Ra and the Hidden Name
Isis, the great enchantress, desired power equal to Ra himself. As Ra aged, saliva dripped from his mouth and fell upon the ground. Isis gathered the saliva, mixed it with earth, and shaped it into a venomous serpent which she placed on Ra's path. When Ra was bitten by the invisible serpent, he suffered agonizing pain. Isis approached him and offered to cure him—but only if he would reveal his secret, hidden name—the name that gave him power over all gods and creation. Ra first listed his known names: 'I am Khepera in the morning, Ra at noon, Atum in the evening. I am the maker of heaven and e