The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-02-03


Tho following curious theory Of life
after death, which influenced the an
ciert Egyptians in the construction Of
their tombs, Is taken from an Illustrated
paper on ''Oriental and EARLY Greek
Scripture" by Mrs. Lucy M. Mitchell,
IN the Century, rs Iint eanrt
In Egypt, from the very earliest time,
the tomb was OF the greatest signif-
cameo for sculpture. OF temple ruins
on the Nile, from that hoariest past be-
tween the first and eleventh dynasties,
there is scarcely trace. How vivid
the witness borne TO the sepulchral art
on the plains OF Memphis, the capital
Of oldest Egypt Along the margin OF
the desert stretches the vast Necropo-
Lis, with hidden population Of
statues, sentineled by those stupendous
royal tombs, the Pyramids. Where
else have such preparations been made
for the Anal rest Of the dead as in this
great campo santo Of the ancient en-
bret "a M 81 at Eeas 4sh.I 4
Though mingled with much that was
naive and material, how vivid were the
conceptions Of that ancient people con-
csgning the future world They be-
Heved1 this life but an episode in an
eternal existence. Death to them was
the real life, only evil spirits being
spoken Of as dead. The coffin was
called the 'schest Of the living But
70 the ancient Egyptian the immortal
part, oven after death, was in some
mysterious way dependent for its con-
tented existence upon the preservation
- Aha tx<xlws hovno kbo ssx,~~ov<. :. a. -
embalm1ng, the care taken to keep the
body - hfelike as possible and secure
from harm during the long period Of
-the souls probation. The "eternaI
dwellings, hewn in the solid rock, high
above the floods, were in strong con-
trast 10 the abodes Of the living, built
within reach of the swelling Nile, and
Of which scarcely q vestige remains.
Hhe massive chamber of this tomb
where lies the mummy Is pictureless,
and its entrance is closed by solid ma
sonry. From It shaft leads up, which
was at many places thirty meters deep.
and was filed with dense mass OF
earth and stone, making more inviolate
the mummy's rest. Over the con-
ceAled entrance Of this shaft there rises
that ever essential part Of the tomb, the
sacred chapel (naastaba), of equally
solid construction. ~ /. :
In dark recess (sordaSy, aside from
this chapel, are found many statues
walled up. These are usually twenty
or moro In number. and represent the
deceased With great diversity. To what
| purpose are they here? Singular be
liefs, prevalent among the Egyptians
md read from the hieroglyphios By
MAspero, furnish us the key to thii
problem.
An immortal second-self, ka, some
what resembling the "eidolon" Of the
Greeks and the shade OF the Romans
was believed to spring into being witt
every mortal, grow with his growth
snd accompany him after death. 81
close wss.the relationship of this strsngt
double la 70 mans proper being, thai
II was Of tho greatest Importance tt
provide IL with q material and imper
ishable body which. it should occupy
after death, sharing with .tha mumm,
the security Of the "eternal dwelling.
Il vas believed that the shade ka could
como out Of this statue. and persfRbu
late among men in true ghostly fashion
returning to let will. This stony bod,
for the dead mans ka was nxturali!
made in his exact likeness, and als'
bore an inscription stating his NAM
and qualities. .Buta single statue nigh
perish and future happiness be thus for
feitsd. Hence that most unique featur,
. Of Egyptian statuary. the multipicstio,
Of the portraits OF the deceased in hi
tomb - 90