Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-01
The Egyptian Idea Of Ip,mortsIity.

In Egypt, from the earliest time, the
tomb was of the greatest significance
for sculpture. OF temple ruins on the
Nile from that hoariest past between
the first and eleventh dynasties, there
is scarcely trace. How vivid the wit
ness borne to the sepulchral art on the
plains of Memphis the capital of old
est Egypt. Alo"g tie margin of the
desert stretches 'be vast Metropolis,
with hidden population of statues,
sentineled by those stupendOus royal
tombs, the Pyramids. Where else have
such preparations been made for the
final rest of the dead as in this great
campo santo of the ancient empire?
Though mingled with much that was
naive and material, how vivid were the
conceptions of that ancient people con-
eerning the future world They believed
this life but an episode in an eternal exis-
tence. Death to them was the real life
only evil spirits being spoken of rs dead.
The coffin was called the "chest of the
living" But to the ancient Egyptian
the immortal part, even after death, wa
in some mysterious way dependent for
its contented existence upon the pre-
servation of the body; hence. the impor-
tance of embalming, the care taken to
keep the body as lifel;ke as possible and
secure from harm during the long
period of the souls probation. The "eteI
nal dwellings hewn in the solid rock,
high above the floods, were III strong
contrast to the abodes OF the living.
built within reach OF the swelling Nile,
and of which scarcely vestige remains.
The massive chamber of this tomb
where lies the mummy pictureless,
and Its entrance is closed by solid ma
sonYy. 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 invlolate
the mummy's rest. Over thu concealed
entrance of this shaft there rises that
ever essential part of the tomb, the
sacred chapel of equally solid construc.
ton. In a dark recess aside from this
chapel, are found many statues walled
up. These are usually twenty or more
in number, and represent the deceased
with great diversity. To what purpose
are they here? Singular beliefs, preva
lent among the Egyptians and read from
the hieroglyphIcs by Maspero, furnisl
us the key to this problem. An immor
tai second self, ka. somewhat resem
bling the "eidolon'' of the Greeks ant
the shade of the Romans, was believed
to spring into being with every mortal
grow with his growth, and accompany
him after death. So close was the re
latlonship of this strange double kd t.
mans proper being, that it was of the
greatest Importance to provide 1t viii
a material and imperishable body which
it should occupy after death, sharing
with the mummy the security OF the
"eternal dwelling" 1t was believed
that the shade ka could come out o.
this st@tue ami perambulate among mel
in true ghostly fashion, returning to i
at will. THIS stony body for the deat
mans ka was naturally made in his ex
act likeness, and also bore an Inscription
stating his name and qualities. But I
single statue might perish and futur'
happiness be thus forfeited. Hence
that most unique feature of Egyptian
statuary, the multiplication of the por
traits of the deceasldin his tomb.