Tuesday, February 06, 2007

More re Semitic text from pyramid of Unas

A coherent summary of the discovery and decipherment of the Semitic passages inscribed on the subterranean walls of the pyramid of King Unas at Saqqara: "The Canaanite spells were invoked to help protect mummified kings against poisonous snakes, one of ancient Egypt's most dreaded nemeses.
According to the incantations, female snakes—acting as mediators for Canaanite magicians—used their multiple mouths and sexual organs to prevent other snakes from entering the mummified rulers' remains.
The passages date from between 2400 to 3000 B.C. and appear to be written in Proto-Canaanite, a direct ancestor of biblical Hebrew".
See the above two-page article for the complete story.

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