Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/60

 intended to leave this world, and to ascend into heaven, and that all those who would see his face must follow him thither. Then he went up into heaven and prepared a place to which all might come. Then he said, “Ḥetepsekhetāa,” i.e., “Let a great field be produced,” and straightway “Sekhet-ḥetep,” or the “Field of peace,” came into being. He next said, “Let there be reeds (āaru) in it," and straightway “Sekhet Āaru,” or the "Field of Reeds,” came into being. Sekhet-ḥetep was the Elysian Fields of the Egyptians, and the Field of Reeds was a well-known section of it. Another command of the god Rā resulted in the creation of the stars, which the legend compares to flowers. Then the goddess Nut trembled in all her body, and Rā, fearing that she might fall, caused to come into being the Four Pillars on which the heavens are supported. Turning to Shu Rā entreated him to protect these supports, and to place himself under Nut, and to hold her up in position with his hands. Thus Shu became the new Sun-god in the place of Rā, and the heavens in which Rā lived were supported and placed beyond the risk of falling, and mankind would live and rejoice in the light of the new sun.

At this place in the legend a text is inserted called the “Chapter of the Cow.” It describes how the Cow of Heaven and the two Boats of the Sun shall be painted, and gives the positions of the gods who stand by the legs of the Cow, and a number of short magical names, or formulae, which are inexplicable. The 