THE EGYPTIAN FOUNDATIONS OF GNOSTIC THOUGHT

(Keph. 65 161.12) 33
...it shows all creations in their chaotic state; they seethe in their hearts,
committing evil and perdition. The fourth: the heaviness of sleep lies upon (one)
striking one down with sleep, and one lies, sleeping, resting like a corpse in the
night.
(Keph. 65 161.1) 34
When thou settest in the Western horizon, the earth is in darkness after the
manner of death. Men spend the night indoors with the head covered, the eye
not seeing its fellow. Their possessions might be stolen, even when under their
heads, and they would be unaware of it. Every lion comes forth from its lair and
all snakes bite. Darkness lurks, and the earth is silent when their Creator rests
in his habitation.
(‘Great Hymn’, tomb of Ay, Akhenaten) 35
D. The overthrow of the forces of Darkness
The living Spirit will come suddenly... he will succour the Light. But the work
of Death and the Darkness he will shut up in the dwelling that was established
for it... (Psalms CCXXIII 11.13-16) 36
Glory and victory to our Lord Mani, the Spirit of Truth, that cometh from the
Father. (11.29-30) 37
Then he took the darkness in the middle of his Light and swept it out. Again, in
this way he dispersed the fear within his peace
...when he shines upon all the world the wicked snake and sharp-toothed beast
who are full of baseness run to hide in their caves.
(Keph. 65 159. 25 & 160.4) 38
May you be keen, may your soul be glorious, may you annihilate the enemies of
Re! The Joined Together makes you breathe, and you shine; your darkness is
dispelled while you call the One in His Disk and the One in His Disk calls you...
When he sees his (own) bodies and makes his transformations in the region with
mysterious qualities, when he places the rays into the darkness of those who
hide the naked bodies, he inherits the Mysterious caverns, he gives eyes to the
gods - they see, and their souls are glorious.
33
Ibid., 161.
34
Ibid., 161.
35
Cyril Aldred, Akhenaten: King of Egypt (London and New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988),
241.
36
Coptic transcription from M.P., 11.
37
Ibid., 11.
38
Coptic Transcription from MH, 159, 160.