Hapi Days (or, Ramesses in DeNile)

The History of Egypt Podcast

Hapi was Egypt. The life-giving waters of the annual flood (inundation) were his work; and thanks to these waters, Egypt flourished, its people were fed, the gods received their offerings, and the social order was maintained. From the New Kingdom, papyrus and ostraca record songs/poems to the river god, called "Praise (dua) of Hapi." From the days of Ramesses II, we also have elaborate proclamations to the god and his blesings...

A Hymn to Hapi (excerpt)

Hail to you Hapi, who comes forth from the earth,

Who arrives to give life to Egypt (Kemet),

Hidden of nature, like darkness in the day,

Whose followers sing to him,

Who floods the fields, created by Ra,

Who causes every herd to live,

Who satisfies the desert, which is far from water,

He (Hapi) is the moisture, descending from the sky…

...

Egypt is awakened; its exhaustion has gone!

All the creatures celebrate, when (Hapi) makes the Two Banks green.

When he pours forth abundance, among the old and young alike.

How lovely the lotus, whose blossoms dot the flood, that they may tell the happiness to come.

...

Come, O god (Hapi)… do not be slow!

Do not be cruel, reducing what we have, for you might do wrong to the innocent…

May you (Hapi) give breath to the nose, when you come.

O Hapi, do not sink into the ground…

Your perfection is here before us, so that we may turn back to your keeping; and the gods are near…

...

For more information about Hapi and Hymns to the Nile:

• Foster, J. L. (1995). Hymns, Prayers, and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry.

• Lichtheim, M. (1973). Ancient Egyptian Literature Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms.

• Quirke, S. (2004). Egyptian Literature 1800 BC: Questions and Readings.

• Siuda, T. L. (2024). The Complete Encyclopedia of Egyptian Deities.

• Wilkinson, R. H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt.

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