Egyptian Literature/The Book of the Dead/Repulsing Serpents

Layout 2

REPULSING SERPENTS

[From the Papyrus of Nu (British Museum No. 10,477, sheet 6).]

The Chapter of repulsing serpents (or worms). Nu, the overseer of the palace, the chancellor-in-chief, triumphant, saith:

“Hail, thou serpent Rerek, advance not hither. Behold Seb and Shu. Stand still now, and thou shalt eat the rat which is an abominable thing unto Rā, and thou shalt crunch the bones of the filthy cat.”