Gods and Monsters Final Pt2

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The Bentresh Stela

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Bentresh Stela

• praise of/hymn to king

• King was in northern Syria/Mittani (Doomed Prince)

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King of Bakhtan first wants to keep the god Khonsu, but then nightmare convinces him to return god to Egypt.

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The Legend of Isis and the name of Re

Re is described as old once again (just like in the Destruction of Mankind)

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Isis wants to learn Re’s true name. Re answers but doesn’t give his true name. Re’s in pain (due to serpent) and finally tells Isis his name.

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Letters to the Dead

• polite beginning

• husband was good to wife during life. needs help now from her!

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wife asks for help from dead husband for a servant-girl

• written on bowl, filled with offerings, placed at tomb.

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Letter to the Dead in the Brooklyn Museum

• she’s in danger of being evicted from home by family of deceased husband

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The Demotic Curse

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Curse of Artemisia

• written in Greek, but with many Egyptian features

• woman curses the father of her daughter

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Handbook of Magical Spells - Demotic

• contains spell for nightmares (about 150 CE)

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this is the Berlin Papyrus - Dispute of a Man with His Ba

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Dispute of a Man with his Ba

• man asks the Ba for help! (Cycle of life)

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famous poem (among Egyptologists!)

repetition of “Death is before me today” shows man welcomes death

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A Ghost Story

• The High Priest calls a ghost?

• Meeting of Priest and Ghost - what can the priest do for the ghost?

• the ghost tells his story

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Priest will help the Ghost out and fix up his tomb and make offerings (but Ghost still sad)

Basic points about sacred animals

• animal cults of extreme importance especially in late period Egypt

• Apis bull attested very early (1st Dynasty) in Memphis

“votive mummy”

an offering consisting of a specific mummified animal that was dedicated to its corresponding divinity

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Book of the Dead Spell 75: turning into a falcon

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Oracular Amuletic Papyrus

• popular type of protective text used in 3rd Intermediate Period

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a private tomb

• “Portcullis” - heavy blocking grating to seal off the most sacred and vulnerable part of the tomb

• derived from the old French “sliding door”

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Great Tomb Robberies

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mayor of Thebes and the Vizier himself interrogate suspects of thefts of tombs

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Harem Conspiracy

• special mercy = permission to commit suicide

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Tale of Sinuhe

• scholars often write about just why Sinuhe ran away - guilt!

• Sinuhe writes to the king and asks permission to return to Egypt

• god forgives him (if that is even necessary, and Sinuhe returns to Egypt as an aged man, honored and rewarded, promised a fine burial)