Apophis: Egyptian God of Destruction and Chaos

In every good mythological story, there is always a villain—an entity that threatens chaos and destruction, the inevitable end of everything we know.

In Egyptian mythology, that evil takes the form of Apophis (also known as Apep), the god of chaos, darkness, and destruction. 

Apophis was known by several names, including Apep, Apepai, and the Greek translation, Apophis.

The Origins of Apophis

In some of the earliest stories, Apophis was once considered the god of the sun. However, he was later pushed aside by Ra, the god now associated with the sun. Having been dethroned, Apophis harbored a great deal of resentment towards Ra and vowed to make it as difficult as possible for him to bring the dawn each day.

Apophis was depicted as born from darkness and chaos, making him the mortal enemy of light. He sought to overthrow the balance of all things. Taking the form of an enormous serpent over 50 feet long, Apophis earned the nicknames "Evil Lizard" and "Serpent from the Nile."

The name "Apep" is derived from the Egyptian word meaning "slither" and could also be interpreted as "spat out", reflecting the way Apophis was shunned and removed from his position as the sun god. Some depictions also describe him as a crocodile swimming in the dark waters of the underworld.

Photographic reproduction of ancient artwork from the tomb of Pharaoh Ramses I, Thebes West (c. 1307 BC). Source: Tour Egypt

Apophis in Greek and Roman Interpretations

Later stories from Greek and Roman mythology described Apophis as an enormous golden snake, several miles long, with a head of stone.

Apophis' Role in Mythology

Apophis was one of many gods born from the goddess Neith, making him a brother to prominent Egyptian deities such as Ra and Sobek.

Every day, as Ra traveled across the sky in his solar barge to bring the dawn, Apophis would await him, attempting to plunge the world into darkness. To combat this threat, Ra enlisted numerous defenders to join him on his journey. When Apophis appeared, they would slit the serpent's belly open, allowing Ra to pass.

One well-known story recounts a time when Apophis swallowed Ra's solar barge whole. In response, Ra transformed himself into a cat. With the assistance of Set, they managed to cut their way out of Apophis and continue their journey.

Ancient Egyptian wall painting depicting Mahes battling Apophis. From the tomb of Inher-kha, Thebes (Ramses IV, c. 1164–1157 BC). Source: The Ancient Near East in Pictures Relating to the Old Testament (James B. Pritchard, 2nd edition, 1969). Originally uploaded by Eisnel on English Wikipedia.

Symbolism and Other Tales

Cats and snakes are natural enemies in Egyptian symbolism, which explains Ra's transformation in this tale. In other stories, Apophis hypnotized Ra and his followers. Only Set could resist, repelling the serpent with his spear. Despite being defeated daily, Apophis persisted, knowing that one successful attack could plunge the world into eternal darkness.

Depiction of Set killing the demon snake Apep. Book of the Dead of Lady Cheritwebeshet (21st Dynasty: c. 1069–945 BC). Source: Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Rituals Against Apophis

Despite being a god, Apophis was rarely worshipped. Instead, Egyptians feared him and created rituals to keep him at bay. A book solely dedicated to defeating Apophis, known as the Book of Apophis, detailed spells and rituals to protect against the serpent god.

Each year, priests of Ra's temple performed a ritual called the "Banishing of Apep." An effigy of the serpent god was imbued with the land's evil, then beaten, cursed, and burned to ensure the sun would rise again.