"[The birthday of Isis. Kindling a light]; receiving illumination."
"The birthday of Nephthys. Kindling a light; ointment is given."
"The day of the New Year. Kindling a light. The eye of Horus is vigilant for thy protection."
"The day of ' Uniting the Kas.' Kindling a light. The eye of Horus is vigilant [for the protection of the scribe] Amenemhet."
"A light for the use of every day, illuminating the road of darkness for the scribe who reckons the grain, the steward Amenemhet, everywhere that he goes."
Here six important festivals are mentioned, all falling just before and at the beginning of the New Year. The day of the "Uniting of the Kas" was, says Dr. Gardiner, "the important festival of Khoiakh, originally celebrated in the fifth month, and possibly the reminiscence of an ancient political Act of Union." The candle would be lighted at dead of night before the niche with the statues.[1]
In modern Egypt lighted lanterns are placed on the graves on two Mohammedan feasts—the one following Ramadan, called the Little ‘Īd, and on one two months later, called the Great ‘Īd.[2]
The Jewesses of Palestine have three important duties to attend to—the lighting of the Sabbath candles, the throwing of a lump of dough on to the fire on the eve of the Sabbath, and the observance of regulations concerning ceremonial uncleanness. Suffering in childbirth is the result of neglecting these duties.[3] These Sabbath candles are very similar in form to those in use among the ancient Egyptians, as depicted in the tomb of Amenemhet. They are of two or more different colours and are plaited. It
- ↑ For this and other examples see Nina de G. Davies and A. Gardiner, The Tomb of Amenemhet, pp. 96-98; pls. xxii-xxiii.
- ↑ Information kindly given me by Mr. Allam, Queen's College, Oxford.
- ↑ R. C. Thompson, Semitic Magic, p. 119.
