Joseph Smith's Interpretation Examined.

A Facsimile from the the Book of Abraham -- No. 3

Facsimile No. 3

(Click a Figure to See Analysis.)
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Source of Facsimile No. 3
Joseph Smith's Analysis.	Egyptologist's Analysis.
An excerpt from the Book of Abraham, written by his own hand upon papyrus. Abraham is reasoning upon the principles of Astronomy, in the king's court. Biblical scholars place Abraham in the 2nd millennium B.C.	Most likely an excerpt from a late, simplified rendition of the Book of Breathings, an Egyptian funerary document. The deceased being led into the presence of Osiris. Probably written in the 2nd century B.C.

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Figure 1
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
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.	Osiris, god of the underworld. Here depicted wearing the Atef crown, and holding the crook and flail. The Top three lines to the right of figure 1 mention words spoken by Osiris.

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Figure 2
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
King Pharaoh, whose name is given in the characters above his head. (Male)	Isis, wife of Osiris, the Goddess of fertility and motherhood. Shown here with solar disk and cow horns. (Female) the top line to the right of figure 2 mentions Isis

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Figure 3
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
Signifies Abraham in Egypt-referring to Abraham, as given also in Figure 10 of facsimile No. 1.	A offering platform, topped by a jug and a flowers,(possibly papyrus blossoms).

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Figure 4
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
Prince of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, as written above the hand. (Male)	Maat, goddess of justice. depicted here as a woman wearing a feather and an disk on her head. (Female) The top line above hand of figure 1 mentions Maat

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Figure 5
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
Shulem, one of the king's principal waiters, as represented by the characters above his hand.	Horus the deceased, wearing a cone of perfumed grease, and lotus flower on his head. The characters in the top two lines above hand of figure 5 mention Horus.

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Figure 6
Joseph Smith's interpretation.	Egyptologist's interpretation
Olimlah, a slave belonging to the prince.	Anubis, guide of the dead. Represented here as a blackish-skinned man. Generally portrayed with the head of a jackal. the top three lines in front of figure 6 mention words spoken by Anubis

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Acknowledgments:

Thanks to everyone that helped me complete this site.
Dan Schlesenger - Institute for Biblical Apologetics
H. Michael Marquardt - His site: Breathing Permit of Horus
Charles M. Larson - His book - "By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus"
Egyptologist Klaus Baer - Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1968, pp. 126-127
The Institute for Religious Research. - Their site :
Resources For Investigating Today's Competing Religious Claims
(Your name here.)
And many others.

Thank you to all of my mormon friends.
I created this site, not to offend, but to clarify one of my reasons for leaving mormonism. I am quite open to the possibility of error on my part, as I myself am no egyptologist. Feel free to notify me of any inaccuracy.