Royal Book of Protection
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
MEDIUM
Papyrus, ink
DATES
664–610 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 26
PERIOD
Late Period, Saite Period
DIMENSIONS
b: Glass: 12 3/16 × 19 7/8 in. (31 × 50.5 cm)
b: Object: 8 1/4 × 15 1/16 in. (21 × 38.2 cm)
d: Glass: 12 1/16 × 19 15/16 in. (30.7 × 50.6 cm)
d: Object: 8 7/16 × 14 15/16 in. (21.5 × 38 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
47.218.49a-f
CREDIT LINE
Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Fourteen columns of text of nineteen lines, (with some variation); the contents are sixteen different spells, all directed against the malevolent forces that attack the ear of the king. The text was prepared for one of the kings named Psamtik (probably Psamtik I). Each spell ends with a medical prescription. Fragmentary at beginning with numerous lacunae. Last six columns are generally intact though numerous small lacunae are present. Fragments were consolidated with small hinges of scotch tape when the papyrus was unrolled in winter of 1966-67. Due to fading of ink and the gradual darkening of the papyrus, many of the rubrics are difficult to read.
a: 1-6
b: 7-8
c: 9-10
d: 11-12
e: 13-14-15
47.218.49f: 150+ small fragments, many inscribed in Late Period hieratic but a number are uninscribed. 20 or so fragments are opisthographic. The writing shows a variety if different hands so these fragments clearly belong to a number of different texts that can not at the moment be identified with certainty. The relatively small size of these fragments makes the reading of only a few signs and possibly a word here and there possible.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Royal Book of Protection, 664–610 B.C.E. Papyrus, ink, b: Glass: 12 3/16 × 19 7/8 in. (31 × 50.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Theodora Wilbour from the collection of her father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 47.218.49a-f (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 47.218.49b_PS20.jpg)
IMAGE
component, 47.218.49b_PS20.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024
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