Bata

The Hero of Two Brothers

At the beginning, Bata lives with his older brother Anpu, also written Anubis, and Anpu's wife. Bata works extremely hard, ploughing fields, tending cattle and bringing produce home. One day the brothers need more seed while farming. Bata returns to the house to fetch it. Anpu's wife tries to persuade him to betray his brother. Bata refuses and reminds her that she is like a mother to him. Frightened that he may report her, she invents the opposite story and accuses Bata. Anpu believes his wife and waits to kill Bata, but the cattle warn the younger brother. Bata runs away and prays to Ra-Horakhty. A lake filled with crocodiles appears between the brothers, preventing Anpu from reaching him. At dawn, Bata explains what really happened.

He proves his innocence through a shocking act of self-injury, then leaves for the Valley of the Pine. He tells Anpu that his heart will be hidden in a tree's flower and explains signs that will warn him if Bata dies. Anpu returns home, kills his deceitful wife and lives alone, while Bata builds a new life far away. The gods decide that Bata should not remain lonely, so Khnum creates a beautiful woman to be his companion. Bata tells her the secret location of his heart. The sea tries to seize her, but she escapes. A lock of her hair reaches Egypt, where its wonderful scent attracts the pharaoh's attention. The king sends people to find the woman, and she becomes his wife.

Bata's companion reveals the secret of his heart. Men cut down the tree, the flower falls and Bata dies. Back home, Anpu's beer foams and his wine turns cloudy, the warnings Bata predicted. Anpu travels to the valley and searches until he finds the heart, now like a seed. He places it in water, allowing Bata to return to life. The brothers are reunited, but Bata still wants justice for the betrayal. Bata transforms into a magnificent bull and carries Anpu to the royal court. His former companion recognises him and persuades the pharaoh to sacrifice the bull. Two drops of Bata's blood fall beside a doorway and grow into persea trees.

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