A Cosmic Duel: Ancient Egyptian Myths and the Miracle of Moses’ Staff
As Donald Trump Takes Office For The Second Time, I Ask The Question, Is He The Incarnation of Apep, The Ancient Egyptian God of Chaos?
In ancient mythology, few stories capture the imagination like the cosmic battle between Ra, the Egyptian sun god, and Apep, the primordial serpent of chaos. Yet this myth finds an intriguing echo in the biblical and Quranic story of Prophet Moses’ staff transforming into a serpent during his confrontation with Pharaoh’s magicians. Could these tales, separated by centuries and cultures, share a more profound connection? Let’s explore how the ancient Egyptian worldview might have shaped the interpretation of Moses’ miracle and what it reveals about the cultural interplay of religion and mythology.
A Religion Woven Into Life
Religion was not just a belief system in ancient Egypt; it was the cornerstone of society. Every aspect of life, from governance to agriculture, was imbued with religious significance. The gods, referred to as nḯr (netjer), were multifaceted beings representing power, strength, and endurance. They were depicted in various forms—human, animal, or hybrid—and their stories explained the natural and cosmic order. Central to this belief system was the concept of Maat, the divine principle of truth, justice, and balance, which ensured the harmony of the universe.
Egyptian religion also placed immense emphasis on the afterlife. Death was seen as a transition rather than an end, with elaborate rituals designed to guide the deceased through the underworld. Key to this journey was the judgement of the soul, symbolised by the weighing of the heart against the feather of Maat. Success meant joining the gods; failure resulted in annihilation. This intricate belief system provided a framework for understanding life and death and cosmic struggles like the one between Ra and Apep.
The Serpent of Chaos
At the heart of ancient Egyptian mythology lies the figure of Apep (or Apophis), a massive serpent embodying chaos and destruction. Apep’s existence predates creation, representing the primordial void that Ra’s light sought to banish. Each night, as Ra travelled through the underworld aboard his solar barque, he faced Apep in a battle that determined whether the sun would rise again. This eternal struggle symbolised the tension between order (Maat) and chaos (Isfet).
Apep was more than a mythological figure; he was a cosmic threat. Depicted as a coiled serpent or biting its tail, Apep symbolised the cyclical nature of chaos—an ever-present force seeking to undo creation. Egyptian priests performed daily rituals to counteract this menace, casting spells and invoking protective deities to ensure Ra’s triumph. These rites, particularly prominent during the New Kingdom, reflected the Egyptians’ deep-seated fear of disorder and commitment to maintaining balance in the cosmos.
A Miraculous Parallel
Against this mythological backdrop, Moses' staff’s transformation into a serpent takes on new significance. According to the Quran and Torah, Moses, sent by God to challenge Pharaoh’s tyranny, demonstrated divine power by casting down his staff, which turned into a serpent that devoured those conjured by Pharaoh’s magicians. While the story is often viewed through a monotheistic lens, its impact on the Egyptians likely resonated with their mythological framework.
The magicians Moses confronted were not mere tricksters; they were priests of the ḥry ḥbt class, masters of rituals designed to combat chaos. These priests, who performed daily rites against Apep, would have recognised the symbolism of the staff-to-snake transformation. For them, snakes were both protectors and destroyers—figures like Mehen guarded Ra while Apep sought to annihilate him. Moses’ serpent, however, was no ordinary snake. It devoured the magicians’ creations, reminiscent of Apep’s insatiable appetite. To the Egyptians, this may have signified the defeat of Pharaoh’s magicians and the subjugation of their gods.
Chaos, Authority, and Modern Parallels
Pharaoh, regarded as the earthly embodiment of Ra, wielded both political and divine authority. Moses’ miracle directly challenged this dual role. By invoking the imagery of Apep, the ultimate force of chaos, Moses undermined Pharaoh’s claim to uphold Maat. To the Egyptians, Moses might have appeared as a representative of Apep, a force threatening their cosmic and societal order. Yet his victory over the magicians suggested a power greater than Apep and Ra, compelling even Pharaoh’s priests to acknowledge the divine source of Moses’ miracles.
In a modern context, this archetype of chaos-threatening order finds a curious reflection in political figures like Donald Trump. Like Apep, Trump has often been portrayed as a disruptive force, challenging established norms and institutions. Supporters see him as a necessary change agent, shaking the foundations of a stagnant system, while critics perceive his actions as chaotic, undermining societal harmony and established order. This dual perception mirrors how ancient Egyptians may have viewed Apep—simultaneously feared for his destructiveness and begrudgingly acknowledged as a catalyst for renewal.
Trump and Apep: Agents of Disruption
Donald Trump’s political persona aligns strikingly with the ancient Egyptian archetype of Apep. Both figures embody chaos—forces that disrupt established systems and challenge entrenched authorities. Just as Apep sought to unravel the cosmic order maintained by Ra, Trump has frequently positioned himself as an outsider intent on dismantling the "swamp" of Washington politics. For his supporters, this role is celebrated as a necessary upheaval to revive a system perceived as stagnant and unresponsive. Like Apep, Trump has been a polarising figure, eliciting fear, admiration, and controversy in equal measure.
Apep’s nightly battle with Ra symbolised an unending struggle between order and disorder, light and darkness. Similarly, Trump’s tenure in office was marked by a continuous clash with traditional institutions, the media, and even elements within his party. Critics likened his presidency to chaos incarnate, citing abrupt policy shifts, inflammatory rhetoric, and challenges to democratic norms. Supporters, however, argue that this disruption was needed to expose and address systemic issues, drawing parallels to how Apep’s presence highlighted the fragility of cosmic balance.
Another key parallel lies in the performative nature of both figures. Apep’s mythological role was to threaten and underscore the heroism of Ra, who emerged victorious each night. Similarly, Trump’s chaotic approach often amplified the authority of his opponents, forcing them to define themselves in opposition to him. This dynamic created a polarised landscape, with Trump embodying the chaos necessary to redefine the status quo.
Cultural Resonance
This story highlights how religious narratives often adapt to their cultural contexts. The Egyptians’ interpretation of Moses’ actions through the lens of their mythology demonstrates the universality of certain archetypes—the hero, the serpent, and the battle between light and darkness. It also underscores the power of religious symbols to convey profound truths in ways that resonate with diverse audiences.
For ancient Egyptians, the staff-to-snake miracle was more than a display of supernatural power; it was a direct affront to their most sacred beliefs. Yet it also reflected the adaptability of divine messages, speaking to the Israelites and Egyptians in a language they both understood.
Conclusion
When viewed through the lens of Egyptian mythology, the duel between Moses and Pharaoh's magicians reveals a rich interplay of cultural and religious ideas. It transforms a biblical story into a universal narrative about the struggle between chaos and order, power and humility, human authority and divine will. By looking at these connections, we can better understand how ancient peoples viewed the world and how those views continue to shape our own.
I hesitate comparing the ancient world to modern politics, especially bronze and iron ages agrarian feudal monarchies to current representative republics. Two giant political parties in the US encompassing so many issues and factions, in a system that does not include the possibility of coalition governments, means it will be difficult to group any platform or politician under a single archetype.
So it is with Donald Trump. On one hand he certainly is a bull in a china shop, with ideas that clash with the DC establishment policy and norms, resulting in political and legal conflicts borne out through bombastic speeches and mutual accusations. Yet in other respects he isn't: part of his platform was restoring law and order at home and abroad, including border security, all things his voters felt had spiraled into chaos. The border wall project may be seen as a giant Migdol fortress, and many of his speeches remind me of Pharaohs who talk about restoring temples that had fallen into ruin, or the Admonitions of Ipuwer lamenting rampant disorder in society.
Certainly his opponents see him as Apep, and I am unfamiliar with any literature describing Apep as having anything positive, even necessary change. For them he is the unraveling of all things good and beneficial, a return to dark times left behind, a rebel against proper order and its progression. To his supporters, I would say he is more like Sekhmet, perhaps Sobek or even Set (before his demonization in the Late Period). These deities were fighters whose disruption was put to beneficial ends against agents of chaos, but had to be handled very carefully, like the creatures who symbolized them. In this respect they view Trump's opponents as the priesthood viewed Akhenaten: not as valid authorities but as agents of chaos who took power and were steering things on wrong track.
A thought provoking post for sure.