Figure 3 ~ Horus and the Solar Barque

A very basic description of figure 3 given by an Egyptologist would include: A solar barque carries a seated falcon headed god - either Ra or Horus, holding a scepter. The solar disk [1] is over his head. A divine Eye of Horus  [the wedged eye or all-seeing eye]is on either side.

 

Eye of Horus/Right Eye

The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. The Eye of Horus is similar to the Eye of Ra, which belongs to a different god, Ra, but represents many of the same concepts.  It is also known as the All-seeing Eye, implying the omniscience as well as the omnificence of god.

Funerary amulets were often made in the shape of the Eye of Horus. The Wedjat "was intended to protect the pharaoh in the afterlife" and to ward off evil. Ancient Egyptian and Middle-Eastern sailors would frequently paint the symbol on the bow of their vessel to ensure safe sea travel.

 

Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon.  He was the son of Isis and Osiris.  His right eye was associated with the sun god, Ra. The left eye represents the moon.  It is an exact I mirror image of the dominant eye of Ra. When the eye represents the right eye, it is a reference to the sun or those things celestial.  When it represents the left eye, it represents the moon or those things terrestrial.

The eye symbol represents the marking around the eye of the falcon, including the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye. 

wedjet – Eye of Horus in hieroglyphs/left eye

When Horus's eye was recovered, he offered it to his father, Osiris.  He is said to have given one of his eyes to his father as a token to help his resurrection.  Hence, the eye of Horus was often used to symbolize sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection

Joseph Smith's interpretation: "Is made to represent God, sitting upon his throne, clothed with power and authority; with a crown of eternal light upon his head; representing also the grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed."

The "crown of eternal light upon his head" represents the sun.  To me, that means, the Celestial God.  The wedjet eye means all knowing, all seeing, all power so there is the statement of "power and authority" of God.  While he is sitting within the Solar Barque, he is also clearing sitting upon a throne within the barque.  He is carrying a staff which also signifies "power and authority."

From the interpretation by Egyptologists, the two characters farthest to the left may be an attempt to engrave letters which would translate as "Divine Ship":

If this, then it is referring to the Solar Barque which is said to carry Osiris (god) across the complete arc of the heaves. 

Alternatively, the entire row may be ideograms for a lotus flower, a vaulted covering, a snake (similar to the one found at the foot of figure 23 meaning 'father'?) and a sealed papyrus roll.

In the religious tradition of ancient Heliopolis, Ra emerged from the petals of a lotus blossom which re-enfolded him each night. Therefore, the lotus was also a symbol of rebirth associated with Osiris.

In these symbols we have a symbol for rebirth/resurrection (the lotus), the vaults of heaven; father; and sealed writings.  Joseph Smith wrote in his explanation of the hypocephalus that there are "writings that cannot be revealed unto the world, but is to be had in the Holy Temple of God (see figure 8.)  To me these hieroglyphs could well be translated as  "the Grand Key Words of the Holy Priesthood"  with references to the resurrected one; the father, vault hidden in the heavens and a sealed scrolls.

I am not an Egyptologist.  I don't pretend to be. The things I write are just my thoughts as feelings as I read and study.  I have gotten so excited by the things I am learning, that I want to get to my computer the first thing every morning.  People have mocked the Prophet Joseph's interpretations, but I can see where he is pretty spot-on.  Critics say it is Horus, but I say that Horus, who is the Divine Son of an Immortal Father and a mortal mother, manifests some of the traits of Jesus Christ.  Was Joseph, therefore, wrong to say it represents God?  I don't think so.  They call it a solar disc on his head, representing Ra, the sun god.  I believe that it also represents the sun with it's celestial and divine light.

Considering that the science of Egyptology was in its absolute infancy and the fact that there was not a living soul in the Western Hemisphere in 1833 who could translate hieroglyphics, there is no way Joseph could have "pretended to translate."  He did translate by the power of the Holy Ghost and saw the correct significance of each scene.  This doesn't give me a testimony of these things; I already have one from the Spirit; but it does strengthen that feeble light of testimony into a glowing flame.

[1] Whenever I see solar, sun, solar disc, etc., I think CELESTIAL.  When I see moon, lunar, etc., I think terrestrial.

© Gebara Education, 2016