Post by Charlotte on Jul 31, 2015 9:22:47 GMT -5
Why would the people we call the ancient Egyptians build and paint so extraordinarily, and write such tales as the Shipwrecked Sailor, "the oldest known instant of a story of a castaway on a fabulous island, who returns home laden with riches." Googling for the text, it is designated a 'myth', reinforcing the mainstream interpretations echoed by persons one meets. I love such stories, in this case an island rich with incense and a serpent "with a beard greater than two cubits", a wise serpent who tells the sailor "what is in this isle:
"I am here with my brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five serpents, children and kindred; a young girl who was brought onto me by chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell, and burned her to ashes. As for you, if you are strong, and your heart waits patiently, you shall press your infants to your bosom and embrace your wife. You shall return to your house which is full of all good things, you shall see your land, where you shall dwell in the midst of your kindred."
Measurements and number are given, seventy-five Serpents suggests an "Order of Serpents" on the Island of Truth in an immense Ocean, Lord Bacon informs. The Sailor bowed in obeisance, touched the ground before the Serpent, saying that he will tell Pharaoh of his presence, that he will bring sacred oils, perfumes, incense of the temples, sacrifice animals and birds, and bring for the Serpent "ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is commonly to do onto a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men know not."
The Serpent "smiled at (his) speech, because of that which was in his heart", and he said onto the Sailor: "You are not rich in perfumes, for all that you have is but common incense. As for me, I am the prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes. Only the oil which you say you would bring is not common in this isle. But when you shall depart from this place, you shall never more see this isle; it shall be changed into waves."
The Sailor speaking of what was in the Serpents heart seems foolish to a commentator, so does the island being changed into waves because "the land of Punt is generally identified as the Horn of Africa."
"I am here with my brethren and my children around me; we are seventy-five serpents, children and kindred; a young girl who was brought onto me by chance, and on whom the fire of heaven fell, and burned her to ashes. As for you, if you are strong, and your heart waits patiently, you shall press your infants to your bosom and embrace your wife. You shall return to your house which is full of all good things, you shall see your land, where you shall dwell in the midst of your kindred."
Measurements and number are given, seventy-five Serpents suggests an "Order of Serpents" on the Island of Truth in an immense Ocean, Lord Bacon informs. The Sailor bowed in obeisance, touched the ground before the Serpent, saying that he will tell Pharaoh of his presence, that he will bring sacred oils, perfumes, incense of the temples, sacrifice animals and birds, and bring for the Serpent "ships full of all kinds of the treasures of Egypt, as is commonly to do onto a god, a friend of men in a far country, of which men know not."
The Serpent "smiled at (his) speech, because of that which was in his heart", and he said onto the Sailor: "You are not rich in perfumes, for all that you have is but common incense. As for me, I am the prince of the land of Punt, and I have perfumes. Only the oil which you say you would bring is not common in this isle. But when you shall depart from this place, you shall never more see this isle; it shall be changed into waves."
The Sailor speaking of what was in the Serpents heart seems foolish to a commentator, so does the island being changed into waves because "the land of Punt is generally identified as the Horn of Africa."