figures of gods. Below these is Harpokrates in relief, in the attitude
already described. He stands on two crocodiles under a kind of canopy,
the sides of which are supported by Thoth and Isis, and holds Typhonic
animals and reptiles. Above the canopy are the two Eyes of Ra, each
having a pair of human arms and hands. On the right of Harpokrates are
Seker and Horus, and on his left the symbol of Nefer-Temu. On the left
and right are the goddesses Nekhebet and Uatchet, who guard the South
of Egypt and the North respectively. On the reverse and sides are
numerous small figures of gods. This stele represented the power to
protect man possessed by all the divine beings in the universe, and,
however it was placed, it formed an impassable barrier to every spirit
of evil and to every venomous reptile. The spells, which are cut in
hieroglyphics on all the parts of the stele not occupied by figures of
gods, were of the most potent character, for they contained the actual
words by which the gods vanquished the powers of darkness and evil.
These spells form the texts which are printed on p. 142 ff., and may be
thus summarized:--

The first spell is an incantation directed against reptiles and noxious
creatures in general. The chief of these was Apep, the great enemy of
Ra, who took the form of a huge serpent that "resembled the
intestines," and the spell doomed him to decapitation, and burning and
backing in pieces. These things would be effected by Serqet, the
Scorpion-goddess. The second part of the spell was directed against
the poison of Apep, and was to be recited over anyone who was bitten by
a snake. When uttered by Horus it made Apep to vomit, and when used by
a magician properly qualified would make the bitten person to vomit,
and so free his body from the poison.

The next spell is directed to be said to the Cat, i.e., a symbol of the