Editing Apophis (section)

==Battles with Ra==
[[File:Set speared Apep.jpg|thumb|right|[[Set (god)|Set]]  spearing the snake Apophis ([[Egyptian Museum]], [[Cairo]])]]
[[File:Apep 2.jpg|right|175px|thumbnail|The sun god [[Ra]], in the form of Great Cat, slays the snake Apophis<ref>tomb of Inherkha, [[Deir el-Medina]]</ref>]]

Tales of Apophis battles against [[Ra]] were elaborated during the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]].<ref>J. Assmann, ''Egyptian Solar Religion in the New Kingdom'', transl. by A. Alcock (London, 1995), 49-57.</ref> Storytellers said that every day Apophis must lie below the horizon and not persist in the mortal kingdom. This appropriately made him a part of the [[duat|underworld]]. In some stories, Apophis waited for [[Ra]] in a western mountain called ''Manu'', where the sun set, and in others, Apophis lurked just before dawn, in the ''Tenth region of the Night''. The wide range of Apophis possible locations gained him the title ''World-Encircler''. It was thought that his terrifying roar would cause the underworld to rumble. Myths sometimes say that Apophis was trapped there, because he had been the previous chief god overthrown by [[Ra]], or because he was evil and had been imprisoned.

The [[Coffin Texts]] imply that Apophis used a magical gaze to overwhelm [[Ra]] and his entourage.<ref>[[Joris Borghouts|Borghouts, J. F.]] (1973). "The Evil Eye of Apopis". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology '''59'''. 114–115.</ref> [[Ra]] was assisted by a number of defenders who travelled with him, including [[Set (god)|Set]] and possibly the [[Eye of Ra]].<ref>Borghouts, J. F. (1973). "The Evil Eye of Apopis". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology '''59'''. 116.</ref> Apophis movements were thought to cause earthquakes, and his battles with [[Set (god)|Set]] may have been meant to explain the origin of thunderstorms.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pinch |first1=Geraldine |title=Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt |date=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-517024-5 |pages=107 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/handbook-of-egyptian-mythology-by-geraldine-pinch}}</ref> In one account, [[Ra]] himself defeats Apophis in the form of a [[Cats in ancient Egypt|cat]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pinch |first1=Geraldine |title=Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt |date=2004 |isbn=978-0-19-517024-5 |pages=107–108 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://archive.org/details/handbook-of-egyptian-mythology-by-geraldine-pinch}}</ref>