The Sun's Night Journey

Part One · The Day Boat

Long ago, people in Egypt looked up at the sun. They asked, "Where does it go at night?" So they invented a story.

In the story, the sun was a golden boat. A sailor named Ra steered it. Every morning, it rose over the great river Nile.

All day, Ra sailed across the blue sky. His light warmed the fields and the river. Farmers and fishers smiled up at him.

At sunset, the sky turned red. The boat slid down behind the western hills. Soon the whole land was dark.

Part Two · The Dark River

Under the earth, there was a dark river. The story called it the Duat. Ra's boat sailed into the Duat every night.

There was no wind there. So helpers took a long rope and pulled the boat. It glided along, slowly and steadily.

The golden boat was the only light in the Duat. It shone on the cave walls. Sleepers woke up and smiled.

Then they closed their eyes again. Ra sailed on, and the dark closed in behind him. The night was long.

Part Three · The Great Snake

In the deepest dark, a huge snake was waiting. His name was Apep. He did not like the light.

Apep coiled across the water. The boat could not pass. "I will stop the sun!" he hissed.

The helpers stood still. The golden glow grew dim. Everyone in the boat held their breath and waited.

Then Ra stood up tall at the front. His light blazed bright. The whole crew shouted together.

Apep could not bear the glare. He slid back into the darkness. The snake was driven off, safe and unhurt.

The helpers took up the rope again. A gate opened, and gray light came in. The last hour of the night had come.

The boat rose out of the darkness. The sky turned pink, then gold. The sun was back again!

People in Egypt cheered. The night was long, they said. But the morning always came.