Apophis invaded Earth and Abydos in search of Goa'uld hosts shortly after the humans destroyed Ra. Apophis took Sha're, Daniel Jackson's wife, and Skaara -- Sha're's brother and friend to Colonel O'Neill. Sha're became host to Amonet, Apophis' queen, while Skaara became host to Klorel, Apophis' son.

Apophis was a powerful System Lord, but had many enemies -- especially Sokar and Cronus. His attempt to invade Earth was thwarted by SG-1. Apophis died of wounds inflicted by Sokar, but was resurrected by Sokar and further tortured. For a number of months, he served as First Prime to Bynarr, warden of Sokar's prison moon of Ne'tu. His alias there was Na'onak. He later escaped Ne'tu to Sokar's home world of Delmak -- where he assumed control of Sokar's vast army after the latter's death. But when his ship was taken over by the Replicators, Apophis crashed into the atmosphere of Delmak and is again presumed dead.

Apophis and Sha're have a son, Shifu. The child is a Harcesis -- the child of two Goa'ulded hosts -- and possesses the collective knowledge of the Goa'uld who fathered him.