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Book of Abraham facsimiles/Facsimile 3: Difference between revisions
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==Criticism regarding Joseph's interpretation of specific textual elements of Facsimile 3==
==Criticism regarding Joseph's interpretation of specific textual elements of Facsimile 3==
Critics focus on three specific interpretations which reference characters in the facsimile. Joseph Smith provides the following identifications for three of the figures in the facsimile:
Critics focus on three specific interpretations which reference an interpretation of characters in the facsimile. Joseph Smith provides the following identifications for three of the figures in the facsimile:
*Fig. 2. King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head.
*Fig. 2. King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the '''characters above his head'''.
*Fig. 4. Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as written above the hand.
*Fig. 4. Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as '''written above the hand'''.
*Fig. 5. Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.  
*Fig. 5. Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the '''characters above his hand'''.  


What is notable in this particular case is that Joseph isn't simply assigning an identify to each figure, but is indicating that characters located near each figure confirm the assignments. Egyptologists, on the other hand, note that the characters have an entirely different meaning. Robert K. Ritner, {{note|ritner.gee}} Professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, states that "Smith’s hopeless translation also turns the goddess Maat into a male prince, the papyrus owner into a waiter, and the black jackal Anubis into a Negro slave."{{ref|ritner162n4}}
What is notable in these particular identifications is that Joseph isn't simply assigning an identify to each figure, but is indicating that characters located near each figure confirm the assignments. Egyptologists, note that the characters have an entirely different meaning. Robert K. Ritner, {{note|ritner.gee}} Professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, states that "Smith’s hopeless translation also turns the goddess Maat into a male prince, the papyrus owner into a waiter, and the black jackal Anubis into a Negro slave."{{ref|ritner162n4}}


==Endnotes==
==Endnotes==

Revision as of 17:37, 21 November 2009

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Facsimile 3: The throne scene

Facsimile 3
Fig. 1. Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh’s throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood, as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven; with the scepter of justice and judgment in his hand.
Fig. 2. King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head.
Fig. 3. Signifies Abraham in Egypt as given also in Figure 10 of Facsimile No. 1.
Fig. 4. Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as written above the hand.
Fig. 5. Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.
Fig. 6. Olimlah, a slave belonging to the prince.
Abraham is reasoning upon the principles of Astronomy, in the king’s court.

The final illustration (view) is of the justified and exalted Hor (figure 5) being introduced by the Egyptian gods Ma'at (4) and Anubis (6) to the god Osiris (1) in the afterlife. Isis (2), Osiris' sister/wife, is also present. Their names are indicated by the Egyptian characters above their heads.[1]

Joseph Smith's notes to Facsimile 3 identify the illustration as representing "Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh's throne" (note to figure 1), an event foreshadowed in the text of the Book of Abraham (Abr 2꞉21-25), but not described in any existing translation produced by Joseph.

Criticism regarding Joseph's interpretation of specific textual elements of Facsimile 3

Critics focus on three specific interpretations which reference an interpretation of characters in the facsimile. Joseph Smith provides the following identifications for three of the figures in the facsimile:

  • Fig. 2. King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head.
  • Fig. 4. Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as written above the hand.
  • Fig. 5. Shulem, one of the king’s principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.

What is notable in these particular identifications is that Joseph isn't simply assigning an identify to each figure, but is indicating that characters located near each figure confirm the assignments. Egyptologists, note that the characters have an entirely different meaning. Robert K. Ritner, [note]  Professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, states that "Smith’s hopeless translation also turns the goddess Maat into a male prince, the papyrus owner into a waiter, and the black jackal Anubis into a Negro slave."[2]

Endnotes

  1. [note] Dr. Ritner is one of Dr. John Gee's former professors at Yale. Ritner's article in the Journal of Near eastern Studies is highly critical of his former student's involvement with any LDS apologetic effort on the part of the Book of Abraham, specifically because he was not included in a peer review. Larry E. Morris responds to Ritner's article in Larry E. Morris, "The Book of Abraham: Ask the Right Questions and Keep On Looking (Review of: “The ‘Breathing Permit of Hor’ Thirty-four Years Later.” Dialogue 33/4 (2000): 97–119)," FARMS Review 16/2 (2004): 355–380. off-site
  2. [note] Robert K. Ritner, “The Breathing Permit of Hor Among the Joseph Smith Papyri," Journal of Near Eastern Studies, (University of Chicago, 2003), p. 162, note 4.

Further reading

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