Exactly one hundred years ago, Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams. But the Viennese psychologist was not the first to reveal the secret, subtle meanings of our nocturnal visions. More than 3,000 years earlier, a scribe from Thebes wrote down a list of ancient Egyptians’ dreams; he even provided the key that unlocks their mysteries.
Papyrus Chester Beatty III, now in the British Museum, dates to the early 13th century B.C., though the language of the text suggests that it was originally compiled in the Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.). Written in hieratic script, a cursive form of hieroglyphics, the papyrus contains 11 pages of what was once a longer document (how much longer is not known). Four fairly complete pages of the document, read from right to left, are shown above.
Running down the right side of each page in large characters are the words, “If a man see himself in a dream.” To the left of this introduction is a column containing horizontal lines of text, with each line listing a dream. To the left of each dream is the word “good” or “bad,” written in red—telling the dreamer that such a vision foretells fair or foul fortune. The next column to the left gives the meaning of the dream. Then comes another page with introduction, dream and interpretation.
And what stuff the ancients’ dreams are made of! If a man sees himself eating donkey flesh, for instance, that’s good; he’s going to get a promotion. If he’s lucky enough to dream that he’s dead, a long life awaits him. Should he find himself asleep and carving up a nice fat female hippopotamus, he will receive a tasty meal from the royal palace.
For our ancient dreamers, however, the news could also be dire. If a man dreams of drinking warm beer, he’s going to suffer. If he sees his face in a mirror, then (God forbid!) he will acquire another wife. If, in a dream, a man pricks his finger with a thorn, he’ll get caught telling lies. A dream about smelting copper condemns the sleeper to years of exile and wandering. If a man dreams that he’s drinking blood, he’s sure to get into a fight.
And then, as in Freud, there are dreams that might bring a blush to a lady’s cheek …
Exactly one hundred years ago, Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams. But the Viennese psychologist was not the first to reveal the secret, subtle meanings of our nocturnal visions. More than 3,000 years earlier, a scribe from Thebes wrote down a list of ancient Egyptians’ dreams; he even provided the key that unlocks their mysteries. Papyrus Chester Beatty III, now in the British Museum, dates to the early 13th century B.C., though the language of the text suggests that it was originally compiled in the Middle Kingdom (2040–1640 B.C.). Written in hieratic script, a cursive form of hieroglyphics, […]
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