Cursing Apophis: Text and Material Culture of an Egyptian Execration Ritual

Summary

Excavations at the mortuary temple of Thutmose III have revealed papyrus fragments that were produced for, and then burnt during, the ritual known as ‘Overthrowing Apophis’ , through which the arch-enemy of the sun god Re was cursed. The article presents some of these New Kingdom fragments as well as a later but very similar piece (P. MMA 28.3.113), and compares them with the text of the ritual instructions from a 3 ^rd Century BC papyrus (P. Bremner-Rhind = BM EA 10188). The use and social context of the ritual is also discussed.