Lecture IX. The Popular Religion Of Egypt. 203
had turned back, and the goddess Astartê with him, he saw the
enemy lying on the ground, each extended like a prisoner. Then
said Ra to Hor-Be%udet: ‘That is a suitable life.’Hence the
seat of Hor-Be%udet has ever since been called the place of the
Suitable Life. And Thoth said:‘It was a piercing (deb) of my
enemies.’So the nome of Edfu (Deb) has been called ever since
by that name. And Thoth said to Hor-Be%udet:‘Thou art a great
protection’(mâk âa). Great in Protection (âa mâk) accordingly
has the sacred bark of Horus been ever since called.
“Then Ra spake to the gods who were with him: ‘Let us
voyage (khen) in our bark on the Nile; we are rejoiced, for our
enemies lie on the ground.’The (canal) in which the great god
was has ever since been called the Water of Voyaging (Pe-khen).
“Then the enemies of Ra entered the water: they changed
themselves into crocodiles and hippopotamuses. But Harmakhis
voyaged on the water in his bark. When the crocodiles and
hippopotamuses came up to him, they opened their jaws in order
to destroy the Majesty of Harmakhis. Then came Hor-Be%udet
with his followers the blacksmiths (mesniu); each held an iron
lance and chain in his hand, wherewith he smote the crocodiles
and the hippopotamuses. Then three hundred and eighty-one of
the enemy were brought to the spot, who had been killed in sight
of the city of Edfu.
“And Harmakhis said to Hor-Be%udet:‘Let my image be in
Southern Egypt, since there it is that the victory was gained’
(nekht â%). So the dwelling-place of Hor-Be%udet (at Edfu) has
ever since been called the Victorious (Nekht-â%). And Thoth
said, when he had seen the enemy lying on the ground:‘Glad
are your hearts, O gods of heaven; glad are your hearts, O gods
of earth! Horus the younger is come in peace; he has wrought [222]
wonders in his journey which he undertook in accordance with
the Book of the Slaying of the Hippopotamus.’Ever since was
there (at Edfu) a forge (mesen) of Horus.^177
(^177) The shrine of Horus, whom the legend here identifies with the son of