when He comes from the Beautiful West
by the artisan Ptahmassu, beloved of Ptah.
He says:
Homage to You, Anpu, Forerunner of the
House of Ausir, Foremost of the Westerners
whose coming forth predicts the day
following after the night.
O Dread Lord, terror of millions,
fear of You possesses the hearts
of those enemies of Ausir Wennefer,
and their blood has watered the earth
on the day of the Haker-Festival.
It brings joy to your heart to see
the rebellious punished,
your seat upon the mount
being raised upon their bones.
O Anpu tepi-dju-ef, He Who is Upon
His Mountain, the Nine Bows submit
to your hand, Ma'at acclaims You,
the Two Banks are reconciled before
your feet, and the Sacred Land
makes a welcome of the Blessed
in your holy presence.
Homage to You, Anpu khenty sekh-netjer,
O Anpu Foremost of the Divine Booth!
The Place of Purification draws the
Blessed to your waters, where the Wedjat Eye
is filled, where the Bleary Eye regains its
sight, where Wennefer is healed and His seat
elevated within the Duat.
O Head of the West, wherein are renewed
the forms of Ausir, whose limbs are
unfettered by You, who becomes the
Seat of the Eye through your power,
where Ra is reborn by way of your
purifications in the East.
Come Anpu, Lord of the Hidden Land,
take up your skin in your name of
Imy-uwt, He Who is in the Wrappings;
wherefore the Weary One is filled
with seed, wherefore He, Wennefer,
is transformed into the Sovereign of
the West.
Likewise, all those weary ones are
filled with life,
through You they come forth by day
as dwellers in the light.
The well-equipped Spirits salute You,
the Effective Ones hail your potency,
while those enemies of the Netjeru (Gods)
are united with the slaughter block
by your silvery claws.
Homage to You, O Anpu of the Hidden Chamber.
Your place of coming forth is the Door of the
West, shinning, blinding, making a body of
light from the shade, opening the way for
those who follow after You.
Hear these, my words, O Lord of the Sacred Land,
and may I be one of those counted amongst
your entourage, going in, coming out,
and glittering as the indestructible Spirit
of the day.
- Hymn to Anpu Lord of the Sacred Land
to celebrate the initiation of a cult image in His name
by Master Iconographer Ptahmassu Nofra-Uaa
O Anpu, Lord of the Sacred West,
open the Doors of Heaven,
and open your mouth in the
presence of the West!
Homage to You, Lord of Natron,
whose scent is the scent of the
First Occasion, whose breath
brings life to the one who inhales it.
Make the giving of life, O Lord
for the one who sleeps,
make a path in the Sacred West
for the one who has journeyed forth.
Open your mouth, O Anpu,
and may my mouth be opened
by that tool of heavenly iron
by which Ptah opened up the
mouths of all the Gods.
May You in your leopard skin
place your powers upon my shoulders,
your breath in my nostrils,
your terror in my hands.
You breathe, O Anpu, and I breathe!
You take your seat in the Wedjat Eye, O Anpu,
and I too am seated in the Wedjat Eye
at the hour of its filling!
You sit upright, O Anpu, and I am erect,
never impotent, never weary like the
Imperishables.
Homage to You, O Anpu the Lord of Natron!
Your purity is the purity of the Nine Gods,
whose sweat composes me, whose brows flare
with power over my flesh and my members!
I stand in the Sea of Reeds, rejuvenated
from the efflux of your body,
and what dwells in the Gods dwells
within me.
All praise to You, Anpu, Lord of the Sacred Land,
Dweller Upon His Mount and Foremost of the
Westerners!
-Prayer honoring Anpu Lord of Natron
by Master Iconographer Ptahmassu Nofra-Uaa
All text and image copyright © 2015 Rev. Ptahmassu Nofra-Uaa