The tale of two brothers is among one the famous Egyptian stories. It most likely began during Seti II rule. The story explores the theme of justice and brotherhood.

THE STORY

Anubis, the elder brother and Bata, the younger one lived together. They went to farm in the morning and reared the animals later while Anubis’s alluring wife stayed at home. Bata mostly took care of the animals as he could understand the language of animals and slept in the stable.

One day, both the brothers went to the farm as always but they found that seeds were less than what they needed. Bata quickly went back home to get some seeds and asked Anubis’s wife for seeds.

Anubis wife was attracted to Bata after seeing his body so she attempted to seduce him but Bata firmly rejected her. She asked Bata to not tell Anubis what happened, Bata reluctantly agreed.

Later in the evening, Anubis came back and saw his wife was not in good state. She did not say anything at first but after repeatedly asking she told him as a revenge that Bata attempted to seduce her and beat her to this state after she rejected him. Anubis could not contain his anger, he picked up weapon and went to kill Bata.

Anubis hid in the stable and waited for Bata. Bata waked in and did not notice his brother was hiding, suddenly, a cow warned him to stay away. Bata realized something was wrong and ran away but Anubis was not listening Bata explanation.

Bata prayed to Ra-Herakhty, the sun god to save him. Ra created a lake between the two brothers that was full of crocodiles, it gave Bata a chance to explain. Anubis did not believe him so he to prove himself Bata cut his genitalia and threw it in the water.

He told Anubis he is going to Valley of Cedars and will put his heart on top of cedar tree, if the tree is cut, he will die. Anubis can make him alive by putting his heart in water and making him drink that water. Before leaving, Bata told his brother if he is ever in danger, Anubis will see beer boiling.

Anubis went back home and killed his wife for sowing discord between the brothers.

Bata began a new life in the Valley of Cedars. Gods took pity on him and created a beautiful wife for him by potter’s wheel. Since he could not protect his wife without his heart, he asked his wife to stay near him and not go far away.

The peace did not last long, her beauty was seen pharaoh and he began to covet her. Pharaoh’s solider brought the wife to him. She told the king that her husband’s heart is on top of cedar tree, she will come with him after he cuts the tree.

Pharaoh orders to cut the tree and Bata dies. On the other side, Anubis sees the beer boiling at home and immediately departs to find his brother. Anubis went to Bata’s house but the home was empty so he goes to the cedar tree but the heart is lost.

He searched for seven years but there was no result. Anubis lost hope and he took a berry from cedar tree home as a memory of his brother. He put the berry in the water, suddenly the berry turned into a heart. Anubis made his brother drink the water and Bata was revived.

Bata turned into a bull and asked his brother to take him to the palace where the pharaoh and the wife are living. Pharaoh was pleased by the present and rewards Anubis a lot of gold.

One day when no one was around, Bata in bull form revealed to the wife he was still alive and her attempt to kill him has failed. The wife was enraged; she asked pharaoh to kill the bull. Pharaoh ordered to kill the bull. Few drops of blood spilled from bull in garden slowly grew and turned into two huge persea tree.

Once again, the pharaoh’s wife heard a voice telling her he is Bata and now living as trees. The trees were cut down but no one noticed a tiny piece of wood flew into the wife’s mouth while the trees were being cut. The tree wood was used to make luxuries furniture.  

Soon, the wife became pregnant and a son was born who was chosen as the crown prince. After the pharaoh passed away, the crown prince took the throne and revealed that he is the queen’s son as well as Bata. He had his soldiers imprison the queen for her crime and made Anubis successor.

Both brothers lived happily for the rest of time and Anubis later succeeded Bata.