Nicholson, Charles: Aegyptiaca (London, 1891)

catalogue of egyptian antiquities. 17

south of Cairo, at a place anciently called Ala-
bastron ; whence, reasonably, the name of the
substance and of the manufactured article, as in
all probability the vases so called were made in that
place. The town of Alabastron was situated in the
Cynopolite nome. See Chronology and Geography
of Ancient Egypt, by S. Sharpe, Esq. It was usual
to place four jars, or vases, which contained portions
of the viscera of the embalmed person, with the
sarcophagus in the tomb ; these vases had each a
different cover and name, viz.:—

Amset, human-headed.
Hape, baboon-headed.
Sioumautf, jackal-headed.
Kebh snauf, haivk-headed,

and they were called the genii of Amenti.

38. Portrait Statue of a Scribe, in soft cal-
careous stone. He is seated on a cushion, his left
knee raised, on which he holds with his left hand
the roll or volume of papyrus, which is kept
sufficiently tight to write on by being passed over
the thigh. The right hand is raised, holding the
stylus, or brush, to his mouth, whilst considering
the sentence to be written. There are well-cut
hieroglyphics on three sides, and on the top of the
plinth, and also on the papyrus. The head and
arms have been restored. The following is a trans-
lation by the Rev. D. I. Heath :—■

(On the volume), " Queen of Heaven, Ruler of
Earth, may she give life, health, and strength to the
songsters of her holiness in the train of the good
old man, and a good burial in Hades. I am the

c