Gertcel Davydov - Horus and Set - Two Ancient Egyptian Gods

Illustrator Alexey Anisimov

Translator Christopher Tauchen

© Gertcel Davydov, 2022

© Alexey Anisimov, illustrations, 2022

© Christopher Tauchen, translation, 2022

ISBN 978-5-4490-6313-7

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Long ago, when people believed that the world was flat and that the universe had sprung from a cosmic egg, ancient Egypt was ruled by Osiris and his beautiful wife, Isis, who were descendants of the gods. According to the priests, the pharaoh was the eldest son of Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. That was why he had the honor of succeeding his father and becoming the fifth ruler of Egypt.

The gods could be distinguished from the people by their height and physical strength, as well as their knowledge of science, astrology, and the supernatural. Over the ages these children of the gods reverently preserved the established order. Osiris ruled these lands for several centuries and had succeeded in winning the respect of the Egyptians.

Unlike other rulers, the pharaoh did not burden his people with high taxes but rather taught them agriculture, horticulture, construction, and other sciences. To ensure that the Egyptian people did not want, he saw to it that every farmer had water and seed so that they may cultivate the land and live in plenty. The ruler also felt it his mission to eradicate ignorance, so everyone who wanted to learn was taught reading, writing, mathematics, astrology, and the art of serving the gods.

Those difficulties that did occur during his reign did not harden Osiris’s heart. Even when he handed down judgments on his citizens, the pharaoh was so magnanimous that those accused of petty crimes were always absolved, for he believed that everyone deserved a second chance. Human life was valued highly. Those accused of serious crimes were never executed but sent to cultivate the arid plots and oases of Upper Egypt. This was needed so that travelers lost in the desert could quench their thirst and find a place to stay for the night. In these parts, such a punishment was seen to be worse than death because the criminals has lost their right to tend their own plots and live in a just society.

Even though some of his generals and aides lamented their lord’s excessive kindness, Osiris was resolute. The pharaoh and his high priests believed that each person contains a spark of the divine that helps men know their mistakes and return to the path of truth. The people valued the wisdom and magnanimity of their ruler, who strongly believed that it was only by mercy that one could change into a better person.

During the many years of his reign, the sovereign’s dream of a just society did not fade for a moment. He considered his greatest achievement to be that he improved the lives of ordinary people. Now every Egyptian had his own plot of land and a roof over his head, and the children went to school for free. For a long time Osiris and Isis had no children of their own. They did not despair of this, and they knew that they would someday have an heir to whom they could leave their kingdom.

Despite his peaceful nature, the pharaoh did occasionally have to fight enemies who had encroached on his lands. The kings of neighboring powers dreamed of controlling Egypt’s riches, and they never stopped trying to subjugate its people. This meant that Osiris, who loved peace, was forced to continually defend his lands from foreigners.

He was served by his trusted general, Anubis, who accompanied his lord on every campaign. Osiris was a master strategist, and under his leadership the army never knew defeat. Violence brought woe to the pharaoh’s heart, but the prosperity and unity of Egypt came before all else. After securing his latest victory and returning home to Egypt, Osiris called for a feast to mark the occasion.

With the date set, Osiris declared a holiday and made arrangements for the festivities. Everyone rejoiced at the pharaoh’s return. In temples throughout Egypt, they held services that broke out into magnificent celebrations.

For Osiris and his beautiful wife, Isis, this holiday was joyful for another reason: Isis had recently discovered that she was with child, the future heir to the throne. The pair kept this good news a secret for a while until they were sure.

After morning prayers, the townspeople, including tradesmen and the elite, began to gather at the palace. Their sovereign, dressed in white, sat solemnly on the high throne in full regalia. Osiris joyfully received his guests, who bore with them to the pedestal gifts of bread, fruits of the earth, clothing, and other gifts of the Nile. Throughout the land people celebrated the return of their ruler alive and unharmed.

That evening, after the daytime festivities, Osiris and his honored guests – members of the aristocracy and the rulers of neighboring lands – attended a banquet at the palace.

It was a festive occasion. Many guests came to honor the return of the Egyptian ruler, including his younger brother, Set. Set had distinguished himself at a young age, and Osiris named him the leader of Upper Egypt. Osiris gave him near-complete authority in the region as a mark of respect. But despite the breadth of his power, Set nonetheless had to submit to the pharaoh. The desolate lands of Upper Egypt were far smaller than the those of the river delta, which Osiris ruled. Set, a skilled warrior, was in many respects superior to his brother. In the depths of his heart, he was dissatisfied with the way things were. He was a harsh ruler in his lands, and this provoked continual unrest among his subjects.

Even as children, the differences in their personalities were obvious. The older one was gentle, and the younger one was severe. Their parents encouraged the boys to be friends, for they knew that a rivalry would bring nothing but misfortune to the Egyptian people and destroy the kingdom. To prevent the excesses of unchecked power, from long ago the Egyptian supreme ruler was joined by yet another mysterious authority whose remit was to care for the world and promote balance, well-being, and prosperity. This was the Council of Nine. Its main goal was to ensure the balance of power in Egypt, to oppose injustice, and to prevent war. The identities of its members were subject to much conjecture. Because no one knew the names of these nine sages, whose decisions formed the basis of the pharaoh’s every decree, the people called them the Nine Unknown, or simply the Nine. Some said that they represented the major regions of Egypt, while others supposed that the Council was made up of high priests who held enormous influence in the kingdom.

Decisions of the Council were made by majority vote, and everyone, including the supreme ruler, had to abide by them. Osiris and Set, along with other divine members of their family, were part of the Council, though this was not known for certain by the people. But despite being part of the secret society, the brothers were still required to follow its decisions and agree to all of its resolutions.

Set was not naturally inclined to listen to other people’s opinions, but there was nothing else to be done. He followed the Council’s orders, even when, as a young man, he had to help his older brother, now the pharaoh, and accompany him on various journeys.