Babi — the Baboon God in Egyptian Mythology

Babi

Babi is the baboon god in Egyptian mythology, an underworld demon who hinders the souls of the dead from reaching the afterlife. He is the son of the god Osiris. Babi's main occupation is devouring souls and entrails, which is why he is considered bloodthirsty and evil. He stands beside a river of fire, waiting for a sinner to appear.

His name translates as "bull of the baboons," which roughly means "leader of the baboons." In ancient Egypt, it was believed that the souls of the dead returned to earth in the form of baboons, to teach the living to tell good from evil. And since baboons, especially hamadryas baboons, were omnivorous and aggressive, Babi came to be associated with and deified through them. The Egyptians believed that baboons, upon waking in the morning, would stretch and make sounds that were the language of the gods — thereby speaking with Ra.

The cry of the baboons

In the oldest depictions, dating to the Early Dynastic Period, Babi was portrayed as a baboon with red ears, a white back, and a purple hindquarters. Since the god was also considered a deity of virility (again drawing on the association with baboons, known for their high sex drive), he was depicted with a large phallus, symbolizing his libido and his power to grant the dead a full sexual life in the afterlife.

Babi and his attribute

Incidentally, there are two myths about this particular attribute of his. His phallus was considered a bolt that opened the gates of heaven. And in Egyptian funerary spells, Babi's body is identified with a boat, and his phallus with its mast. On this boat sit fishermen who use nets to catch the souls of the dead. If the deceased had been buried with the proper spell, or if they knew it themselves, they could calm the god's wrath and escape the boat's crew.

Babi was worshipped throughout Egypt

Babi was worshipped throughout all of Egypt, but was most revered in Hermopolis, also known as Al-Ashmunein. Babi displaced the god Hedjwer, who had been worshipped in this region before him. Hedjwer was also a baboon god, but far more peaceful and benevolent than Babi.

People prayed to Babi for an active sex life

Besides requests for an active sex life or the treatment of impotence, people also prayed to the baboon god for mercy and salvation from torment in the afterlife. Various rituals and offerings were performed to appease Babi.

Over the centuries, worship of the god Babi was gradually replaced by worship of the god Thoth, and according to some versions, Babi's role as devourer of the souls of the unrighteous was taken over by the monster Ammit.

Babi — the Baboon God in Egyptian Mythology

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