CHAPTER IV
SOME COSMIC AND COSMOGONIC MYTHS
I. THE CREATION OF THE WORLD AND OF MEN
The fullest text about the creation of the world is a hymn which is preserved only in a papyrus copy written in the reign of Alexander II[1] (310 B. C.), but which seems to go back to originals that are considerably earlier.
THE BOOK OF KNOWING THE GENESIS OF THE SUN-GOD AND OF OVERTHROWING ‘APOP
"The Master of Everything saith after his forming:
'I am he who was formed as Khepri.[2]
When I had formed, then (only) the forms were formed.
All the forms were formed after my forming.
Numerous are the forms from that which proceeded from my mouth.[3]
The heaven had not been formed,
The earth had not been formed,
The ground had not been created
(For?) the reptiles in that place.[4]
I raised (myself) among them [variant: there] in the abyss, out of (its) inertness.
When I did not find a place where I could stand,
I thought wisely (?) in my heart,
I founded in my soul (?).
I made all forms,[5] I alone.
I had not yet ejected as Shu,
I had not spat out as Tefênet,[6]
None else had arisen who had worked (?) with me.
(Then) I founded in my own heart;[7]
There were formed many (forms?),[8]
The forms of the forms in the forms of the children,
(And) in the forms of their children.
