In recent years the truth of such claims was shattered when some of the actual egyptian papyri which joseph smith had in his possession were rediscovered and. Abraham and osiris facsimile 3, figure 1 pearl of great. Abraham sitting upon pharaohs throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the priesthood, as emblematical of the grand presidency in heaven. Source papyrus as published in the book of abraham. Joseph smiths explanation of the crocodile, printed with the facsimile, is that it represents the idolatrous god of pharaoh. In aegyptus et pannonia iii, edited by hedvig gyory, 4158. According to the book of abraham chapter 1, verses 1214, this picture or representation came at the beginning of the record the papyrus.
Facsimile 2 in the book of abraham is a common egyptian hypocephalus. It usually represents the embalming of the deceased individual in preparation for burial. In 1912, a letter about the book of abraham was published by arthur cruttenden mace, assistant curator in the department of egyptian art in new yorks metropolitan museum of art. Prince of pharaoh, king of egypt, as written above the hand. It is evident that a part of the book of abraham that has been lost contains information revealed to abraham by god concerning the cosmology of the heavenly world probably similar to what is found in doctrine and covenants section 76. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The papyrus with the illustration represented in facsimile 1 view is the only recovered item that has any connection to the text of the book of abraham. The altar for sacrifice by the idolatrous priests, standing before the gods of elkenah, libnah, mahmackrah, korash, and pharaoh. As for josephs interpretation of figures from the hypocephalus facsimile 2, he was correct. Beginning in 1839, church of jesus christ of latterday saints purchased. Joseph only interpreted one figure of anubis as a priest, in facsimile 1. The hathor cow facsimile 2, figure 5 pearl of great. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. Book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany. Facsimile 3 published in the book of abraham is a scene from the ancient egyptian book of the dead. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the book. Common egyptian hypocephalus comparing the source hypocephalus to the published facsimile while we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and.
Examining facsimile one from the book of abraham youtube. It is claimed that facsimile 1 is simply a typical funerary scene and there are many other papyri showing the same basic scene, and that the missing portions of the drawing were incorrectly restored. Through the years, whenever the book of abraham was printed there were included with the printed text three drawings, each designated as a facsimile from this alleged book of abraham. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism.
The relationship between the extant fragments and the book of abraham is not fully known or understood. It is directly related to the scroll it was attached to, the very same one smith used to produce his narrative. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 3.
The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a. The book of abraham has with uncanny skill anticipated the trends of modern scholarship. The papyrus with the illustration represented in facsimile 1 is the only recovered item that has any connection to the text of the book of abraham. Smith said the papyri described abrahams early life, his travels to canaan and egypt, and his vision of the cosmos and its creation. Dec 23, 2015 a positive identification is possible because one of the rediscovered scroll pieces, now called papyrus joseph smith 1 pjs 1, matches the picture in the book of abraham called facsimile no. Principal gathering place for saints following expulsion from missouri.
A hypocephalus is an egyptian magic amulet that is placed under the head of the deceased mummy to keep the body warm. Book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany facsimile 1, nauvoo. In facsimile 3, smith confuses human and animal heads and males with females. The mormon god and a phallic god could be considered one and the same. However, facsimile 3 also shows anubis, yet smith made him out to be a tinyheaded, racist caricature of an african slave. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Fairmormon and i are in agreement that abraham is not in facsimile 1 as joseph smith claimed. The joseph smith book of breathings opens with a vignette representing osiris on a lioncouch. An egyptian book of the dead was a corrupted mishmash of original teachings from adam down to subsequent patriarchs, such as abraham.
Ritner explains in his essay response to the churchs new book of abraham essay. In facsimile 2, they appear to be represent the delivering of the power, authority, and governance of god to the four quarters, lands, and peoplessymbolized by the four heads of the river eden that the book of abraham talks about. In addition, garbled traces of rn n ntr pf the name of that great god were wrongly duplicated between figs. The figure shows canopic vessels under the altar and beneath the feet of the priest is a crocodile. The vignette is one and the sameand its been a delight to visit the church history library of late, where the vignette is on display. Joseph smith worked on the translation off and on between the summer of 1835 and the spring of 1842. The bible makes claims about events that happened in real time and space that can be evaluated in light of the historical and archaeological records. Beginning in 1839, church of jesus christ of latterday saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of commerce and planned settlement of commerce city, as well as surrounding areas. The original of facsimile 1 of the book of abraham is found at the beginning of the hor book of breathings papyrus, and the hieroglyphic writing on it associates the figure on the couch figure 1 with hor, the owner of the papyrus, who is portrayed as being.
The third and final times and seasons installment of the book of abraham was published on 16 may and featured only facsimile 3. Illustration 3 ending of papyrus scroll prepared for horus. The book of abraham, it is hardly necessary to say, is a pure fabrication. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of god. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 2 in the. The book has five chapters, 4 and is often accompanied by three facsimiles, or reproductions of vignettes which were copied from the original papyri. The book of abraham translated from the papyrus, by joseph smith a translation of some ancient records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of egypt. Pt 2 proving book of abraham facsimiles refuting larson duration. So, what do rhodes and ritner agree on the translation of characters in facsimile 3. A facsimile from the book of abraham church of jesus christ. The writings of abraham while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus.
A document willard richards copy of abraham manuscript, early 1842a abraham 1. According to smith, the book comprised ancient records. Shulem, one of the kings principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the. While we dont have the original hypocephalus, an early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. This lead plate was engraved by reuben hedlock as part of the printing of the book of abraham in the churchs newspaper the times and seasons. Facsimile 1 in the book of abraham shows an egyptian priest of pharaoh attempting to slay abraham on an altar. Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus, is also a late egyptian religious text. Joseph smith was wrong with the priest of elkenah as the head is supposed to be the jackalheaded pagan egyptian god anubis. This is a collection of much of hugh nibleys early work on the book of abraham.
Apologetics press facsimile 1 from the book of abraham. Book of abrahamjoseph smith papyrifacsimilesfacsimile 1. Signifies abraham in egypt as given also in figure 10 of facsimile no. Reconstruction designated as part of the book of abraham. Feb 16, 2012 i knew that the current canonized book of abraham is only about 25% of what joseph translated the rest being lost. Facsimile 2 as found in the kirtland egyptian papers. A positive identification is possible because one of the rediscovered scroll pieces, now called papyrus joseph smith 1 pjs 1, matches the picture in the book of abraham called facsimile no. Book of abraham facsimile number 2 wikimedia commons. This vignette is called a lion couch scene by egyptologists. Facsimile 2 posted on april 12, 2015 november 26, 2015 by wes trexler facsimile 2 is actually a representation of a hypocephalus.
For example, in chapter 12 of the testament of abraham there is a description of the judgment of the dead that matches in minute detail the scene depicted in facsimile 3 of the book of abraham and, incidentally, chapter 125 of the egyptian book of the dead. Did joseph smith correctly translate facsimile 3 in the book. The following are common criticisms associated with facsimile 3. Book of abraham facsimile printing plates 1842 plate 1. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles religious studies. An early rendering of it reveals damage, and egyptologists agree that facsimile 2 is a poor and inaccurate restoration. May 10, 2008 book of abraham facsimile 2, figure 7, pt. In other words, the book of abraham itself states that facsimile 1 was placed at the beginning of the record so that the reader could easily refer to it. The idolatrous priest of elkenah attempting to offer up abraham as a sacrifice. Oct 18, 2016 the joseph smith book of breathings opens with a vignette representing osiris on a lioncouch. Book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany facsimile 1, nauvoo principal gathering place for saints following expulsion from missouri. All five chapters of the book of abraham, along with three illustrations now known as facsimiles 1, 2, and 3, were published in the times and seasons, the churchs newspaper in nauvoo, between march and may 1842. The following is his translation, interpretation, and commentary on facsimile 2 as found in our present book of abraham.
Source hypocephalus as published in the book of abraham. The original of facsimile 1 of the book of abraham is found at the beginning of the hor book of breathings papyrus, and the hieroglyphic writing on it associates the figure on the couch figure 1 with hor, the owner of the papyrus, who is portrayed as being resurrected by the god anubis, who stands over him. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records purporting to be the writings of abraham, while he was in egypt, called the book of abraham, written by his own hand, upon papyrus. Critical appraisal of the book of abraham wikipedia. The book of abraham includes facsimile 2 as shown here, complete with the description and explanation that smith gave to its contents. The central figure is not kolob in egyptian terms, nor is he the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or residence of god. I return herewith, under separate cover, the pearl of great price. The association of these facsimiles with the book of abraham might be explained as joseph smiths attempt to find illustrations from the papyri he owned that most closely matched what he had received in revelation when translating the book of abraham. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Book of abraham facsimile 2 that one mission thing. Mormon handbook the book of abraham facsimile 2 facsimile 2 is a common egyptian hypocephalus. The article book of abraham facsimile number 2 on wikipedia projects. Book of abraham and facsimiles, 1 march16 may 1842, page 703.
The book of abraham opens with a vignette, in facsimile, representing abraham upon an altar. I had not considered, though, the possibility that we might infer what the remaining 75% talked about by looking at the facsimile interpretations. In fact, parallels to almost every verse in the book of abraham can be found in the. Fairs apologetics regarding the book of abraham offends intellect. The hathor cow facsimile 2, figure 5 pearl of great price. Teaching the book of abraham facsimiles 117 questions raised by the papyri these egyptian documents can be reliably dated to somewhere between 220 and 150 b. Book of abraham manuscript and explanation to accompany facsimile 1, circa february 1842 abraham 1. While many assumed that the text adjacent to facsimile one was the source of the book of abraham, this does not square with the eyewitness accounts. The color images provided below, while not always accurate, may help in visualizing each figure complete color facsimile 2 available here.
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