Apophis (1) (Apep, Apepi) A giant serpent with
mystical powers who was the enemy of the god RÉ.
Apophis lived in the waters of NUN, the cosmological area
ofchaos, or in the celestial waters of the Nile, the spiri-
tual entity envisioned in Egyptian religious texts. He
attempted each day to stop Ré from his appointed passage
through the sky. In some traditions, Apophis was a previ-
ous form of Ré that had been discarded, a myth that
accounted for the strength of the creature. Apophis was
deemed to be a legitimate threat to Ré by the Egyptians.
On sunless days, especially on stormy days, the people
took the lack of sunshine as a sign that Apophis had
swallowed Ré and his SOLAR BOAT. Apophis never gained a
lasting victory, however, because of the prayers of the
priests and the faithful. The ritual document, “the Book
of OVERTHROWING APOPHIS,” and “the Book of Knowing
How Ré Came into Being and How to Overthrow
Apophis” were discovered in KARNAK, and in the Papyrus
Bremner-Rhind, and contained a list of the serpent’s
secret names that would wound him if recited aloud and
a selection of hymns to be sung to celebrate Ré’s victories.
A series of terrible assaults were committed upon
Apophis each time the serpent was defeated, but he rose
in strength that following morning, an image of evil
always prepared to attack the righteous. Apophis was the
personification of darkness and evil.
Apophis (2) (’Awoserré)(d. 1542 B.C.E.) Ruler of the
Fifteenth Dynasty (Hyksos), called “the Great”
He reigned from c. 1585 B.C.E. until his death. Apophis
ruled over the DELTAregion from AVARISwhile the Seven-
teenth Dynasty (c. 1585–1542 B.C.E.) ruled Upper Egypt
from THEBES. He was mentioned in the SALLIER PAPYRIand
the RHIND PAPYRUSand on the KARNAKStelae. His contem-
poraries were Sekenenré TA’OIIand Wadj-Kheperré
KAMOSE(r. 1555–1550 B.C.E.) in Thebes. These Theban
rulers began to reclaim land during his reign, forcing the
HYKSOSto retreat northward.
Apophis sent word to Sekenenré Ta’o II that the snor-
ing hippopotami in the sacred pool at Thebes kept him
awake at night with their unseemly noises. This was per-
haps a sheer literary device used by the Thebans to justify
their cause, but Sekenenré Ta’o II, receiving the message,
decreed that it was insult, because Apophis’s bedchamber
was more than 400 miles away. He promptly declared
official war on Avaris and began the campaign to drive
them out of Egypt. He was slain in battle or in an
ambush, and KAMOSE, his eldest son, took up the crusade
with renewed vengeance.
The Hyksos gave way up and down the Nile, and
Apophis died in Avaris, possibly from old age or from the
stress of seeing the Thebans’ victorious advance into his
kingdom. He had ruled northern Egypt down to CUSAE.
Apophis usurped the colossal sphinxes of AMENEMHET III
(r. 1844–1797 B.C.E.). His daughter was HERIT. Her name
was found in the tomb of AMENHOTEP I(r. 1525–1504
B.C.E.).“appearing” An ancient Egyptian term for the dawn-
ing of a god or the coronation or emergence of a ruler, as
a manifestation of a deity. The term was considered
appropriate for use in the titles of barks and buildings.
See also HORIZON;WINDOW OF APPEARANCE.Apries (Wa’a ibré)(d. 570 B.C.E.)Fifth ruler of the
Twenty-sixth Dynasty
He reigned from 589 B.C.E. until his death, the son of
PSAMMETICHUS IIand probably Queen TAKHAT(3). An
active builder, he added sphinxes to the shrine at
HELIOPOLISand aided the revival of the cult of OSIRISin
ABYDOS. He also supported the Palestinian states in their
revolt against Babylon, although records indicate that at
one point he withdrew his aid. NEBUCHADNEZZERwas on
the throne of Babylon during Apries’s reign.
Apries then involved Egypt in a dispute between the
Libyans and the Greeks. Sending an Egyptian army to aid
the Libyans, he saw his units destroyed and faced a
mutiny among his native troops. Apries sent his general
AMASIS to put down the revolt. Amasis sided with the
Egyptian troops and was declared the ruler. Apries, exiled
as a result, went to Babylon and returned to Egypt in 567
B.C.E. to face Amasis at the battle of MOMEMPHIS, aided by
Babylonian troops, a battle recorded on a massive red
stela.
Having only mercenaries in his command, Apries lost
the battle. Some records indicate that he was taken as a
prisoner to his former palace. After a time he was turned
over to the irate Egyptian troops that he had formerly
commanded and was slain by them. Apries was given a
solemn state funeral by Amasis (r. 570–526 B.C.E.) and
buried in SAIS. The tomb of Apries was vandalized by
CAMBYSES(r. 525–522 B.C.E.), who dug up his body and
had it dismembered. A magnificent black granite heart-
shaped vase, dedicated to the god THOTHby Apries, is
now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Apries was hon-
ored by an invitation to conduct the Olympic games in
Greece. He also had a personal bodyguard of Greeks and
Carians. His sister,ANKHESNEFERIBRÉ, became a GOD’S
WIFE OF AMUNat THEBES.Apuleius, Lucius (fl. second century B.C.E.) Platonic
philosopher and a visitor to Egypt
He was also called Apuleis of Madaura, as he was born
there, c. 125 B.C.E. Apuleius visited Egypt and was a
devout worshiper at the ISISfestivals.Arabian Desert The eastern desert of Egypt, moun-
tainous and rutted with deep wadis or dry riverbeds, this
hostile region protected Egypt from invaders crossing the
Red Sea or the SINAI. The sandy terrain is marked by a44 Apophis