The scene to which Lepsius inadvertently gave the number
XVI and which he regarded as a Chapter of the Book of theDead is,
strictly speaking, only a vignette intended to accompany the hymn
to the rising Sun that forms part of the introductory matter
to the Chapters of the Book of the Dead which
we find in some of the oldest papyri of the Theban period .
In the Papyrus of Ani we see the Sun's disk supported by a pair
of arms which emerge from the sign of life ; this, in its turn,
is supported by the pillar which symbolizes the tree-trunk which
contained the dead body of Osiris . This pillar rests upon the
horizon . On each side of it are three apes typical of the Spirits
of the Dawn, adoring the disk ; on the right is the goddess
Nephthys and on the left is the goddess Isis, Nephthys kneels
upon the symbol of the sunset, and Isis upon the symbol of the
dawn. Above the whole scene is the vaulted sky . In the Papyrus
of Hu-nefer the pillar is endowed with human arms and hands,
which grasp the crook and flail, emblematic of Osiris' reign and
rule, and the two goddesses are standing upright ; one says
"I am thy sister Nephthys", and the other : "I am thy sister
Isis, the divine mother ." The sun is typified by a hawk having
a disk, encircled by an uraeus, upon his head . The apes are
here seven in number, four stand in front and three behind ;
above the whole scene is the vaulted sky .
Certain papyri have also vignettes which illustrate the hymns to
the setting sun . 2 In this case the hawk usually stands upon the
emblem of the West while apes and gods adore him . In the
Papyrus of Qenna on the right three hawk-headed gods kneel
in adoration with their left arms raised, and on the left three
jackal-headed gods, with their right arms raised in adoration .
Below, two lion-headed gods, with disks on their heads, are seated
back to back in a cluster of lotus flowers ; these typify dawn
and eventide . The goddess Isis kneels in adoration before the
lion of the dawn, and the goddess Nephthys before the lion of
eventide .
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3
- A Hymn to the Setting Sun . From the Papyrus of XlXth dynasty.
XVI and which he regarded as a Chapter of the Book of theDead is,
strictly speaking, only a vignette intended to accompany the hymn
to the rising Sun that forms part of the introductory matter
to the Chapters of the Book of the Dead which
we find in some of the oldest papyri of the Theban period .
In the Papyrus of Ani we see the Sun's disk supported by a pair
of arms which emerge from the sign of life ; this, in its turn,
is supported by the pillar which symbolizes the tree-trunk which
contained the dead body of Osiris . This pillar rests upon the
horizon . On each side of it are three apes typical of the Spirits
of the Dawn, adoring the disk ; on the right is the goddess
Nephthys and on the left is the goddess Isis, Nephthys kneels
upon the symbol of the sunset, and Isis upon the symbol of the
dawn. Above the whole scene is the vaulted sky . In the Papyrus
of Hu-nefer the pillar is endowed with human arms and hands,
which grasp the crook and flail, emblematic of Osiris' reign and
rule, and the two goddesses are standing upright ; one says
"I am thy sister Nephthys", and the other : "I am thy sister
Isis, the divine mother ." The sun is typified by a hawk having
a disk, encircled by an uraeus, upon his head . The apes are
here seven in number, four stand in front and three behind ;
above the whole scene is the vaulted sky .
Certain papyri have also vignettes which illustrate the hymns to
the setting sun . 2 In this case the hawk usually stands upon the
emblem of the West while apes and gods adore him . In the
Papyrus of Qenna on the right three hawk-headed gods kneel
in adoration with their left arms raised, and on the left three
jackal-headed gods, with their right arms raised in adoration .
Below, two lion-headed gods, with disks on their heads, are seated
back to back in a cluster of lotus flowers ; these typify dawn
and eventide . The goddess Isis kneels in adoration before the
lion of the dawn, and the goddess Nephthys before the lion of
eventide .
The Source: The Book oDead,
the Chapters of Coming Forth by Day
Translated into English by E. A. Wallis Budge, Litt.D., D.Lit
London, 1898.
Translated into English by E. A. Wallis Budge, Litt.D., D.Lit
London, 1898.
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Hymn to Ra.