But The Restored Apricot-Colored Pillars Are Not Afraid Of
Their Impending Fury - Fury Of A Beast Baffled By A Tricky Little
Woman, Almost It Seems To Me; And Still Less Afraid Are The White
Pillars, And The Brilliant Paintings That Decorate The Walls Within.
As many people in the sad but lovely islands off the coast of Scotland
believe in "doubles," as the
Old classic writers believed in man's
"genius," so the ancient Egyptian believed in his "Ka," or separate
entity, a sort of spiritual other self, to be propitiated and
ministered to, presented with gifts, and served with energy and ardor.
On this temple of Deir-el-Bahari is the scene of the birth of
Hatshepsu, and there are two babies, the princess and her Ka. For this
imagined Ka, when a great queen, long after, she built this temple, or
chapel, that offerings might be made there on certain appointed days.
Fortunate Ka of Hatshepsu to have had so cheerful a dwelling!
Liveliness pervades Deir-el-Bahari. I remember, when I was on my first
visit to Egypt, lunching at Thebes with Monsieur Naville and Mr.
Hogarth, and afterward going with them to watch the digging away of
the masses of sand and rubbish which concealed this gracious building.
I remember the songs of the half-naked workmen toiling and sweating in
the sun. and I remember seeing a white temple wall come up into the
light with all the painted figures surely dancing with joy upon it.
And they are surely dancing still.
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