The Sun-Kissed Boat: A Name To Remember

The Sun Boat, or Sun Barque, is a vessel from ancient Egyptian mythology. It was used by the sun god Ra, who traversed the sky in a solar barque, or sun boat, and passed through the underworld each night on another solar barge. The sun boat was also called The Boat of a Million Years or the 'Barque of Ages'.

The morning sun boat was called the Atet or Matet, and the evening sun boat was called the Sektet boat.

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Ra's sun boat was called the Mandjet or the Boat of Millions of Years during the day

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra, the sun god, used a vessel called the Mandjet (in Ancient Egyptian: mꜥnḏt) or the Boat of Millions of Years (in Ancient Egyptian: wjꜣ-n-ḥḥw) during the day. The Mandjet is also known as the Atet or Matet, the first of two boats travelled in by Ra as he traversed the sky daily. The sun boat was believed to carry the solar god Ra across the heavens, giving light and heat to the world.

The sun boat was also called the "Barque of Ages" or the "Barque of Ra", and it sailed across the sky each day as the sun. In Egyptian myth, Ra is said to have travelled on the Mandjet Barque in his falcon-headed form during the day, and then switched to the Mesektet Barque in his ram-headed form to descend into the underworld for the hours of the night.

The sun boat was a great ship, and Ra was often depicted alone on the day boat but was accompanied by other gods in the night boat. These companion gods included Atum (Ra), Geb, Isis, Nephthys, Nut, Osiris, Set, Shu, and Tefnut. The gods Horus and Anubis were also part of the extended 'divine family'. A lesser-known god called Anti, the 'Guardian of the Sunrise', was occasionally depicted on the sun boat as well.

The Ancient Egyptians believed that their ruler needed transportation in the afterlife, so they would bury a "solar boat" near the tomb of their pharaoh. They also included a boat or at least a model of a boat in every tomb because they believed that the soul of the dead accompanied the sun on its eternal journey in the heavens.

Ra's sun boat was called the Mesektet during the night

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra, the sun god, occupies a central role. Ra's sun boat, or sun barge, is integral to his mythological narrative. The sun barge is a celestial vessel used by Ra to traverse the sky and the underworld.

Ra's daily journey in his sun barge is a central theme in Egyptian cosmology. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra travelled across the sky during the day in his barge, bringing light and life to the world. During the day, Ra used a vessel called the Mandjet or the Boat of Millions of Years. The Mandjet is also referred to as the Morning Boat or the Day Boat.

At night, Ra journeyed through the underworld (Duat) on another solar barge, battling forces of chaos before emerging victorious at dawn. The vessel he used during the night was known as the Mesektet or the Night Boat. The descent into the Duat was a perilous journey, as Ra faced the forces of chaos, embodied by the serpent Apophis (Apep).

The cyclical nature of Ra's journey symbolised renewal, continuity, and cosmic balance. The constant confrontation with Apophis underscores the fragility of cosmic balance, and the ongoing effort to preserve order (Ma'at) against forces of disorder (Isfet). This duality resonates with the Egyptians' worldview, where maintaining harmony was a collective and divine responsibility.

Ra was the Egyptian sun god

Ra, the Egyptian sun god, was believed to traverse the sky each day in a solar barque, or sun boat, and pass through the realms of the underworld each night on another solar barge to reappear in the east every morning.

The sun god Ra was often depicted alone on the day boat but was accompanied by other gods in the night boat. These companion gods included Sia (perception) and Hu (command), as well as Heka (magic power). Sometimes, members of the Ennead helped him on his journey, including Set, who overcame the serpent Apophis, and Mehen, who defended against the monsters of the underworld.

The sun barge was called the Mandjet (or the Boat of Millions of Years) or morning boat and the Mesektet or evening boat. These boats took Ra on his journey through the sky and the Duat – twelve hours of night which is also the literal underworld of Egypt. While Ra was on the Mesektet, he was in his ram-headed form.

The morning sun boat was also called the Atet or Matet. The Matet was the first of two boats travelled in by Ra the sun god, as he travelled the sky daily. The evening sun boat was called the Sektet boat. Ra journeyed from noon until sunset on the Sektet boat to the terrifying realm of the Underworld (Duat).

The Sun Boat was also called "The Boat of a Million Years" or the 'Barque of Ages'. Under the ship swims a giant snake or deadly serpent called Apep or Apophis who attacks and battles with Ra. Apep was viewed as the greatest enemy of Ra, and therefore given the title 'Enemy of Ra'.

The defeat of Apep each night, in favour of Ra, was thought to be ensured by the prayers of the Egyptian priests and worshippers at temples. Ra was also helped by other gods.

The Sun Boat in Egyptian Mythology

According to Ancient Egyptian mythology, the sun boat was believed to carry the solar god Ra across the heavens. The Sun Boat was a great ship, called the 'Barque of Ages' or "The Boat of a Million Years", in which Ra and his companion gods sailed through the sky giving light and heat to the world and then through the dangerous journey of the night, sailing through the underworld (Duat). The companion gods of Ra helped defend the solar god against the evil serpent Apep, an act that represented the victory of right over wrong.

The Sun Boat was also the barge in which the gods travelled between the worlds of earth and heaven. There were many prayers and spells to help the solar god Ra and the other gods in the sun boat overcome Apep the evil serpent. These spells and prayers were incanted by the Egyptian priests and the worshippers at the sun temples.

Ra's sun boat was attacked by the god of chaos, Apophis

The sun boat, also known as the solar barque or sun barge, is a mythical representation of the sun god Ra riding in a boat. Ra traverses the sky in the sun boat by day and passes through the realms of the underworld by night.

The sun boat was attacked by Apophis, the god of chaos and the enemy of Ra. Apophis, also known as Apep, is depicted as a giant snake or dragon in ancient Egyptian art. He is associated with earthquakes, thunder, darkness, storms, and death.

Every night, as Ra travelled through the underworld on his sun boat, Apophis would strike, seeking to kill Ra and prevent the sunrise. Apophis would try to swallow the sun, bringing eternal darkness. This represented the ongoing battle between order (Ma'at) and chaos (Isfet).

On Ra's boat were gods and goddesses from different eras, including the dead, who would defend against Apophis' attacks. Egyptian priests and laypeople would engage in rituals, spells, and prayers to protect Ra and defeat Apophis. This linked the living with the dead and the natural order established by the gods.

Although Apophis was defeated and killed, he would always rise again, regenerating during the day as the sun god sailed slowly across the sky. This represented the eternal struggle between good and evil, order and chaos, light and darkness.

Ra's sun boat was also known as the Barque of Ages

The sun boat, also known as the solar barque or sun barge, is a central symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology. It represents the journey of Ra, the sun god, across the sky and through the underworld.

Ra is believed to traverse the sky each day in a solar barque, or sun boat, and pass through the realms of the underworld each night on another solar barge to reappear in the east every morning. These two sun boats were called the Atet or Matet, and the Sektet boat. The Matet was the first of two boats travelled in by Ra, as he journeyed from sunrise until noon. The Sektet boat was the evening sun boat, in which Ra travelled from noon until sunset to the terrifying realm of the Underworld.

The sun boat was also called "The Boat of a Million Years" or the 'Barque of Ages'. It was believed to carry Ra and his companion gods through the sky, giving light and heat to the world. The companion gods of Ra helped defend the solar god against the evil serpent Apep, an act that represented the victory of right over wrong.

The sun boat was also the barge in which the gods travelled between the worlds of earth and heaven. There were many prayers and spells to help Ra and the other gods in the sun boat overcome Apep. These spells and prayers were incanted by the Egyptian priests and worshippers at the sun temples.

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