which represents the eldest son of Sevek Re with his five. sisters in the act of making the offering to the mummy of their father, which this tablet commemorates. The son bears a linen bandage for swathing the mummy, the daughters are bringing lotus flowers. The column immediately over the first figure reads, "His son who loves him, Sevek Re." The others had the names of the daughters, which are no longer legible. The left side of the third line reads thus: "A house of blessing; wine, milk, incense, oxen, geese, have been offered by the constable of the palace, Saotph, the son of Tese-nofre, the just." This was the son and successor of Sevek Re. The inscription also refers to the group on the left side of the tablet, consisting of seven of the children of Saotph. The two columns of small characters over the first figure to the left, with a roll of linen in his hand, seem to read, "His son who loves him, performing the prescribed rites of sacrifice before his lord," that is, his father. This was probably the son and heir of Saotph. The next two lines refer to the second who offers two lotus flowers. It also reads, "His son who loves him ;" then follows the name, which is nearly defaced. Three other sons follow, each offering a duck or goose. Waterfowl were very much used as an article of food by the ancient Egyptians. This fact, which is mentioned by Herodotus, (Euterpe, c. 117,) is abundantly confirmed by the pictures on the monuments, which represent geese and ducks as almost invariably forming a part of the viands both in feasts and sacrifices. The name of the third son of Saotph, the last of the upper row, has been cut off in fitting this tablet to the door of the tomb which it closed. That of the fourth, the first figure in the lower row, seems to have been Rasajeri; but it is not very legible. His fifth, and appar son, ently youngest son, was named Chonsou. Two daughters are represented, and a third appears to have been cut off in fitting the stone. The name of the first was Onk-nat; that of the second Shont; that of the third, and probably youngest, is not legible. The square tablet in the centre, filled with columns of hieroglyphics, is a list of the various articles offered in the tomb of the deceased by their families. They are specified with all the minuteness of a bill of fare. The first in the upper column of the table to the left is "one vial, containing liquid odours, essences;" "one vase of incense" is the second article enumerated. Then follow two other vases, and six vials, the contents of which are recorded, but the sense has not yet been made out: most probably they were perfumes, in the form either of essences, or of fragrant woods or roots pounded. Two joints from the fore part of some animal, the head, the eyes, and some portion of the viscera, are the next in order. Then follow one vase of frankincense, and vases of other substances to the end of the first column, the hieroglyphic names of which are yet undeciphered. But little account can be given of the second column. A vial of distilled essence for perfume, a jar of water, a flower-pot containing a palm branch, (the symbol of youth and of the year,) two chests containing images, (probably such as have been found in the tombs, full of clay figures of the deceased,) the heart, and probably some other portions of slaughtered animals, and four cooking vessels, or cauldrons of boiling water,—are amongst the articles deposited in the tomb of the deceased by the piety of their descendants. In the third column, the thigh, the liver, and the mesentery of the slaughtered animals, are specified as well as several other parts or joints. Also ducks and geese of five different species. The remainder of the column seems to be filled with the names of sauces and condiments, to be eaten with these luxuries. In the fourth and last column, five different kinds of wines are mentioned among the offerings which were brought to the deceased. The white wine and the wine of the Mareotis are already known; the names of the others are yet undetermined. There is also mention of seeds of various kinds; probably pungent or aromatic seeds, which were then used in cookery. It may be observed, that the numbers of each of these articles are brought down in a line by themselves at the foot of each column, for the purpose of ready reference. These offerings were to be repeated at given periods, and remained ever afterwards a permanent charge upon the estate and family of the deceased. One of the Greek papyri translated by Dr. Young,* is a deed for the conveyance of a portion of the offerings to certain mummies in the burial place at Thebes, to other parties, who had purchased them. As the portion sold was only one sixth of the whole, and as the testimony of sixteen witnesses was thought necessary on the occasion, Dr. Young very justly infers, that the revenue obtained from this source by the priests was by no means inconsiderable. This transaction took place in the reign of Ptolemy Physcon, about 106 B. c. The custom on which it was founded satisfactorily accounts for the exact registry of the offering on the monument before us, and for the compact and business-like form in which it is recorded, of which a correct idea may be formed from the * Sce his account of some Recent Discoveries, Chapter v. foregoing cut, though it was not practicable to render the characters legible in so minute a copy. The twelve columns of hieroglyphics which follow explain the picture at the bottom of the tablet. They contain two inscriptions, both commencing in the middle and reading from left to right, and from right to left. We begin with that which reads from left to right:-" Act of adoration to Osiris may he give a house of blessing, wine, milk, abundance of oxen, geese, and clothes in offering to the devoted to Osiris, (in Abydos?) the constable of the palace, Sevek Re, the son of ......, and to his wife, who loves him, Tesenofre." Both these personages are represented immediately below, seated before an altar piled with offerings. The other inscription is an act of adoration to Sev or Saturn, the father of Osiris, accompanied with the same prayers, that in acceptance of the offerings of the deceased, he would give a mansion of bliss, with abundance of wine, milk, meat, bread, clothes, etc., to the devoted to Osiris, the constable of the palace, Saotph, the son of Tesenofre, and therefore also the son of Sevek Re, and, according to the never-varying custom of Egypt, the successor to his dignity. The wife of Saotph who loves him is Es-onk, the daughter of Erpet. This last name Erpet is also that of some unknown quadruped. In the middle, between the two couples whose bodies. were deposited in the tomb, is a representation of the rich offering, the particulars of which, on the preceding tablet, have been already considered. Two tables, each piled with ten loaves of sacred (shew) bread, form the two ex *The name of the father is uncertain. |