The Hypocephalus

The Progress of the Dead to Become an Osiris; the Place of Judgment and Weighing the Heart

Have ever reread a piece of poetry or scripture and found yourself understanding it at a deeper level than the first time you read it?  I think most people have had that experience because poets and prophets (who can also be poets, i.e., Isaiah and Alma) write with multiple meanings.  Jesus Christ taught in parables so that those who were new to the faith could get nourishing milk and those who were experienced in the faith could get meat.  I mention this because I am going to spend the next few days looking closely at the Book of Abraham, in particular, the facsimiles. These have been criticized by non-Latter-day Saint scholars because they see the hieroglyphics from the purely Budge-driven translations.  They argue that Joseph Smith's explanations of these same funeral texts (for that is what they are) are far off-base and, therefore, erroneous.  As I have studied and prayed about it, I don't see it that way.  I may ramble a bit, but I'm trying to tackle an intense study here and intensity is sometimes a muddle!

I'd like to talk about Facsimile 2, the hypocephalus.  The root of this word comes from the Greek: hypó {"under, below"} + kephalos {"head"}.  It was a small circle-shaped object made of stuccoed linen, papyrus, bronze, gold, wood, or clay.  The Egyptians placed these discs under the heads of the dead following embalming and preceding burial.  It was religiously significant and was thought to protect the dead on his/her journey to the afterlife. Egyptians believed that if a person lived a worthy life, s/he could become a god.  The spiritual light of the hypocephalus was to help make the person divine.  The deceased name appears on the hypocephalus in prayers importuning the god's to look favorably on the person in his/her journey to godhood.

An artist's idea of how it would have looked in its original color.

The overall shape represents the expanse of the universe of both the quick and the dead.  Both Joseph Smith and Egyptologist seem to agree on that point.  Another point on which there is some agreement involves the 4 figures in the lower left quadrant.  Joseph Smith said they were to represent the Earth in its four quarters.  Egyptologists say that, among other things, it can represent the four cardinal directions.  If one thinks of these are the four quarters of a circle inscribed by a compass, it has even deeper meaning.

I'd like to tackle the pertinent images - the ones Joseph explained - one at a time.  I have been able to find illustrations that focus on smaller parts of the image.  I also would like to refer you to the Pearl of Great Price Book of Abraham where the items are number and explained.  When I reference a number, it will be the numbering system used by Joseph.

Before I close for today, I want to tell you about a sensation I had at dinner last night.  I was sitting in the restaurant alone waiting for my meal and studying the Egyptologist's translation of the images.  I was struck with the idea that he used a reference book, probably Budge, to translate each character somewhat out of context.  If you were to broaden and expand the context through the lens of faith, it is easier to see the harmony between the two translations.  Remember that Abraham said that the Pharaoh during his time was a "just man" who sought the govern his people using the patriarchal order passed down from Noah through Ham. 
 
Although he was unable to hold the priesthood due to his lineage, he sought to copy it as best he could. [1]  Those who have a deep understanding to the war in heaven, the creation, the fall, the atonement and resurrection, the final judgment, and God's plan of salvation and exaltation - particularly those who have had a temple experience - will find it much easier to see the blessings of the fathers from Adam through Noah in the spiritual practices of the Egyptians.  There are many plain and precious truths hidden under millennia of transition and superstition if one looks for them with spiritual eyes.

 [1] Something similar happened in Africa.  Prior to 1978, the LDS Church didn't proselytize among black Africans because they were still under the same spiritual prohibition regarding the priesthood as was Pharaoh in the Book of Abraham.  As they found the Book of Mormon and other LDS literature, they were converted by the Spirit.  They began to hold meetings, to call themselves on missions, to preform a "baptism" of sorts, recognizing their lack of priesthood, but performing the baptisms as a way to give a sense of cohesiveness to their "congregations."  When the first LDS missionary couples went into black West Africa, they were met by several such lay "ministers," none of whom had known about the existence the others!  When official priesthood baptisms were performed, whole congregations were lined up, waiting to be baptized.  Whole villages in Ghana and Nigeria joined the LDS Church.  God always prepares a people before He presents the gospel.  I personally look for the same thing to happen one day in China.

© Gebara Education, 2016