Hypocephalus

In the Book of Abraham, there are three "illustrations." The second one is an enigmatic circle with strange pictures and scribbles on it. I am going to endeavor to tell you what it all means...

Facsimile 2 from the Book of Abraham

Above is the facsimile, as it is seen in the Pearl of Great Price. Below is what it probably looked like when it was in the Prophet Joseph Smith's possession. Notice the missing pieces, called "lacunae."

Reconstructed Papyrus Version

For our purposes here, I have begun to "transcribe" everything into a cleaner, neater version so that you can actually see what this drawing is depicting. I am not done with it yet, but here is what I have so far:

"Cleaned up" version

This circle thing is called a hypocephalus, which means "under the head" This little circle thing would originally be about 6 inches in diameter, and would be written in black ink onto papyrus, linen, metal, or wood. It was placed under the head of a newly mummified body as the final step in the process that was meant to introduce the deceased into the company of the gods. This little circle is supposed to contain all of the information necessary for the dead to become a god! So, we can see why Joseph Smith applied a connection with this to the temple. This hypocephalus represents (among many other things) the temple ceremonies.

Figure-by-Figure explanation

Figure 1
Kolob

Kolob, signifying the first creation, nearest to the celestial, or the residence of God. First in government, the last pertaining to the measurement of time. The measurement according to celestial time, which celestial time signifies one day to a cubit. One day in Kolob is equal to a thousand years according to the measurement of this earth, which is called by the Egyptians Jah-oh-eh.

Khnum: The god of the source of the Nile River, and therefore, the source of life. He was believed to have molded the bodies of humans out of clay from the banks of the Nile upon a potter's wheel. He is called the Divine Potter and the Lord of All Created Things. The two heads represent both heaven and earth as being created by Khnum, In his hand, he holds the symbol of life, dominion, and stability as pertaining to the creation of the universe. He is one of the creator gods, and the evening manifestation of Ra. This figure represents Elohim in the creation as he delegates his creative power to Jehovah and Michael, who stand on either side of this figure.

Figure 2
Oliblish

Stands next to Kolob, called by the Egyptians Oliblish, which is the next grand governing creation near to the celestial or the place where God resides; holding the key of power also, pertaining to other planets; as revealed from God to Abraham, as he offered sacrifice upon an altar, which he had built unto the Lord.

Amen-Ra: The composite of Amen (god of air) and Ra (god of the sun). He is given the title "Father of the Gods" because he is believed to have created the ba, the breath of life, the spirit. It was believed that all other gods were just different manifestations of Ra. Amen-Ra was a monotheistic god. Amen signifies that which is hidden, that which is invisible, or that which is spirit. Ra is the sun, and the sun is light, and light is intelligence. He bears the symbols of Wepwawet, who is "the opener of the way." These are the symbols of life. He opens the way to salvation. This represents Jehovah, the Lord of Life, the Savior and Redeemer of the World, the Anointed One of God, even Jesus Christ. He opens the way to eternal life, and so figureheads this illustration.

Literal translation:
The name of this Mighty God


According to the Egyptians, each god had a secret name which could give power over that god to anyone who knew it. This is "the unutterable name of "יהוה" or "Jehovah."

Figure 3
God on His Throne

Is made to represent God, sitting upon his throne, clothed with power and authority; with a crown of eternal light upon his head; representing also the grand Key-words of the Holy Priesthood, as revealed to Adam in the Garden of Eden, as also to Seth, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, and all to whom the Priesthood was revealed.

Ra: The sun god. He sits on the "solar bark" holding the scepter of dominion or stewardship. This signifies the sun in its journey across the sky. The Egyptians believed that the sun died and was rebord each day, and so this symbolizes death and resurrection. God sits in the heavens, revealing the principles of dominion, or the Priesthood unto his chosen stewards such as Abraham.

The wedjat eye to the left of the solar disk atop Ra's head represents the past, and the eye to the right represents the future. This symbolizes the all-knowing qualities of God. See D&C 38:2

Literal translation:
Divine ship


Figure 4
Raukeeyang

Answers to the Hebrew word Raukeeyang, signifying expanse, or the firmament of the heavens; also a numerical figure, in Egyptian signifying one thousand; answering to the measuring of the time of Oliblish, which is equal with Kolob in its revolution and in its measuring of time.

Horus-Soped or Sokar: The outstretched wings represent Horus, the personification of the sky. The boat on which he sits represents a ship of 1000 cubits long, and therefore signifies one thousand. In the festival of Sokar, this symbol is used by the high priest to symbolize the revolutions of celestial bodies. This is the Holy Ghost, or the Light of Christ which fills the imensity of space.

Figure 5
Enish-go-on-dosh

Is called in Egyptian Enish-go-on-dosh; this is one of the governing planets also, and is said by the Egyptians to be the Sun, and to borrow its light from Kolob through the medium of Kae-e-vanrash, which is the grand Key, or, in other words, the governing power, which governs fifteen other fixed planets or stars, as also Floeese or the Moon, the Earth and the Sun in their annual revolutions. This planet receives its power through the medium of Kli-flos-is-es, or Hah-ko-kau-beam, the stars represented by numbers 22 and 23, receiving light from the revolutions of Kolob.

Ihet: A form of Hathor, the godess of the mid-day sun. It was from her that the sun and all creation sprang. She is said to give birth to the sun each day. This is the unorganized matter from which our solar system was formed, and illustrates the place which this earth holds in the heiarchy of celestial bodies.

הַכּוֺכָבִים (hah-ko-kau-beam) “the stars”

Figure 6
Represents this earth in its four quarters.

The four standing figures are the four Sons of Horus. During the process of mummification, some of the internal organs were placed in canopic jars. Each of these canopic jars bore the shape of the god which was supposed to watch over that organ. Each god also represented one of the four directions on a compass. Therefore, the four Sons of Horus represent the four quarters of the earth.

Korash (Imsety) -South

Simon Peter

Imsety, the human-headed god, protected the liver of the dead. At the time of the resurrection, it was his role to revive the body of the deceased, and this he did by the authority of Ptah and Ra.

Mahmackrah (Hapi) -North

James

Hapi, the baboon-headed hod, protected the lungs of the dead. He is called the Great Runner. He would gather the dismembered parts and restore them to their proper frame at the day of resurrection.

Libnah (Duamutef) -East

John the Beloved

Duamutef, the jackal-headed god, protected the stomach. He showed reverence to Isis, the mother who had been given to him. This is representative of Christ giving Mary, his mother, into the care of John the Beloved. Just as Duamutef gave Isis his reverence, he shows reverence to the deceased and offers them protection from harm.

Elkenah (Qebehsenuef) -West

John the Baptist

Qebehsenuef, the hawk-headed god, protected the intestines. His name means, "he who libates his siblings." Libation is an act of cleansing and refreshing akin to baptism (in a corrupt form) wherein cool water is showered upon another's head.

Figure 7

God on His Throne

Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove.

Amen-Min: God of regeneration, or rebirth (as in nature). He holds in his hand a flail, which illustrates royal authority. The bird figure represents the Ba, or spirit (in this case, the Holy Spirit) which reveals the good gifts from God.

Figures 8-11
Contains writings that cannot be revealed unto the world; but is to be had in the Holy Temple of God.



Ought not to be revealed at the present time.



If the world can find out these numbers, so let it be. Amen.


Literal Translation:
O God of the Sleeping Ones from the time of the creation. O Mighty God, Lord of heaven and earth, of the hereafter, and of his great waters, may the soul of the Osiris Shishaq be granted life.

Figures 12-15
will be given in the own due time of the Lord.


Literal Translation:





Figures 16 & 17
will be given in the own due time of the Lord.

Literal Translation:
May this tomb never be desecrated, and may this soul and its lord never be desecrated in the hereafter.

Figure 18
will be given in the own due time of the Lord.

Literal Translation:


I am the Provider in the Sun Temple in Heliopolis. I am most exalted and very glorious. I am a virile bull without equal. I am that Mighty God in the Sun Temple in Heliopolis. May the Osiris Shishaq live forever with that Mighty God in Heliopolis.




Figures 19-21
will be given in the own due time of the Lord.

Literal Translation:
You shall ever be as that God, the Busirian.





Figures 22 & 23
stars receiving light from the revolutions of Kolob.









Below is an explanation/translation that I have written over the figures in the facsimile. Words in italics are explanatory, and words in regular text are translations, placed in the context of the Gospel, and are made relevant to Abraham.

Relevant Translations