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Inside the British Museum #2

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May 8, 1998

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A scene taken from one the temples glorifying Ramesses II, recounting his defeat of the Ethiopians.  It's interesting to note his history of taking credit from others (replacing their names on temples with his), and Josephus' account about Moses actually being the prince who defeated the Ethiopians.
x000790.jpg (14225 bytes) Michael demonstrates the correct position of a mummy prepared for encasement into a painted wooden coffin.  The paintings included food offerings and, sometimes, eyes on the exterior, allowing the occupant to see the world outside.
x000791.jpg (24473 bytes) Sara stands in front of a hieroglyphic Book of the Dead, written on papyrus in 1250 BC.  These were collections of magic spells and instructions intended to guide and protect the deceased in the afterlife.
x000806.jpg (15790 bytes) Michael won our family contest for finding this item.  From the palace of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, this famous inscribed cuneiform writing contains the Babylonian Flood story (similar to the biblical "Noah" version), as related in the eleventh tablet of the Gilgamesh epic.
x000812.jpg (24445 bytes) The Portland Vase, famous for its superb cameo glass craftsmanship, but even more for the 200+ pieces it broke into when smashed by a museum visitor years ago.  Made during the reign of Augustus Caesar (27 BC - AD 14), reassembled (to replace deteriorating 1940's glue) in 1988/1989.

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