The Book of Gates: The Book of Gates: Chapter VI. The Gate Of Teka-Hra. The Fifth Division of the Tuat
THE boat of the sun having passed through the Fourth Division of the Tuat arrives at the gateway which leads to the FIFTH DIVISION. This gateway is similar to that which guards the Fourth Division, and is guarded by nine gods, who are described as the "Fourth company;" at the entrance to the corridor and at its exit stands a jackal-headed god, the former being called AAU, and the latter TEKMI, each is said to "extend his arms and hands to Ra." The corridor is swept by flames of fire, as before. The gateway is called ARIT, and the text says, "This great god cometh to this gateway, and entereth in through it, and the gods who are therein acclaim him," The nine gods say to In the middle of this Division we see the boat of Ra being towed on its way by four gods of the Tuat; the god is in the same form as before, and stands in a shrine enveloped by MEHEN. SA stands in the bows, and HEKA at the stern. In front of those who tow the boat are nine shrouded gods, with projecting elbows; each of these holds in his hands a part of the body of a long, slender serpent, and the group is called "those who hold ENNUTCHI." In front of these are
THE GATE OF TEKA-HRA.
THE FIFTH DIVISION OF THE TUAT.
The text relating to the bearers of the serpent reads:--
"Those who are in this scene carry this serpent. Ra striketh them and advanceth towards them to make himself to rest in [the gateway called] NEBT-AHAU. This serpent travelleth as far as it (i.e., this (gateway), but he passeth not beyond it. Ra saith unto them:--'Strike ye the serpent ENNUTCHI there, give him no way [whereby to escape], so that I may pass by you. Hide your arms, destroy that which
"Unto those who have spoken what is right and true upon earth, and who have magnified the forms of the god, Ra saith:--'Praises shall be [sung] to
your souls, and there shall be breath to your nostrils, and there shall be to you joints in SEKHET-ARU. That which shall be indeed yours is what belongeth to the MAATI GODS. The habitations which shall be yours shall be (or, are) at the corner where [live] those who are with me who weigh words for them.' Their food is of bread-cakes, and their drink of tchesert drink, and their libations are of cool water. Offerings are made unto them upon earth as to the Ra saith unto this god:--"Let him that is over his Corner (HERI-QENBET-F) cry out to those souls who are right, and true, and divine, and make them to sit at peace in their habitations at the Corner of those who are with myself." On the right hand of the path of Ra in the Fifth Division of the Tuat are:--1. Twelve male beings bowing in adoration; they are described as "those who make adorations in the Tuat." 2. Twelve male beings who bear in their hands a cord for measuring plots of ground and estates; these are called "Holders of the cord in the Tuat." Four gods, standing upright, each holding the symbol of life in his right hand, and a sceptre in the left. The passage in the text which refers to the adorers reads:-- "[These are] they who make songs to Ra in Amentet and exalt Heru-khuti. [These are they who] knew Ra upon earth, and who made offerings unto him. Their offerings are in their place, and their glory of Ra, and their drink is of his tcheser drink, and their libations are made of cool water, and offerings are made unto them on the earth in [return] for the praisings which they make unto Ra in Ament." The passage in the text which refers to the holders of the measuring cord reads:-- "[These are they who] hold the measuring cord in Ament, and they go over therewith the fields of the KHU (i.e., the beatified spirits). [Ra saith to "Hail, journey on, O KHUTI, for verily the gods are content with that which they possess, and the KHU are content with their homesteads. Their food [cometh] from Sekhet-Aru, and their offerings from that which springeth up therein. Offerings are made unto them upon earth from the estate of Sekhet-Aru." To the four bearded gods Ra saith:--"Holy are ye, O HENBI gods, ye overseers of the cords in Amentet. [O stablish ye fields and give [them] to the gods and to the KHU (i.e., spirits) [after] they have been On the left of the path of the boat of Ra are:--1. A hawk-headed god, leaning upon a staff; he is called Horus. 2. Four groups, each group containing four men. The first are RETH, the second are AAMU, the third axe NEHESU, and the fourth are THEMEHU. The RETH are Egyptians, the AAMU are dwellers in the deserts to the east and north-east of Egypt, the NEHESU are the black races and NEGROES, and the THEMEHU are the fair-skinned Libyans. 3. Twelve bearded beings, each of whom grasps with both hands the body of a long serpent; these are called the "Holders of the period of time in Ament." 4. Eight bearded gods, who are called the "Sovereign chiefs of the Tuat." The hieroglyphic text which relates to these groups reads:--
The passage which refers to the gods who make stable the period of life (KHERU-AHAU-EM-AMENT) reads:-- Those who make firm (or, permanent) the duration
of life stablish the days of the souls [in] Amenti and possess the word (or, command) of the place of destruction. Ra saith unto them:--"Inasmuch as ye are the gods who dwell in the Tuat, and who have possession of [the serpent] METERUI, by means of whom ye mete out the duration of life of the souls who are in Amenti who are condemned to destruction, destroy ye the souls of the enemies according The passage in the text which refers to the divine sovereign chiefs reads:-- "[Here are] the divine sovereign chiefs who shall destroy the enemies. They shall have their offerings
by means of the word [which becometh] Maat; they shall have their oblations upon earth by means of the word [which becometh] Maat, and it is they who destroy and who pass the edict concerning (literally, write) the duration of the, life of the souls who dwell in Amenti. The destruction which is yours shall be [directed] against the enemies, and the power to write
154:1 Or, the weeping. 157:1 Supplied from Champollion, Notices, p. 772.
Footnotes
