A Egyptian Tale:The Serpent Who Almost Swallowed Ra
Long, long ago, in the golden deserts of ancient Egypt, the people believed in powerful gods who ruled the sky, the sun, the stars, and even the underworld. One of the greatest gods was Ra, the Sun God, who brought light to the world every single day.
But did you know that Ra had a secret enemy? A giant serpent so huge and scary that it tried to swallow the sun and end all light forever?
This is the story of the monster serpent Apep and how he almost swallowed the mighty Sun God Ra!
Who Was Ra?
Ra was one of the most important gods in Egyptian mythology. He was the god of the Sun, and every morning he would rise in the sky, lighting up the Earth and waking up people, animals, and plants.
The Egyptians believed Ra sailed across the sky in a magical boat called the Sun Barge. During the day, he traveled from the east to the west. But at night, Ra had to journey through the underworld to return to the east again before sunrise.
A Dangerous Journey Each Night
While the daytime journey was calm and bright, Ra’s nighttime journey was full of dangers. Every night, he sailed through a dark, mysterious place called the Duat, or the underworld. Strange creatures lived there, and shadows danced in silence.
But the most dangerous of all was Apep, also called Apophis—a giant serpent monster who lived in the darkness.
Meet Apep – The Monster Serpent
Apep was huge—longer than ten elephants put together! His body was black like a starless night, and his eyes glowed red with anger. He didn’t like Ra. In fact, he hated light, truth, and order. Apep loved chaos and wanted to cover the world in darkness forever.
So every night, Apep tried to stop Ra’s boat and swallow the sun. If he succeeded, the sun would never rise again, and the world would be trapped in darkness.
The Battle in the Night
Every night, as Ra entered the underworld, Apep attacked the Sun Barge. The water would rise in waves, and storms would roar. The serpent would open his mouth wide, trying to eat the sun.
But Ra was never alone. He had a brave crew of gods on his boat—Set (the god of storms), Ma’at (goddess of truth), and others. Together, they would fight Apep with magic and spears made of fire.
The battle was fierce, and sometimes the serpent came very close to winning.
When the Serpent Almost Won
There was one night when Apep became extra powerful. Some say it was because people on Earth were full of lies and anger, and that gave Apep more strength. That night, as Ra's boat entered the Duat, Apep leapt out of the darkness, faster and stronger than ever.
The boat rocked wildly. The gods slipped. The sun dimmed.
For a moment, it looked like Apep would swallow Ra, and the world would never see light again.
But just in time, Set stood up, grabbed his spear, and stabbed the serpent in the eye. The gods chanted spells. Ma’at brought back balance. And with a mighty roar, Apep slithered back into the shadows, defeated once again.
The next morning, the sun rose, and the people of Egypt cheered.
A Battle That Never Ends
Even though Apep is defeated every night, he always comes back. That’s why Egyptians believed the sunrise was a miracle—a sign that Ra had won again.
Sometimes, when the sun didn’t shine brightly, or there was a solar eclipse, people thought Apep had taken a bite out of Ra’s light.
So, they would pray, sing, and shout loudly to help Ra in his battle.
What Kids Can Learn from This Tale
- Light always fights darkness. Even when things seem scary, light will return.
- Bravery is not about size. The gods on Ra’s boat were smaller than Apep, but they were brave and worked together.
- Truth and teamwork matter. Ma’at and the gods reminded everyone that balance and truth help keep the world safe.
The Sun Will Always Rise
The story of Apep and Ra reminds us that even when darkness comes, it can never stay forever. Just like Ra, we must keep going, keep shining, and believe that a new day is always on its way.
So, next time you see the sunrise, smile and say, “Thank you, Ra, for winning the battle again!”