State of the Metcalfe Photos

[USU78]

I have two questions, and let's please keep the acrimony out of the thread.

1. Are the KEP photos Metcalfe acquired from Steve Christensen prior to his death clear enough to make out the detail on the left-hand column of the three Alphabet documents containing the characters?

2. Did anybody notice before that the characters are largely not contained on the JS Papyri?

This is, of course, open to anyone who has seen the Metcalfe photos or decent reproductions thereof.

[Chris Smith]

Brent's photos are very clear.

As for the notion that the majority of the characters in the KEP are not contained on the papyri, that is not really true. The claim William actually made in his presentation was that the majority of the interpreted characters in the EAG documents are not contained on the papyri. That is arguably true. But the latter half of the "second part" through the end of the "fifth part" of the Alphabet documents are comprised almost entirely of characters from the Hor papyrus. These characters were never interpreted, though it appears that at some point they were intended to be.

In my JWHA paper I noted that many of the characters from the "second part" were not found on the papyrus. With respect to the "first part", I generalized that the characters there were probably copied from the Amenhotep papyrus. As a result of William's presentation I have looked more closely at that section and found that my generalization applies only to the first six characters or so, and even then it is arguable whether they were copied from the papyrus or merely invented and then found on the papyrus. The remainder are apparently invented, like the ones in the "second part". So while William's observation was not entirely new, it has certainly brought this issue into tighter focus and led me, at least, to greater understanding of the documents.

So, kudos to William for this finding.

[USU78]

Brent's photos are very clear.

As for the notion that the majority of the characters in the KEP are not contained on the papyri, that is not really true. The claim William actually made in his presentation was that the majority of the interpreted characters in the EAG documents are not contained on the papyri. That is arguably true. But the latter half of the "second part" through the end of the "fifth part" of the Alphabet documents are comprised almost entirely of characters from the Hor papyrus. These characters were never interpreted, though it appears that at some point they were intended to be.

In my JWHA paper I noted that many of the characters from the "second part" were not found on the papyrus. With respect to the "first part", I generalized that the characters there were probably copied from the Amenhotep papyrus. As a result of William's presentation I have looked more closely at that section and found that my generalization applies only to the first six characters or so, and even then it is arguable whether they were copied from the papyrus or merely invented and then found on the papyrus. The remainder are apparently invented, like the ones in the "second part". So while William's observation was not entirely new, it has certainly brought this issue into tighter focus and led me, at least, to greater understanding of the documents.

So, kudos to William for this finding.

Can't wait to see this develop. The expanded treatment, probably with charts showing where the actual Egyptian characters are to be found on the JS Papyri, will be good to see.

I take it you have retained copies of the Metcalfe photos? The bolded portion led me to think so, and I am impressed by your fairness evidenced thereby.

[Chris Smith]

I take it you have retained copies of the Metcalfe photos?

I have a few saved to my hard drive, though obviously I can't share them. I also don't have the whole collection; only a few pages whose transcriptions I proofread to help Brent's project toward completion. They are very nice images, and Brent's transcription work has been extremely conscientious. If there is a reason for its delayed publication besides mere time constraints, it is probably that Brent is a perfectionist.

[USU78]

Brent's transcription work has been extremely conscientious. If there is a reason for its delayed publication besides mere time constraints, it is probably that Brent is a perfectionist.

I'm sure he appreciates your loyalty.