Babi (mythology)

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. [George Hart, "The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses", Routledge 2005, p.44] Since Baboons exhibit many human characteristics, it was believed in early times, at least since the Predynastic Period, that they were deceased ancestors. 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 aggressive, and omnivorous, and so Babi was viewed as being very bloodthirsty, and living on entrails. [George Hart, "The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses", Routledge 2005, p.44] [James Breasted, "Development of Religion and Thought in Ancient Egypt", Kessinger Publishing 2005, p.303] Consequently, he was viewed as devouring the souls of the unrighteous after they had been weighed against Ma'at (the concept of truth/order), [James Stevens Curl, "The Egyptian Revival: Ancient Egypt as the Inspiration for Design Motifs in the West", Routledge 2005, p.423] 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, [W. Max Muller, "Egyptian Mythology", Kessinger Publishing 2004, p.131] 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. [George Hart, "The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses", Routledge 2005, p.44] Babi was also prayed to, in order to ensure that an individual would not suffer from impotence after death.

References

ee also

*Ammit