Veranice talks Myths, Legends, & God
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.”
—Genesis 1:26
Who was God talking to? The mere thought of that scripture sets my mind ablaze and leaves me consumed by endless contemplation. Could there be multiple deities, a divine congregation beyond our comprehension? And dare I inquire if God has a companion, a celestial consort, a divine spouse? I am weird I know it because those questions excite me. And before I go any further into my thoughts, I 100% believe wholeheartedly in my lord and savior and God is everything, so do not be misled. My thoughts are as simple as a child asking why they must eat broccoli.
Moving on, by nature, I am an introvert. A book, some paper, a pen, and an empty room is heaven to me. I have a high level of respect for the written word. Reading is my soulmate, my beloved pastime! From a tender age, I immersed myself in the vast realms of literature, devouring stories hungrily. By the time I reached the age of ten, I had read an entire series written by VC Andrews. Fun fact, she died 27 days before my descent to Earth. Her books captivated me, and I am just now realizing, she may be the reason I started writing. Ha! You might argue those books were not suitable for a child's consumption, but I suspect my dear Gran merely acquired them for their alluring covers. Know what else was nestled within her bookshelves? Various versions of the Bible. To an insatiably curious child, these sacred texts were just as captivating as the thrilling Animorphs series. Judge me, but those tales of shape-shifting warriors enthralled me to no end! But let us not digress, for the crux of the matter lies in my youthful naivety. You see, I failed to grasp that religion transcended the realm of fantasy; that it held a profound significance beyond the confines of my imagination.
Walk with me as a child: God creates a man and a woman, and from them, others emerge, as I dive into the depths of knowledge and... hold up, the Egyptians! But wait a second — how did they end up over there? We began here, yet they have already established dominion elsewhere. I swiftly skim through the pages, desperate to uncover what I may have overlooked. Call me Matilda, I ventured into the sacred halls of my local library, seeking solace within the historical realm. My mind was shattered when I discovered the written accounts etched upon the walls of that African land! Deities, both malevolent and benevolent, roamed those ancient lands, adorned with the heads of jackals and the wings of falcons. Kings and queens reigned supreme, and in that moment, I sensed a profound connection. A connection to my very roots, a link to my ancestral heritage that I shall forever cherish. Surely, I understood Genesis now. “Let us…” played in my mind. I must be created in the image of the goddesses. I cannot be of Adam nor Eve because science and genetics has already taught me non-melanated humans cannot create a melanated human, and friend, I am too dark to be of Eve. I said it. But let us move on.
For countless moons, the 1998 animated masterpiece, "Prince of Egypt," served as my guiding light, my beacon of knowledge. Judge me as you will, but I devoured that film as if it were the very essence of life itself. Let me poke another bear here though, the likes of Rameses, Hatshepsut, Alex, and Cleo, have never captivated my imagination. Their tales lack the enchantment that ignites my soul. Only Tut, the boy-king left a lingering sense of wonder, the last vestige of magic in this world. And don’t forget this fact, straight from the biblical realm—Moses had to come and clean house and that is straight from the divine playbook. Not my opinion.
Back to the movie. So, God is present in this animation and yet the Egyptians believed in their gods no matter what Moses spewed. How is this possible? Who were these powerful beings, who held so much respect and had such a huge following that Moses and his power did not sway their humans? The ancient ones left behind a veil of riddles that shall forever elude complete comprehension, captivating the curious souls who dare to embark on the quest of unraveling their secrets. The corridors of knowledge held little wisdom when it came to the ancient biblical tales, until destiny intervened and thrust me into the enchanting realm of mythology during my middle school years. By accident, my counselor stuck me in a Mythology course when I was supposed to do an extra math class. The sheer exhilaration that coursed through my veins! Finally, I was granted the opportunity to delve into the stories of Egyptian gods and goddesses, but also those of the mighty Greek pantheon. Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Aphrodite, Medusa, centaurs, and giants beckoned me towards a world that resonated with my very being. A fervent desire to weave tales around these divine entities consumed me. But the excitement was turning to fear because a crucial element eluded my grasp - a narrative to anchor my imagination. The perplexity intensified as I grappled with the dissonance between the biblical scriptures and the tangible lands from which these mythical legends sprung forth. My thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of uncertainty...
I’m about 12 now, Titanic hits Blockbuster and I watched it with rapt attention. But, being a thinker, my mind refused to accept the tragic sinking as a mere accident. A nagging feeling tugged at the corners of my consciousness, urging me to dig deeper. And so, I embarked on another journey of curiosity and fascination. Amidst the captivating images of Leonardo DiCaprio and my endless quest to uncover the truth behind Rose's existence, fate led me to stumble upon an article. A mysterious tale unfolded before my eyes, weaving a ghostly connection between the ill-fated ship and an ancient Egyptian mummy. I will never forget screaming in excitement in the library.
This legend unfurled its ancient roots back to the year 1890, when four affluent Englishmen acquired a coffin known as Princess Amen-Ra, from the historical city of Luxor, Egypt. Whispers of caution accompanied this macabre purchase, warning that anyone who dared lay a hand on the mummy would meet their untimely demise. But the allure of wealth and power blinded these men to the ominous predictions, and they selfishly claimed her as their own.
Picture this: a coffin, adorned with ancient hieroglyphics, embarked on a grand adventure upon a magnificent White Star liner. Little did the world know that this voyage would be the mummy's loudest warning. As fate would have it, the ill-fated ship met its watery demise, sinking to the ocean floor. Yet, amidst the chaos and despair, the mummy emerged with her own lifeboat! Can you believe it? A mummy, possessing a boat that 75 human souls could have been saved on, defying all odds.
The article chronicled the terrifying chaos that continued wherever the cursed coffin traveled. Misfortune befell her unfortunate owners, one by one, until death claimed them all. The tale resonated with a haunting aura, entwining history and the supernatural in a chilling dance.
The tale ends with Unlucky Coffin #22542 being shipped to London from New York, where today, she sits in a room in the British Museum. All articles on the matter dubs this tale a hoax. The museum has stated that she has never been to America. How could a cursed mummy cause an iceberg to sink a ship? We will never know, but what I know is, my heart is sad that she never found her way back to the sacred land of Luxor. Back to her tomb, where she belongs. Don't take my word for it, go ahead and Google it! Myth or not, this is no ordinary ghost story; all stories originate from some truth and let me tell you, dear readers, when I stumbled upon this story, I knew I had struck gold. It was the missing piece I had been searching for, a story that needed to be written. But I kept searching for more answers in biblical tales and myth.
"Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Pharaoh and Egypt and HER gods and HER kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust him.”
—Jeremiah 46:25
In the Egyptian God creation story, all come from Nun. Nun is neither man nor woman. I think of her as a she because I like to think of “mother earth.” I associate Nun as the “her” in this scripture. Myth meets God again. The wrath that was unleashed upon those who dared to defy the almighty! Isis, Thoth, Hathor, Sobek, Set, Osiris, Sekret, Horus, Neith, Montu, and Anubis, all those deities who believed they were above the supreme. Humans, in their infinite fascination, molded themselves in the image and likeness of their gods, adopting their ways and becoming entangled in the myths, legends, and intricate tapestry of life.
But let me share another divine prophecy, this time from Isaiah. The almighty, in his infinite wisdom, declared, "And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians." Can you imagine the chaos, the battles, and the strife that took place? Brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, villages clashing with villages, and kingdoms locked in fierce confrontation. Oh, yes, we can. Turn on your local news.
But why was this necessary? That verse from Isaiah 19:2 leaves me with furrowed brows. Why was this necessary to call out fictitious gods? By this point, I was a teenager trying to decipher this meaning. If I believe in the boogyman in the closet but my sister believes the man under the stairs is scarier— then would my mother force us fight to the death because we have been consumed by figments of our imagination?
Biblical records are not merely stories but sagas that unfold before our eyes. I allowed the words of Jeremiah and Isaiah to awaken my senses and transport me to a world where gods and humans clash, where destinies are forged, and where the consequences of defying the almighty are etched into the very fabric of existence. Call me Lot’s wife because, I want to know what is happening.
In each of my literary masterpieces, you'll find a little gem of a verse. It's not part of the plotline, mind you, but it's there, like a subtle dedication. Why do I include it, you ask? Well, I can't quite put my finger on the reason, but trust me, it fits with my tales.
So, we know that once upon a time, there existed a civilization that revered a deity with the head of a jackal, angelic women with wings, and the people had a peculiar fascination with death. These folks went to great lengths to ensure their burial practices were top-notch, all in the name of meeting Maat and Osiris in the underworld. Can you believe it? It's mind-boggling to think their world wasn't real… As for me, now I am an adult and after countless ponderings and the creation of four literary marvels revolving around myths, legends, and gods, I find myself coming full circle. "Who on earth was God actually conversing with?" I ask myself, as I delve deeper into the realms of my imagination.
~Vee
