BYU Studies

The interpretations of figure 2 in Facsimile 3 of "King Pharaoh" or the goddess Isis are not as disparate as they might seem. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Joseph Smith's identification of figure 1 of Facsimile 3 as Abraham has clashed with the interpretation of Egyptologists who see the figure as Osiris. But is there evidence that the ancients associated Abraham with Osiris in some way? From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Facsimile 3 of the Book of Abraham has been identified in the past as a scene of the judgment of the dead. This interpretation has been prevalent among Egyptologists. However, when compared to other judgment scenes or throne scenes, Facsimile 3 contains several anomalous elements that challenge this categorization.

Joseph Smith identifies figure 7 in Facsimile 2 as "God sitting upon his throne." The figure appears in other ancient Egyptian hypocephali (round amulets like Facsimile 2), and some Egyptologists interpret the figure as Min, one of the oldest Egyptian gods, associated with protection and fertility. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Joseph Smith's succinct interpretation of figure 6 in Facsimile 2 "converges nicely" with current Egyptological knowledge. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Figure 5 in Facsimile 2 of the Book of Abraham, a figure of an upside-­down cow, is identified by Joseph Smith with an elaborate explanation. From the viewpoint of current Egyptological knowledge, is Joseph Smith's explanation plausible? From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

One of the more puzzling comments in the Book of Abraham comes from the explanation given in figure 1 of Facsimile 2, which speaks of “the measurement according to celestial time [of Kolob], which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit.” Latter-­day Saint commentators on this passage have largely been at a loss to explain what this might mean. However, scientist Hollis R. Johnson proposes a straightforward scientific explanation that finds precedent in the ancient world. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Facsimile 2 of the Book of Abraham is a type of document called a hypocephalus, an amuletic disc placed beneath the head of the mummies of priests or their relatives. The contents of hypocephali have forerunners in earlier Egyptian texts, and intriguingly, an extrabiblical text about Abraham seem to make allusions to the hypocephalus in Facsimile 2. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

The explanation accompanying figure 3 of Facsimile 1 of the Book of Abraham identifies it as “the idolatrous priest of Elkenah attempting to offer up Abraham as a sacrifice.” In order to gauge the validity of this interpretation from an Egyptological perspective, a number of factors need to be considered. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.

Facsimile 1 of the Book of Abraham visually depicts the narrative contained in Abraham 1:12–19. As interpreted by Joseph Smith, this scene depicts the attempted sacrifice of Abraham. Other Egyptologists have interpreted the scene differently, basing their interpretations on similar illustrations, but recent evidence of ritual violence in Egypt strengthens Joseph Smith's interpretation. From⁠ BYU Studies Quarterly, volume 61, number 4⁠.