Setne Khamwas And The Book Of Magic Written By Thoth

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - According to an ancient Egyptian myth, it is hazardous to interfere with the dead. This warning was written down on papyri dated to the Ptolemaic Period (340-330 BC.

Pectoral from Khaemweset's Serapeum tomb burial bearing Ramesses II's cartouche. source

Setne Khamwas (also Setne Kham, Khaemwaset, Khamwese) - "he who appeared in Thebes" was the fourth son of Ramesses II and high priest of Ptah at Memphis. He was a magician who devoted his time to studying books and ancient monuments.

His mother was Istnofret, one of the most prominent of the royal wives of Pharaoh Ramesses II and Nefertari, and was the chief queen after Nefertari's death. Setne Khamwas later became famous as a 'magician'; today, he is considered the first archaeologist thanks to his interest in ancient monuments and their restoration.

For example, the 5th Dynasty pyramid of Unas at Saqqara bears Setne Khamwas' inscription high up on the south face of the structure.

One day, he was told of the existence of a book of magic written by the god Thoth himself. He learned that the book was kept in the tomb of Prince Neferkaptah, who had lived a long time ago, and his tomb was located in the vast necropolis to the west of Memphis.

The Tomb of Khaemweset is one of the finest, with beautifully preserved colors; the reliefs give prominence more to the prince's father Ramses III, than to the prince himself. Image: Public Domain

Most probably, Setne searched for the "Book of Thoth," written by the god of Wisdom. The mysterious work was the legendary repository of occult knowledge, which Neferkaptah stole, but possessing the magical book cost him his life.

Finally, Setne finds the tomb and opens it with his brother's help. He entered the tomb and saw the magical book radiating an intense light.

He tried to seize it, but the spirits of Neferkaptah, his wife and son, suddenly appeared to defend their cherished possession.

Setne had to play a board game with Neferkaptah to earn ownership of the magical book.

"If you want the book," Neferkaptah said, "you will have to play draughts for it." They took out aboard and began to play.

Setne Khamwas lost three games. After each victory, Neferkaptah hit his opponent over the head and drove him to the ground until, finally, only his head was above the soil. At this point, Setne Khamwas sent his brother to fetch his magic amulets; by their power, he could break free and grab the book.

Gold mask with the likeness of Khaemweset from the Apis bull burial. source

On his return to the outside world, he began to read avidly, ignoring all advice to return to the book.

Shortly afterward, however, he saw a beautiful woman walking past his window and was captivated by her sight. He begged her to make love to him. She said she would, but only because he hands her all his property and kills his children. Setne Khamwas agreed, little knowing that the woman was a spirit called Tabubu and that he was under her spell.

Setne Khamwas hardly had time to remove his clothes when Tabubu vanished, and the pharaoh suddenly entered the room. His embarrassment was relieved only by the news that it had all been a bad dream and his children were still alive.

He was determined to return the book to Neferkaptah's grave and relinquish ownership. He realized the book's knowledge was dangerous, and it would be better to keep it hidden forever.

Is it so that magic is a weapon reachable for humans, but the ultimate secrets of life and the world belong only to the gods?

Updated on Nov 22, 2023

Written by A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

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