Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-13
AFTER 5000 YEARS.
British Museum Receives Ancient
Egyptian Poem 1923 Feet Long.


Tbs already magnificent collection of
Egyptian papyri in the British Museum
has been still further enriched by the
gift by Mrs. Mary Greenfield of a
splendid Theban version of the Book of
the Dead of the period of the New En-
pre- 1000 E. C. OF this work the muse
UNI already possesses fine examples i'll
the papyri of Ami, Nh, and Henefef,
but the latest addition contains a num-
Der Of hitherto unknown literary COM
positions, hymns, litanies, and SER
vices. Additional Importance is at
tached to the papyrus in that it be-
ongs to a period of great historical
Importance, and the date of its COM
position can be fixed with certainty.
The papyrus, which measures 123
'eet in length and about is inches in
width, was found between 1871 and
1881 in the hiding place of the royal
mummies at DER ell Bahari. The
ady for, or by, whom the papyrus was
written was named Nesi-ta- nebt
Asheru. She who belongs to the
Lady of Asher that is the goddess
Nut of Thebes. She was princess,
being the daughter of the last of the
priest kings of the twenty first
iynasty, Painetchem II, by his niece,
The grand priestess queen MESH
Ahensu, a lady who held the highest
acred and secular offices.
The mummified forms of Painet-
hem ii, Nesi-Khensu, and the LADY
f this papyrus can all be seen in the
oval salon of the Cairo Museum, q
act which has very personal interest
the document now described The
Japyrus is beautifully written, in a
small. but very clear hieratic script,
nd some of the chapters are given
9th in hieratic and hieroglyphic.
The vignettes which accompany
md illustrate the chapters and Sc
.ctions are SO finely drawn and So
athletic in incident-such, for exam
lie. as the anxious figure of the
,rincess, with her hair loose watching
he weighing of her heart. or stand
ng before the Hall of Osiris-as to
suggest comparison with the work o.
he best artists of Japan. The way
which the author has selected the
.hapters from the older Theban ver-
ion of the Book of the Dead shows g
borough knowledge of the theology
If the period, and the beauty of the
newly published hymns and litanies
Osiris, Atem, and Harmachis show
he mind of a pious and highly edu
.ated person.
The whole of the huge papyrus is
learly in one handwriting, rather
mall feminine hand, and we learn
rom the papyrus that the lady held
he title of Worker or Maker of the
.olls (books) of Amen-Ra, King Of
he Gods" She was also a musician,
eng called Singer of the Quarter of
hut. Lady of Asher
What manner of woman was this
rheban authoress? This question can
fortunately be answered, for her
mummy at Cairo has been unrolled
md her face is we'll preserved. The
ace is small with ell-shaped fore
lead; the hair is dark brown and
Havy, the eyelashes abundant, and
he false eyes of dim brown, which
eplace the real, are probably the
;ame color as those of her lifetime.
from the condition of the teeth she
vas at death between 35 and 40, ami
bout 5 feet inches in height.
AS to the merits of the literary
l imposition of this royal lady. lovers
Oriental hymnology can have little
'oubt. One very beautiful compost
ion is the Litany OF Praise sung to
he Sun-god by the Hours as they
1 ollow him across the sky to the west.
The hours are divided into quarters,
nd the refrain of their song is Il
i ave followed the dweller on the two
torizons to his place of rest in the
vest of Heaven. i have sung praises
the dweller on the two horizons,
nd have guided him on the road to
he vest
The document belongs to a period
l great religious controversy in
/ lgypt The priests of Amen had by
/ very possible means sought to ele-
ate their divinity above all the othe'
| DDS and to obliterate as much as
/ ossible the creed of Osiris. In the
/ apyrus of this lady's mother, the
ueen MESH Khensu, all the functions
4 Osiris are usurped by Amen. Herr
I he authoress has been most diplo
| natic, and proved herself theolo
| ian of no mean order. She blends
it were Osiris and Amen. The,
ecome aspects or phases of eacl
Their, and so, as DR.. Bulge keepe
the Egyptian department of tn
british Museum) says, she is able t
elieve that the hidden creativ
over which was materialized il
men was only another form of TIN
ew birth and resurrection which wa
ypified by Osiris.
A $4,000 prize offered in England TO
1 ba La.+ ...;,1 1o,np has haan divided