Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-02
Impressive Places OF Worship.

In the search fer the roofing stones
the slopins passage was found to lie in
the axis of the Temple of Seti and to
lead to the rear wall of the temple itself
Chambers and halls were found to exist,
impressive places of worship
Such is the present seasons inhe-i-
lance in the Oseirion. No one can ante
ipate the revelations to come from the
sloping passage and possible other apart
ments Once again those hidden in
scriptions of the great hall and cham
bers are yielding their treasured instruc-
ton. Today we may all stand among the
initiated Of Egypts priesthood; what was
impaired in secret is now declared OPEN
": the very stones speak. We really
know more of the esoteric belief of an
Gent Egypt than the average Egyptian
citizen In ancient times ever knew con-
corning his own faith. 1t was only to be
expected that one day should be found
AT Aoyoos this special plan of worship
OF Its dominant deity. the great Judge OF
the Dead That this hypogeuln should be
part OF the temple dedicated to the
worship OF the dead, with special apart
ments for the celebration OF the Oseirion
lites, is very natural and fitting 4 line
Drawn through the Temple Of Seti and
the desert pyion TO the royal tombs
passes through the sloping passage and
across the center Of the great hall, thus
showing that both were dedicated to the
same worship.
Inc south chamber is sculptured on
The east. south and west walls with the
18th chapter of the Book of the Dead
IhiS Is rare chapter known ONLY in
three papyri-one in the Cairo Museum
from the tomb of Amennotep H. one in
the British Museum OF the twentieth
dynasty and one at st. Petersburg Here
however, Is the only instance in sculp-
ture OF this chapter In none of these
papyri does the king appear nor are the
gods OF the first seven qererts mentioned
Qerert literally means cavern but as
twelve are treated here il has the force
of divisions OF the night.
Connection Is Apparent.
That there Is very close connection
between the hidden ritualistic service in
these halls typical OF the am duat the
underworld. and the ceremonies observed
by the populace in the open desert above
is at once apparent. In the representa-
tion Of tn, twelfth division of the night
we find twelve figures Of Osirified gods
in shrines and We read: The gods who
i'm their shrnes upon the sand. Out
in the metropolis close to the tomb Of Ter.
reused as the tomb of Osiris. were found
four buried figures of Osiris nodded
from mud This is the Osiris of vegsta-
ton and generation. Thou art praised.
thou who lest the sand. the lord of
the ground. The earth lies on thine arm
and It's CORNERS upon tnee ITOUl mere u
the four supports of heaven. Snouldst
thou move then trembles the earth So
sang the Egyptian psa,nlist.
The inscription upon the west side OF
the door within the Oseir'on is repre-
Sented as spoken by the King Merenp-
tab. true of voice 1t may be the very
Invocation chented by the priest in the
ceremonial offering of the libs ton cups
found In such numbers among the lines
az pottery in the desert. II is the chap
,iv,sr fAfft hxrd oxr ~ N N
a road for the soul in tine underworld
and declares i'm part: I have offered
offerings i'm the fields of Aaru have
made Iibations on earth and in the fields
OF Aaru Hail. gods. o ancestors.
Ia. lead We my soul as We lead the be-
gotten of mankind with YOU. at the side
OF the soul of Khenti-Amentu. Osiris
Lord OF Abydos.