsch, who gave a transcription
of the text, with a German translation. Other German versions by
Lauth, Brugsch, 10 and Wiedemann have appeared, and a part of the
text was translated into French by Lefébure. The latest edition of the
text was published by Lefébure, and text of a second copy, very much
mutilated, was published by Professor Naville, with a French translation
in 1885. The text printed in this volume is that of M. Lefébure.
The legend takes us back to the time when the gods of Egypt went about
in the country, and mingled with men and were thoroughly acquainted
with their desires and needs. The king who reigned over Egypt was Ra,
the Sun-god, who was not, however, the first of the Dynasty of Gods who
ruled the land. His predecessor on the throne was Hephaistos, who,
according to Manetho, reigned 9000 years, whilst Ra reigned only 992
years; Panodorus makes his reign to have lasted less than 100 years.
