The Skin of the Gods

by Phil Armstrong

  “When do you think he’ll be ready?”

  “When we are,” was her clever response.

  “I’m an impatient man. It may have been passed down from Nesu to Nesu but I’ve heard that story before. It’s a legend that all children are told.” Ka waved his hands in frustration.

  “You would do well to keep your voice low. I’ve heard that story a thousand times, but never told that way. If you had listened carefully, there were some subtle, yet important, nuances. Nobody but the Nesu would have known about the shard of wood and the Anubis Amulet. Have you been indulging in your own frustration, or have you kept your eyes open?” Bener-ib shook her head, to signal her displeasure.

  Ka shot her a look and turned the corners of his mouth into a sly smile. “You don’t think much of me, do you? Slight of hand and small-minded tricks, that’s what you think of me.” Before Bener-ib could respond, Ka continued. “Yes, I noticed the polished head of Anubis. It was suspended from a gold chain, around the Nesu’s neck. Yes, I know gold is the Skin of the Gods. It peeked out from his garment twice, but I noticed. I thought the same as you. Is this Nesu Narmer, or is this Anubis in another form? This is not Anubis, so the Nesu received the Amulet from somebody. To complete your imaginary perception of me, I must confess to liking your perfume. I smelled it when I entered the room. My nostrils were confused as I tried to separate yours, from our Queen’s. Then it hit me. Another fragrance sweeter and stronger than both fragrances was emanating from the pendant. It did smell like a summer’s meadow, filled with wild flowers from far away. You should never underestimate me, these cold eyes are always surveying. I’m old and wise, beyond your comprehension. People who underestimate me do so at their peril. You learned another lesson today. Sometimes a person’s greatest strength is that they are constantly underestimated.” Ka straightened his body and turned to walk to the door. Bener-ib was left to reflect on the lesson she had just learned.

  The palace seemed quiet. Bener-ib informed her guard that she intended to sleep. She wanted him to be extra vigilant. As she instructed him, she noticed he was not paying attention to her words. He seemed nervous and stared at her beautiful eyes.

  “You will ensure my safety? I can trust you guard?”

  A strong nod of the head sealed the agreement; Bener-ib returned to her room. She had underestimated Ka and she felt bad. He had taught her a lesson today; she needed to be more respectful, the next time they met. She shook off the disappointment and tried to spend the rest of the morning rejuvenating, through sleep. The guard would wake her when it was mid-day.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 14: Mid-Day in the Great Hall

  Upper Egypt, 3150 B.C.

  Bener-ib received a stern look from Queen Nithotep; she hurried to take her chair in the great hall. She felt the intensity of the Queen’s stare pressing deeply into her guilty conscience. She had slept deeply, awakened only by her guard. Instead of rising and organizing herself for the day ahead, she had fallen back into a deep sleep. A servant assisted Bener-ib; she hastily prepared for the meeting in the great hall. Unfortunately, she was not fast enough. Nesu Narmer and Queen Nithotep had taken their seats ahead of her. Ka was entertaining a wry smile as she belatedly took her place. Bener-ib’s face flushed with embarrassment.

  “Now that we’re all here, I can begin.” Nesu Narmer flashed a look of irritation towards Bener-ib; she decided not to meet his chastising gaze. She looked at her sandals, glowing with shades of brown in the strong sunlight. She could sense Ka laughing at her. She could hear his raucous laugh echoing through her mind. She would not look at Queen Nithotep, for she knew she had displeased her.

  Nesu Narmer told the story of Ete, a high priest and embalmer to the royal palace. He described Ete’s condition and detailed his failing health. The Nesu became serious as he recalled Ete’s passing. He spent most of his life, working deep within a royal tomb. Nesu Narmer was highly animated, strutting around the great hall. He described a pivotal meeting with the God, Anubis. His hand went instinctively to his neck, as he described the Amulet given to Ete. He paused in front of Ka, “Ete escaped with his life, but the wolf God Wepwawet had other ideas. He wasn’t going to allow an errant soul leave the entrance to Duat. A heart needs to be weighed and judgment needed to be rendered.” The story continued with Ete fleeing for his life, followed by a detailed description of his wounds. A rise in tempo indicated the Nesu’s excitement. The Nesu was a gifted storyteller. He described the Amulet’s healing powers and the transformation of Ete’s badly wounded leg. Nesu Narmer was in a charismatic mood; he described the claw embedded in Ete’s damaged sandal.

  “It’s not the intention of any God to leave an artifact in the mortal world. Sometimes this cannot be helped. A God touched the Pillar of Byblos and to this day it’s revered. When Ete eventually died, he had fulfilled his promise. He’d successfully prepared his Nesu for the important journey to Duat. He’d returned the Amulet, along with the Golden box, to his new Nesu. He’d also returned the broken claw from the great wolf. Ete had made sure that he’d returned all of these powerful artifacts. They weren’t from this world and he needed to make sure they were safe.” Both Bener-ib and Ka were listening, but their eyes seemed focused upon the small Golden box resting gently at Nithotep’s feet. “Artifacts from the Gods have special powers; they need to be respected. These items have been passed down from Nesu to Nesu, to ensure their safety. The artifacts themselves are not the source of power for a Nesu. Many suspect that we are Magicians, presenting a mysterious charade. Are we truly Gods walking with you in this mortal land? Or, are we simply men that have access to unusual powers, because of these artifacts?”

  The two Magicians looked deeply into the Nesu’s eyes; both instinctively knew the answer. Outside of the great hall, a guard approached, stopping at the entrance. His heart thumped wildly within his chest, for he was angry and distraught. He was a dangerous bundle of emotions, as he struggled to maintain an air of calmness. He was angry beyond words. He walked towards a weary looking guard and stood next to him, upright and proud. An exhausted guard left his post, thankful to be relieved. Ay stood upright, his hand resting on the shaft of his spear. He could hear voices coming from the great hall, but he struggled to hear the words with any clarity. He strained his ears and even managed to shuffle his stance backwards a few inches, to be closer to the sound.

  Nesu Narmer glanced across at his beautiful Queen. “Pass me the box, my Queen.” Nithotep rose elegantly from her chair. She scooped the heavy Golden box placed at her feet. She crossed the edge of the wooden stage and placed the box in front of the Magicians. It lay directly between them. Their attention followed the Queen before resting upon the box. Nesu Narmer waited for his Queen to return to her chair. He rose awkwardly, walking towards the Golden box. He reached behind his head with both hands, unclipping his golden chain. He allowed the Anubis shaped Amulet to fall into his hand. He placed it on the floor, next to the Golden box. Bener-ib was unsure what the Nesu’s next command would be. She recognized the Golden box. Nesu Narmer had once asked Bener-ib to extend him a favor. Could she restore the broken wing of his favorite hunting Falcon? He had confided his fear of an uprising and described constant challenges to his leadership. The twin sisters En and Bener-ib were asked to guard the Golden box. They decided to keep it safe within their palace upon the hill. The Nesu had described it as, “Most important.” Bener-ib knew of the dangers facing Nesu Narmer. The sisters decided to keep the Golden box safe until they were asked to return it. As the dry weather came, the heat inflamed people’s imaginations. Splinter groups plotted to overthrow the popular Nesu and gain power for themselves. Many believed the Nesu was a fraud, a simple mortal.

  Ay was a palace guard. He thought of himself as an insider. He belonged to a group that despised the Nesu; they thought all men were equal. His lover Aya fed him information, from her duties attending to the Queen. Aya and Ay were alike not only in name. They shared a clandestine life, where they met with others
in a secret society. The society had not plotted to harm the Nesu but they were seeking the truth. Was the Nesu really a God? When Aya had been taken from him, he did not know who would be his target for revenge? Should he kill the Nesu and prove him to be mortal? Should he try to kill the powerful magician Ka? Could he trust the fanciful stories describing Aya’s death that circulated the palace? He strained to hear the conversation in the next room. He was desperate to gain more evidence. This would help him formulate his plan and exact his revenge.

  When Bes had arrived at the palace upon the hill, En knew that Nesu Narmer needed the Golden box. Bener-ib would be at the royal palace making sure nothing happened to the Nesu. He had asked for her live-in protection after his Falcon was healed. The Golden box had been sent. She trusted the royal guards and specifically Bes, to deliver it safely. Bener-ib had seen this Golden box before. She knew it was important but she did not know why? Had the Gods left this Golden box behind? Was this the Golden box that Anubis had given the High Priest? She was relieved the Golden box had arrived safely at the royal palace without incident. Ka looked at the Golden box with fascination. He could sense an energy emanating from the small object. This was the Golden box from Anubis. This was another artifact left by the Gods in our mortal world.

  Nesu Narmer picked up his chair and removed it from the small wooden stage. He placed it directly in front of the two Magicians. Sitting in his new position, he raised his eyes and spoke. “When times are uncertain and this land needs divine guidance, people turn to me, their Nesu. I represent the Gods, while acting through this mortal form. When I die, I will join my Father and my Great Grandfather in glorious Duat, along with the other Gods. The Gods visit me at night in my dreams. They speak to me through dreams, but often dreams can be misinterpreted. If I ever needed to contact the Gods directly, I could. I have the power to come face to face with the Gods but I have never used this power. If I were truthful, I would admit to being reticent about using this power. I would be unsure of how the Gods would perceive this approach. I’m not sure if they even recognize that I have this ability.” He looked down at his feet in a humble and shy way. “I will now describe ancient secrets to you that will change your life forever.”

  Ay could just hear the conversation and decided to do something, which if discovered, would cost him his life. He knew the Nesu was starting an important speech. He knew that the audience would be glued to his every word. He knew that the guard had just changed shift and that he would not be disturbed for a long time. This was the ideal moment to move forward, closer to the great hall. It would bring him within a comfortable range to hear the contents of the conversation. Ay would eavesdrop on the Nesu’s private audience and learn the secrets being shared. He knew the risks but he felt the chance was worth taking. He was still smarting from Aya’s death and wanted revenge.

  The great hall grew quiet; Nesu Narmer had reached a point of no return. He was going to break with tradition. He was going to change the course of history by breaking a secret Nesu code. He listened to the silence carefully, searching for a sign. Would the Gods disapprove? He could feel the anticipation and hear Ka’s steady breathing. He glanced at Queen Nithotep for one last reassuring look before turning to face the Magicians.

  “This Amulet is the gift given to the High Priest Ete by Anubis himself. The polished wood used to produce this sweet smelling Amulet was taken from the Pillar of Byblos. Anubis placed this Amulet in a Golden box made from his skin. This allowed Ete to return through a gate from the afterlife and back to the mortal world. I’ve told you the story of Ete and his narrow escape from the wolf God Wepwawet. He used this Amulet to heal his damaged leg allowing him to prepare the Nesu for his journey through Duat. This Amulet will bring extended health to all that touch it. Both artifacts are from the Gods and both need to be kept safe.” The Nesu leaned forward closer to the Magicians. He positioned his forearms upon the tops of his thighs and leaned in closer as he delivered his message.

  “I’m a man of great power, yet I have many enemies. My enemies want what we have. They despise the unification of Egypt and want our land, our water and our riches. The Boat people conduct raids, yet their greed continues to consume them. My sources tell of a large gathering and future plans to invade Egypt. Forces from the south constantly attack our borders and our enemies grow bolder. I don’t fear for Egypt but I do fear for my safety. I don’t fear death but I fear the opportunities for people with alternative ideas increase daily. What if I were not around to protect these priceless artifacts? They could be abused and their owners would not respect this power. These artifacts could change the balance of power across our land.” Ay smiled straining to hear more. He knew it. The Nesu was not a God; he simply possessed artifacts from the Gods, which made him powerful. If he used those artifacts then people would think he were a God.

  Nesu Narmer continued. “Death is something you should not fear. If you live your life in a way consistent with Ma’at, then you’ll be accepted into Duat. I’m a God in this mortal world. For me to become a God in the underworld, I need to advance through twelve gates. My Forefathers have all progressed through these gates and have joined the Gods in Duat. The Book of Gates describes this process of advancement. It is a secret held by the high priests. Few know the entire progression. Some of the ancient Nesu’s insisted that this journey be depicted by paintings upon their tomb walls. There are twelve gates that a Nesu will have to pass through, to join his ancestors and the Gods. Each gate is guarded with deities. I must know the names of each before they will allow me to proceed.”

  Nesu Narmer described each of the gates or sections of his journey. He equated the gates to the twelve nocturnal hours that occur each night. He outlined the gates as providing a test that represented challenge in the underworld. He spoke of time, material possessions and justice. He described serpents and Goddesses that would assist or block his journey.

  * * * * *

  In October 1820, Giovanni Battista Belzoni led a team to excavate the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings. He began on the western bank of the Nile, at Thebes. Deep within a watercourse bed, he noticed a patch of ground that looked different. It looked as if the ground had been disturbed and moved. He ordered his work crew to excavate the sand and fragments of debris that had accumulated in this area. On October 19th workmen entered a buried passageway. They progressed along a narrow corridor to a magnificent tomb. A second corridor led him to a chamber buried deep within the ground and designed to catch any water seeping down into the tomb. Belzoni passed through corridors, going to a depth of 180 feet below the surface. He reached a vaulted chamber with a stunning sarcophagus. He managed to extract the sarcophagus unharmed and shipped it to England. He attempted to sell it to the British Museum but the negotiations stalled. He subsequently sold it to Sir John Soane, for 2,000 pounds. The sarcophagus was hollowed out from solid blocks of alabaster. It was large, measuring 9 ft. 4 in. long by 3 ft. 8 in. wide. The skill of the mason, who managed to hollow out the blocks without breaking the alabaster, was immense.

  When completed, the mason handed over the sarcophagus to artisans who carved the inside and outside with hieroglyphics, figures and Gods. It was decorated both inside and outside. A brilliant copper based paint was prepared, contrasting with the bright white alabaster. The paint was a bluish green color. Today, a large number of the figures and vignettes have been stripped of their color. The first man to try to unravel the scenes and associated text was Samuel Sharpe. The sarcophagus contained speeches and described the twelve gates. It completed a considerable amount of missing information, from the Book of the Dead. Subsequent discoveries on tomb walls have pieced together the full journey a Nesu must take to progress through the underworld. Ancient Egyptians firmly believed in their heaven being located underground.

  * * * * *

  “Today is an important day in our history. Ka, please step forward and approach me.” Nesu Narmer fixed his eyes squarely upon Ka, as he sounded his name. Ka was momentarily stunn
ed and pushed his small frame quickly from the support of his chair. He approached the Nesu with his arms clearly visible and his palms facing forward. The Nesu raised his hand slightly, signaling for him to stop. Ka stood motionless, unsure of the events to follow. “Kneel and listen carefully. When your time has come to an end in this world, we all dream of joining our ancestors in the afterlife, in Duat. At first you will enter an antechamber of Duat. You’ll see the great mountain of the west. It will appear as if split in two, inviting you to travel between the two divided parts. You’ll see a boat. This is the boat of the sun. The boat will take you to the first gate; that starts your journey into Duat. Be careful, as this is a powerful gate guarded by the two-headed serpent called Saa-Set.”

  Nesu Narmer walked towards Queen Nithotep and picked up the Golden box, opening its lid. He removed two rings and gently placed them upon his chair. Turning to face Ka, he stooped to grab Ka’s arm, turning the palm of his hand upwards. Nesu Narmer placed the Golden box, with its lid still open, upon Ka’s outstretched hand. He raised his other hand to firmly press the Amulet into Ka’s palm, closing his fingers around its shape. Nesu Narmer walked behind the kneeling Ka; he stopped at his back. He took a deep breath that seemed to whistle in Ka’s ear. “I’m going to show you a power that will reshape your life forever. I want you to enter the antechamber of Duat, where you will see the gate of Saa-Set. I don’t want you to ride the boat of the sun, for I fear you’ll never return. You must return to this world for I have an important duty for you to perform.” Nesu Narmer reached down and grabbed Ka’s head. Twisting it to the right he forced Ka to look at Queen Nithotep. “I will allow you to see what no living being has seen before, but you can’t stay long. Great dangers exist in the underworld, and your soul can fall prey easily. Wepwawet will be keenly interested in your arrival and the serpent Saa-Set, will surely seek you out. I want you to look quickly and return, as soon as you can. You will enter through a bright light and you must move to this light, to return. It’s important that you think about this place, and this meeting, as you enter the light. The gate will return you to any time or place that you desire. You must not be tempted. You must return here. I have more to tell you. Look at your Queen now. See how pretty she is, sitting in that chair. I need you to fix that image in your head. This is the image of this meeting and of this time, that you will think of to return; do you understand?”