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In Egyptian mythology,
Anti (Antaeus in Greek, but probably not connected to the
Antaeus in Greek mythology) was a god whose worship centred
at Antaeopolis, in the northern part of Upper Egypt.
His worship is quite ancient, dating from at least the 2nd
dynasty, at which point he already had dedicated priests.
Originally, Anti appears to have been the patron of the ancient
area around Badari, which was the centre of the cult of Horus.
Due to lack of surviving information, it is not very well
known what the original function of Anti was, or whether he
was more than just a title of Horus
referring to some specific function.
Over time, he became considered simply as the god of ferrymen,
and was consequently depicted as a falcon standing on a boat,
a reference to Horus, who was originally
considered as a falcon. As god of ferrymen, he gained the
title Nemty, meaning (one who) travels, a title by his later
cult centre, Antaeopolis, was known to the Egyptians, i.e.
Per-Nemty.
Anti occasionally appears in the tale that depicts the conquering
of Lower Egypt (whose patron was Set)
by Upper Egypt, at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. In this
tale, one of Set's attempts to gain
power consists of his collecting together the gods, and simply
providing good arguments, convincing all of them (in later
traditions, all except Thoth). Set
had feared magical intervention by Isis, Horus'
wife (in early Egyptian mythology), and so holds the gathering
on an island, instructing Anti not to allow anyone resembling
Isis to be ferried there. However, Isis
disguises herself as an old woman, and unknowingly Anti takes
her across after being paid a gold ring, having rejected the
first offer of gruel, resulting in the disruption of the counsel
by her use of magic. Anti is punished for his error, by having
his toes cut off, which is more severe than it appears, since
as a falcon, he would no longer be able to perch, and thus
would not be able to reside on the boat.
Gods
and Goddesses Menu
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