Copy of Hypocephalus, between circa July 1835 and circa March 1842

Home >
The Papers >

Copy of Hypocephalus, between circa July 1835 and circa March 1842
Source Note

Copy of Hypocephalus, [
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, between ca. July 1835 and ca. Mar. 1842]; unidentified handwriting; one page; Book of Abraham Manuscripts, CHL.

Single leaf measuring 10¼ × 9 inches (26 × 23 cm). Two concentric circles were created with a compass. The inner circle, measuring 6½ inches (17 cm) in diameter, was inscribed in ink, while the outer circle, measuring 7¾ inches (20 cm) in diameter, is etched into the paper. The leaf was folded in half horizontally and then folded again. Some wear along the right side of the leaf has caused most of the paper to fold in on itself, and the upper left corner is torn away. Foxing or staining on this document matches similar staining on other documents related to the Egyptian-language project, indicating close, long-term storage with them. This document was presumably included with the Egyptian material identified in various Historian’s Office inventories throughout the nineteenth century, which suggests continuous institutional custody.
1
“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1]; “Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th. April 1855,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Inventory, G. S. L. City March 19, 1858,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [7], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; see also Historian’s Office, Journal, 17 Oct. 1855.
Comprehensive Works Cited
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.
Footnotes
[1]
“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1]; “Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th. April 1855,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Inventory, G. S. L. City March 19, 1858,” [1]; “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [7], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; see also Historian’s Office, Journal, 17 Oct. 1855.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.
Historical Introduction
This document bears a hand-drawn copy of the hypocephalus of Sheshonq, which is no longer extant.
1
For the ancient context of the hypocephalus of Sheshonq, see Rhodes, Joseph Smith Hypocephalus, 1–12; Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 215–226; and Gee, “Towards an Interpretation of Hypocephali,” 330–334.
Rhodes, Michael D. The Joseph Smith Hypocephalus . . . Seventeen Years Later. FARMS Preliminary Reports. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1994.
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.
Gee, John. “Towards an Interpretation of Hypocephali.” In Mélanges offerts à Edith Varga: “Le lotus qui sort de terre,” edited by Hedvig Györy, 325–334. Budapest: Musée Hongrois des Beaux- Arts, 2001.
Hypocephali were inscribed papyri or other objects that were traditionally placed beneath the head of a deceased person for burial.
2
Rhodes, Joseph Smith Hypocephalus, 1; Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 215.
This copy was made in ink. Later, someone used graphite to shade in what were apparently the lacunae of the original hypocephalus.
3
JS likely instructed Reuben Hedlock to add material from elsewhere in the papyri to fill in these lacunae in preparation for publishing Facsimile 2 in the Times and Seasons in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 1842. (See JS, Journal, 4 Mar. 1842; and “Facsimile Printing Plates, ca. 23 Feb.–ca. 16 May 1842.”)
This document and the possible aborted attempt to draw a hypocephalus in Notebook of Copied Egyptian Characters, circa Early July 1835, are likely linked,
4
See Notebook of Copied Egyptian Characters, ca. Early July 1835.
which would date this document to the
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
More Info
era. It is also possible that this copy dates to the
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
More Info
era, when the hypocephalus of Sheshonq was published as Facsimile 2 of the Book of Abraham.

See also Introduction to Copies of Egyptian Characters, ca. Summer 1835.
Footnotes
[1]
For the ancient context of the hypocephalus of Sheshonq, see Rhodes, Joseph Smith Hypocephalus, 1–12; Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 215–226; and Gee, “Towards an Interpretation of Hypocephali,” 330–334.
Gee, John. “Towards an Interpretation of Hypocephali.” In Mélanges offerts à Edith Varga: “Le lotus qui sort de terre,” edited by Hedvig Györy, 325–334. Budapest: Musée Hongrois des Beaux- Arts, 2001.
[2]
Rhodes, Joseph Smith Hypocephalus, 1; Ritner, Joseph Smith Egyptian Papyri, 215.
[3]
JS likely instructed Reuben Hedlock to add material from elsewhere in the papyri to fill in these lacunae in preparation for publishing Facsimile 2 in the Times and Seasons in Nauvoo, Illinois, in March 1842. (See JS, Journal, 4 Mar. 1842; and “Facsimile Printing Plates, ca. 23 Feb.–ca. 16 May 1842.”)
[4]
See Notebook of Copied Egyptian Characters, ca. Early July 1835.
Page [2]
Hide editing marks

[page [2] blank] [p. [2]]
View entire transcript
|
Cite this page
Source Note
Document Transcript
Page [2]
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Copy of Hypocephalus, between circa July 1835 and circa March 1842
ID #
18200
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, R4:50–51
Handwriting on This Page