| In Egyptian
mythology, Babi was the deification
of the baboon, one of the main animals present
in Egypt, and it is thought that from his
name we get the word baboon. His name is
usually translated as Bull of the baboons,
and roughly means Alpha male of all baboons,
i.e. chief of the baboons. Since Baboons
exhibit many human characteristics, it was
believed in early times, at least since
the Predynastic Period, that they were deceased
ancestors. |
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In particular, the alpha males were identified
as deceased rulers, referred to as the great white
one (Hez-ur in Egyptian), since Hamadryas baboon
(the species prevalent in Egypt) alpha males have
a notable light grey streak. For example, Narmer
is depicted in some images as having transformed
into a baboon.
Since baboons were considered to be the dead, Babi was viewed
as an underworld deity. Baboons are extremely agressive, and
carnivorous, and so Babi was viewed as being very bloodthirsty,
and living on entrails. Consequently, he was viewed as devouring
the souls of the unrighteous after they had been weighed against
Ma'at (the concept of truth/order), and was thus said to stand
by a lake of fire, representing destruction. Since this judging
of righteousness was an important part of the underworld,
Babi was said to be the first born son of Osiris,
the god of the dead amongst the same areas as Babi was believed
in.
| Baboons also have noticeably high sex
drives, in addition to their high level
of genital marking, and so Babi was considered
the god of virility of the dead. He was
usually portrayed with an erection, and
due to the association with the judging
of souls, was sometimes depicted as using
it as the mast of the ferry which conveyed
the righteous to Aaru,
a series of islands. Babi was also prayed
to, in order to ensure that an individual
would not suffer from impotence after death. |
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