Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-05-16
THE EGYPTIAN IDEA OF MINOR
TALLY,

TALLY.
In Egypt, from the very 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 oldest
Egypt! Along the margin of the desert
stretches the vast Metropolis, with a
hidden population of statues, sentine led
by those stupendous royal tombs, the
Pyramids. Where else have such pre-
parations 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-
corning the future world They be-
lieved 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 "chest of the living" But to
the ancient Egyptian the immortal part,
even after death, was in some mysterious
way dependent for it's contented exist.
ence upon the preservation of the body
hence the Importance of embalming, the
care taken to keep the body as life-like
as possible and secure from harm during
the long period of the souls probation.
The "eternal dwellings," hewn in the
solid rock, high above the floods, were
in strong contrast to the abodes of the
living, built within reach of the swelling
Nile, and of which scarcely vestige re-
mains.
The massive chamber of this tomb
where lies the mummy is pictureless,
and its entrance is closed by solid
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 invio-
late the mummy's rest. Over the con-
cealed entrance of this shaft there rises
that other essential part of the tomb,
the sacred chapel (naasta6) Of equally
solid construction.
In dark recess (sorda6), aside from
his chapel, are found many statues
vailed up. There are usually twenty or
more in number, and represent the de-
ceased with great diversity. To what
purpose are they here? Singular beliefs,
PREVALENT among the Egyptians and read
rom the hieroglyphics by Maspero, fur
lish us the key to this problem.
An immortal seeond-self,, ka, some
What resembling the "eidolon' of
he Greeks and the shade of the Romans.
vas believed to spring into being with |
very mortal, grow with his growth, and |
company him after death. So close !
Fas the relationship of this strange, |
ouble Ia to mans proper being, that it
7as OF the greatest Importance to pro-
ide it with material and -imperishable
ody which it should occupy after death,
haring with the mummy the security
the "eternal dwelling" 1t was be-
eyed that the shade ko could come out
this statue and perambulate among
len in true ghostly fashion, returning
It at will. This stony body for the
cad mans Ia was naturally made in his
zact likeness, and also bore an inscrip-
on stating his name and qualities. But
single statue might perish, and future |
appiness be thus forfeited. Hence that
feature Of Egyptian statuary,
le multiplication of the portraits of the
ceased in his tomb.-1he Century.