The idea of a person sinking down as if into the earth appears in several myths, for instance:

"A young Egyptian called Setna (or Seton Chamwese) wanted to steal the magic book of Thot from the corpse of Nefer-ka Ptah, one of the great Egyptian gods, who was often portrayed as a mummy.

Ptah, however, was awake and asked him: 'Are you able to take this book away with the help of a knowing scribe, or do you want to overcome me at checkerboards? Will you play 'Fifty-Two'?'

Setna agreed, and the board with its 'dogs' (pieces) being brought up, Nefer-ka Ptah won a game, spoke a formula, laid the checkerboard upon Setna's head and made him sink into the ground up to his hips. On the third time, he made him sink up to his ears, then Setna cried aloud for his brother, who saved him." (Hamlet's Mill)

'Fifty-Two' could refer to the 52 weeks of a 364-day long year, I guess, and the checkerboard probably signifies the 'square of earth'. 'Fifty-Two' was a game played in the frame of time (as all ancient myths).

Lion and gazelle playing checkers. Papyrus picture from the 20th or 21st dynasty. Wilkinson.