Historical studies

HISTORICAL STUDIES
EGYPTIAN FESTIVALS AND NILE SHRINES.
1. The great Harris papyrus, which recapitulates
all the offerings of Rameses III, has only gradually
been appreciated. At first the historical portions
were the only pages regarded. Then the statistical
value of its records of endowments, in men and land
and metals, were studied ;
By IV. M. FLINDERS PETRIE.
but the hundreds of entries,
with very various numbers, of all kinds of material,
have scarcely been touched. Here we purpose to
shew some of the results which can be drawn from
the lists, bearing on the festivals and the organiza-
tion.
The Composition of the Numbers. It has long been
noticed that in sections which refer to offerings extending
over the whole reign, of 31 years, the number
31 and its multiples often recur. That is to say the
total is made up of a fixed number of offerings made
each year. In another part where offerings during
23 years are summed up (pi. 34;^) the numbers are
all multiples of 23. This analysis can be carried
much further; in one of the fullest sections (17 to
21) it is stated that the offerings were made on a
festival of 20 days during 1 1 years, and on a festival
of 27 days during 31 years. The total number of
festal days was thus 220 and 837. Now the first
entry is of 1057 loaves ; and this is 220 -f- 837, or
one loaf on each feast day. The next entry is
1277, which is the same with 220 added, 837 +
twice 220. These suffice to shew that the numbers
should be analysed into multiples of 11, 31, 220, and
837 ; that is to say certain amounts offered on the
great day of the feasts, and on each day of the feasts.
To illustrate how these high numbers were piled up,
take the following examples :
—