LEGENDS OF THE GODS

a scorpion, and to lie here in the arms of Death? Evil, evil is hisdestiny, for it hath entailed the deepest misery for him and death."In answer to these words Thoth, turning to Isis and Nephthys, bade themto fear not, and to have no anxiety about Horus, "For," said he, "Ihave come from heaven to heal the child for his mother." He thenpointed out that Horus was under protection as the Dweller in his Disk(Aten), the Great Dwarf, the Mighty Ram, the Great Hawk, the HolyBeetle, the Hidden Body, the Divine Bennu, etc., and proceeded to utterthe great spell which restored Horus to life. By his words of powerThoth transferred the fluid of life of Ra, and as soon as this cameupon the child's body the poison of the scorpion flowed out of him, andhe once more breathed and lived. When this was done Thoth returned tothe Boat of Ra, the gods who formed its crew resumed their rowing, andthe Disk passed on its way to make its daily journey across the sky.The gods in heaven, who were amazed and uttered cries of terror whenthey heard of the death of Horus, were made happy once more, and sangsongs of joy over his recovery. The happiness of Isis in her child'srestoration to life was very great, for she could again hope that hewould avenge his father's murder, and occupy his throne. The finalwords of Thoth comforted her greatly, for he told her that he wouldtake charge of the case of Horus in the Judgment Hall of Anu, whereinOsiris had been judged, and that as his advocate he would make anyaccusations which might be brought against Horus to recoil on him thatbrought them. Furthermore, he would give Horus power to repulse anyattacks which might be made upon him by beings in the heights above, orfiends in the depths below, and would ensure his succession to theThrone of the Two Lands, i.e., Egypt. Thoth also promised Isis that Rahimself should act as the advocate of Horus, even as he had done forhis father Osiris. He was also careful to allude to the share whichIsis had taken in the restoration of Horus to life, saying, "It is thewords of power of his mother which have lifted up his face, and theyshall enable him to journey wheresoever he pleaseth, and to put fearinto the powers above. I myself hasten [to obey them]." Thuseverything turned on the power of the spells of Isis, who made the sunto stand still, and caused the dead to be raised.Such are the contents of the texts on the famous Metternich Stele.There appears to be some confusion in their arrangement, and some ofthem clearly are misplaced, and, in places, the text is manifestlycorrupt. It is impossible to explain several passages, for we do notunderstand all the details of the system of magic which they represent.Still, the general meaning of the texts on the Stele is quite clear,and they record a legend of Isis and Horus which is not found so fullydescribed on any other monument.IX.