CHAPTER XVI.

The scene to which Lepsius inadvertently gave the number XVI. and which he regarded as a Chapter of the Book of the Dead 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 ;
! T.e., the dead.
* The name of the deceased is wanting. 3 See above, page 73.
VIGNETTES OF THE SUNSET 89
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 up- right; one says: “Iam 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.” 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
! See above, page 77. 2 See above, pages 81, 83.
go BOOK OF THE DEAD
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,