Week 5 Story: Book of Thoth

The god Thoth, Source

Ahura was sitting at home caring for her son, Merab, when her husband Nefer-ka-ptah bust through the door excitedly. Shocked at her beloved’s demeanor, she asked “Why do you look so joyful today? Did you get more pay at work?”

“No I didn’t get more pay, but this is going to be even better than money. I just talked to the old priest in the temple, and he told me where to find the Book of Thoth,” he replied.

“Nefer-ka-ptah you must be crazy! That book will haunt us all if you even dare look at it. There is no way you are going to find it,” Ahura argued.

Nefer-ka-ptah tried to explain to his wife the magic that the Book of Thoth held, but she would not barge. This book held all the secrets of the Heavens, the gods, and Mother Earth herself. If this book was seen by a human, they would soon have more power than the celestial beings. Nefer-ka-ptah was willing to risk anything for this.

Ahura held her husbands face in her hands and gazed into his eyes, knowing that if he left her he would certainly die. The gods don't want humans meddling with their world and would punish him. He was not phased by her sorrow.

“Come with me Ahura. I can’t do this alone. You, me, and Merab out at sea searching for this book. Will you join me?”

Ahura turned away, tears in her eyes, and said, “You are being selfish and stupid putting yourself in danger and threatening to put your own son in danger too, I’m staying here with Merab.”

Nefer-ka-ptah gave his wife and son each a kiss, and set off for the Book of Thoth. Ahura had not heard from her husband in weeks when she heard a knock on the door. She hurriedly went to answer, hoping to see his sweet face. Instead, a grave messenger stood at the door, sorrow in his eyes.

The messenger hesitated before he said, “I’m sorry, but your husband did not return. He found the book, but Thoth sought revenge and drowned him soon after. He died with the knowledge of a god and was buried with the book of one.”

Instead of crying, Ahura told the messenger thank you and sent him on his way. Although she missed Nefer-ka-ptah, she knew she had made the right decision.

Merab cried out after hearing his father was dead, and told his mother, “Aren’t you sad we weren’t with father when he died?”

“No, sweetheart,” Ahura said gently. “If we had blindly followed him as he asked us to do, All three of us would have died.”

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Authors Note: In the original story, all three of them go find the book and are each drowned afterwards. Ahura was hesitant to go and knew it would be risky, but still went anyways. In my story, I wanted to have her be a strong mother figure and trust her gut feeling that going is a mistake. The knowledge of the world is not worth her families lives. I decided to change the ending, so that  she chooses to stay and take care of her son while her husband does something dumb.

Bibliography: Ancient Egyptian Myths. Source