The Pyramid of Unas, located at Saqqara, south of Giza and Cairo \u2014 the famous Saqqara \u201cstep pyramid\u201d of Zoser appears in the background here \u2014 no longer looks like much on the outside. But the interior is absolutely wonderful, and of enormous scholarly importance. We visited it back in May, but chose to go to the Pyramid of Teti and the tomb of Kagemni this time.
(Wikimedia Commons public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sigh. \u00a0Once again, I see the confident assertion that the Church has been funding the Interpreter Foundation and FairMormon for years. \u00a0Denying this claim dozens of times seems to make no dent in the self-assurance with which some continue to advance it.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t like fundraising very much. \u00a0I certainly wouldn\u2019t do it, just for fun, if the Church were covering our budget!<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
While we were at Saqqara, a number of us went into the Pyramid of Teti, where the second-oldest version of the famed Pyramid Texts can be seen.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I really, really like the tomb reliefs in the mastaba of Teti\u2019s vizier, Kagemni, with their depictions of daily life (e.g., fishing, milking cows, dancing, applauding musicians, and the like) in very ancient Egypt. \u00a0Unfortunatley, I can\u2019t find any photos of them at the moment, except those that are protected under copyright law. \u00a0But you can easily look them up for yourself.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Saqqara, we had a very good lunch and we also shopped for carpets, papyri, and jewelry cartouches. \u00a0For the first time in four years, my wife and I bought nothing at the carpet store. \u00a0(We both love oriental rugs. \u00a0It\u2019s a weakness of ours.)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
On a very different note: \u00a0While we were in Alexandria, I meant to say something about C. P. Cavafy (1863-1933), arguably the greatest Greek poet of the twentieth century, who lived there. \u00a0But I forgot. \u00a0So here\u2019s one of his more famous poems, \u201cWaiting for the Barbarians,\u201d in the English translation by Edmund Keeley:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The barbarians are due here today.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Why isn\u2019t anything going on in the senate?<\/span><\/div>\nWhy are the senators sitting there without legislating?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because the barbarians are coming today.<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What\u2019s the point of senators making laws now?<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Once the barbarians are here, they\u2019ll do the legislating.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Why did our emperor get up so early,<\/span><\/div>\nand why is he sitting enthroned at the city\u2019s main gate,<\/span><\/div>\nin state, wearing the crown?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because the barbarians are coming today<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the emperor\u2019s waiting to receive their leader.<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019s even got a scroll to give him,<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0loaded with titles, with imposing names.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today<\/span><\/div>\nwearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas?<\/span><\/div>\nWhy have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts,<\/span><\/div>\nrings sparkling with magnificent emeralds?<\/span><\/div>\nWhy are they carrying elegant canes<\/span><\/div>\nbeautifully worked in silver and gold?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because the barbarians are coming today<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and things like that dazzle the barbarians.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Why don\u2019t our distinguished orators turn up as usual<\/span><\/div>\nto make their speeches, say what they have to say?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because the barbarians are coming today<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and they\u2019re bored by rhetoric and public speaking.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Why this sudden bewilderment, this confusion?<\/span><\/div>\n(How serious people\u2019s faces have become.)<\/span><\/div>\nWhy are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,<\/span><\/div>\neveryone going home lost in thought?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Because night has fallen and the barbarians haven\u2019t come.<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And some of our men just in from the border say<\/span><\/div>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0there are no barbarians any longer.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Now what\u2019s going to happen to us without barbarians?<\/span><\/div>\nThose people were a kind of solution.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Posted from Cairo, Egypt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 \u00a0 Sigh. \u00a0Once again, I see the confident assertion that the Church has been funding the Interpreter Foundation and FairMormon for years. \u00a0Denying this claim dozens of times seems to make no dent in the self-assurance with which some continue to advance it. \u00a0 I don\u2019t like fundraising very much. \u00a0I certainly wouldn\u2019t do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>