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The twelve hours of the night were personified as goddesses in the Book of Gates were depicted in vignettes showing
the twelve deities grouped around a twisting serpent which represented the endless of time. |
Each hour of the night (corresponding to region of the netherworld) was represented by a goddess who was protective or assistive in nature, with a particular role according to her position in the topography of the underworld. All of the goddesses strengthened the sun god in some manner until the final hour when the twelfth goddess, "beholder of the beauty of Re", witnessed the glorious rebirth of the rejuvenated sun at the night's end. Accordingly, the hour goddesses were given power by Ra to control the life spans of all living things. George Hart has suggested that ithyphallic figure called "he who conceals the hours" that is depicted in the burial chamber of the tomb of Ramesses VI could symbolize the power desired by the monarch to negate the power of time that these goddesses might wield over the deceased king. The epithets of the goddesses are as follows:
Hour - Epithet
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1 - Splitter of the heads of Ra's enemies
2 - The wise, guardian of her lord
3 - Slicer of souls
4 - Great of power
5 - She on her boat
6 - Proficient leader
7 - Repeller of the snake (Apophis)
8 - Mistress of the night
9 - Adorer
10 - Beheader of rebels
11 - The star, repulser of rebels
12 - Beholder of the beauty of Ra
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