Egyptian belief and modern thought / by James Bonwick.

  • James Bonwick
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Egyptian belief and modern thought / by James Bonwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    is 9 feet 4 inches long, from 22 to 24 inches in width, and 27 to 32 inches in height. The cover, broken in extraction, would add 15 inches to the elevation. There are four thin grooves, two on the chest, and two on the lid, an inch from the edge, where once there was plate of copper for protection. Engraved dots, etc., outside, were once filled with blue copper, to represent the heavens. To attempt a description of the wonderful figures inside and out is beyond the scope of this work. Suffice it to say, that much of our knowledge of the mythology of the people is derived from this precious monument, with its hundreds of figures to illustrate the last judgment, and the life beyond the grave. Gods, men, serpents, symbolical animals and plants, are there most beautifully carved. Some of the epitaphs on these Egyptian tombs are very striking. Rouge and Mariette Bey have translated a num- ber, Upon a tablet of the sixth dynasty we read of one man, “ loved of his father, the favourite of his mother.” From the twelfth dynasty Ave have “I come from my coun- try. I arrive at the funeral region, I have done actions desired by men, and those which are commanded by the gods.” On another of the same age, B.C. 3000, we have a singular entreaty and a prayer from the occupant of the tomb. He is supposed to say; “All you who live on earth, and who pass near this funeral dwelling, you who desire life for your race, celebrate the god of Amenti, and say, ‘ May Anubis, lord of the mountains, protect Hor-s-ankh ! May funeral offerings be made to the virtuous, Hor-s-ankh, son of Sebek-hotep ! ’ ” Modesty was never a remarkable virtue then, any more than now, in the epitaph line. One exclaims, “ I have given water to him who was thirsty, and clothing to him who was naked. 1 have done harm to no man.” Another prays, “ Repeat my name many times. I have told the