Bainchoooch
Bainchoooch, which in Egyptian means "soul of darkness," is synonymous with the god Kek (Kuk) of the Ogdoad of Hermopolis.
The Hermopolitans claimed that their's was the oldest version of creation. They believed in the Ogdoad which represented the elemental forces of primeval chaos before the creation of the world. The Ogdoad is a system of eight deities, four frog-headed males and four snake-headed females. These were arranged in pairs to form four creative principles. Nun and Nunet (Naunet) personified the Primeval Waters or Primordial Abyss, Heh and Hehet (Hauhet) personified infinite space or eternity, Kek (Kuk) and Keket (Kauket) personified darkness, Amun (Amon) and Amunet (Amaunet) personified invisibility or hidden power.
After creation, there was a Golden Age during which the Ogdoad ruled the earth. The Ogdoad regulated the flow of the Nile and ensured the sun rose every day. After their death they went to the Duat, or Underworld, where they continue their influence on the Nile and the sun.
Before creation, chaos existed in the darkness represented by Kek and Keket. They also symbolised night and the obscurity of darkness. The night was seen as a reflection of the darkness of chaos. Hence, just as Kek brought the light of creation into the darkness of chaos, so also he came to be seen as a bringer of light, and represented the part of the night just before the dawn.
In Gnostic writings, Bainchoooch is described as one of the triple powered gods who comes for the souls of those deceased who have not found the Mysteries and leads them to Amente and thereafter to judgement and purification. Amente is inhabited by the dragon of the outer darkness, and is a region of chastisement through "violent cold and the hail and exceedingly violent fire."
In magickal texts, Bainchoooch is described as "him who appeared before fire and snow... who introduced light and snow, hurler of shudderful thunder and lightning."
On magickal amulets his name was written in association with the Gnostic gods Iao and Abraxas as well as Hecate, Serapis and Harpocrates.
In late antiquity, Bainchoooch was called upon for divination, to compel gods such as Harpocrates to come to the magickian, and to soothe fits of anger.
