Fragment of Book of the Dead for Semminis–B, circa 300–100 BC

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Fragment of Book of the Dead for Semminis–B, circa 300–100 BC
Source Note

Fragment of Book of the Dead for Semminis, [Thebes, present-day Luxor, Egypt, ca. 300–100 bc];
1
Rhodes, Books of the Dead, 7, 11.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Rhodes, Michael D. Books of the Dead Belonging to Tshemmin and Neferirnub: A Translation and Commentary. Studies in the Book of Abraham 4. Provo, UT: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University, 2010.
hieratic characters and small vignettes; Egyptian Papyri, CHL. Includes archival markings.

Irregularly sized papyrus fragment measuring, at its largest, 11½ × 11⅛ inches (29 × 28 cm). Shortly after JS and others acquired the papyri in July 1835, this papyrus fragment was pasted onto a paper backing, apparently to preserve it. The nineteenth-century paper backing measures 11½ × 11¼ inches (29 × 29 cm). Residue from glue on the backing indicates that smaller scraps of papyrus were also mounted to the backing and then lost. At an unknown time, the single fragment was cut roughly in half vertically, creating two pieces. During the cutting process, a strip of papyrus measuring ¾ × 4 inches (2 × 10 cm) was excised, possibly due to a cutting mistake. All edges of the backing bear evidence of being cut. Other extant fragments from the same papyrus roll (Fragments of Book of the Dead for Semminis–A and Fragment of Book of the Dead for Semminis–C) do not exactly match the cuts, indicating that text is likely missing between this fragment and the other two. The right-hand piece of papyrus, known to scholars as fragment V, measures, at its largest, 11¼ × 5⅝ inches (29 × 14 cm). The left-hand piece of papyrus, known to scholars as fragment VI, measures, at its largest, 11½ × 5½ inches (29 × 14 cm). Written in graphite on the verso of the backing are the numbers 4 and 7, which correspond to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art accession numbers of these fragments.
2
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 78.
Ritner, Robert K. The Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri: A Complete Edition, P. JS 1–4 and the Hypocephalus of Sheshonq. Salt Lake City: Smith-Pettit Foundation, 2011.

For provenance of the papyri, see Source Note for Fragment of Book of Breathing for Horos–A, between 238 and ca. 153 bc.
Footnotes
[1]
Rhodes, Books of the Dead, 7, 11.
[2]
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 78.
Historical Introduction
This fragment bears portions of chapters 72, 74–77, 83, 86–89, 91, 100, and 101 of the Book of the Dead for Semminis. These spells offer the deceased entry into the afterlife and the ability to transform into animals.
1
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 175–191; Rhodes, Books of the Dead, 41–53.
The backing also bears three small scraps of papyri containing portions of chapters 83, 100, and 105 of the Book of the Dead for Semminis.
2
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 275–276, 282.
A small vignette from this fragment was copied into a notebook of copied characters.
3
See Notebook of Copied Egyptian Characters, ca. Early July 1835.

Oliver Cowdery
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
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made specific mention of the same vignette in 1835, and several visitors recalled being shown it.
4
Oliver Cowdery stated, “The serpent, represented as walking, or formed in a manner to be able to walk, standing in front of, and near a female figure, is to me, one of the greatest representations I have ever seen upon paper, or a writing substance.” (Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to William Frye, Lebanon, IL, 22 Dec. 1835, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 72–73. For an example of a visitor making note of the vignette, see Charlotte Haven, Nauvoo, IL, to “My dear Mother,” 19 Feb. 1843, in Haven, “Girl’s Letters from Nauvoo,” 623–624.)
Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Haven, Charlotte. “A Girl’s Letters from Nauvoo.” Overland Monthly 16, no. 96 (Dec. 1890): 616–638.

See also Introduction to Egyptian Papyri, ca. 300–100 bc.
Footnotes
[1]
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 175–191; Rhodes, Books of the Dead, 41–53.
[2]
Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 275–276, 282.
[3]
See Notebook of Copied Egyptian Characters, ca. Early July 1835.
[4]
Oliver Cowdery stated, “The serpent, represented as walking, or formed in a manner to be able to walk, standing in front of, and near a female figure, is to me, one of the greatest representations I have ever seen upon paper, or a writing substance.” (Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, to William Frye, Lebanon, IL, 22 Dec. 1835, in Cowdery, Letterbook, 72–73. For an example of a visitor making note of the vignette, see Charlotte Haven, Nauvoo, IL, to “My dear Mother,” 19 Feb. 1843, in Haven, “Girl’s Letters from Nauvoo,” 623–624.)
Cowdery, Oliver. Letterbook, 1833–1838. Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Haven, Charlotte. “A Girl’s Letters from Nauvoo.” Overland Monthly 16, no. 96 (Dec. 1890): 616–638.
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Editorial Title
Fragment of Book of the Dead for Semminis–B, circa 300–100 BC
ID #
18165
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, R4:14–15
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