Posted on 12/20/2005 3:29:30 AM PST by Pharmboy
When Egyptologists entered the tomb for the first time more than four decades ago, they expected to be surprised. Explorers of newly exposed tombs always expect that, and this time they were not disappointed - they were confounded.
snip....
There, carved in stone, were the images of two men embracing. Their names were inscribed above: Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep. Though not of the nobility, they were highly esteemed in the palace as the chief manicurists of the king, sometime from 2380 to 2320 B.C., in the time known as the fifth dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Grooming the king was an honored occupation.
snip...
Courtesy of Dr. Violaine Chauvet
Since the 4,300-year-old tomb was
discovered outside Cairo in 1964,
Egyptologists have known the names of the
two men buried there
-Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep-
and their occupation, manicurists
to the king. But why were they
embracing?
Over the years, the tomb's wall art has been subjected to learned analysis, inspiring considerable speculation. One interpretation is that the two men are brothers, probably identical twins, and this may be the earliest known depiction of twins. Another is that the men had a homosexual relationship, a more recent view that has gained support among gay advocates.
Now, an Egyptologist at New York University has stepped into the debate with a third interpretation. He has marshaled circumstantial evidence that the two menmay have been conjoined twins, popularly known as Siamese twins. The expert, David O'Connor, a professor of ancient Egyptian art at the N.Y.U. Institute of Fine Arts, said: "My suggestion is that Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep were indeed twins, but of a very special sort. They were conjoined twins,
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Now THAT'S funny...(love yer handle, too).
No wonder the dynasties crumbled. Seems there's a lesson in this story somewhere.
And yes, don't play Pokemon...
LOL! Especially near the Ass-swan dam on the Nile.
You'll love it.
The Ass-wan Dam...LOL...I knew this thread was going to be fun.
Homosexuality has almost achieved religion status. The queer community has decreed that these two are homos based solely on dogma. No science required.
Funny memories of that bit...LOL!
A Jamaican proctologist?
So is hollywierd gonna make a "Camelback Pyramid" movie now??...
That's embracing????? They both have their "skirts" on. I don't see fondling, tongue, probing or fellatio. Which brings to mind, what gives any person the right to violate another person's final resting place. Archeology is Necromancy!
I guess I take a middle ground in that I believe things can be learned with minimal disturbance at the site.
This follows in the wake of the finding of the graves of Izdatyu and Imontop, the first Egyptian interior decorators.
Gotta Dance
A very active ping list?
THe explanation might even be simpler. Perhaps the first draft had him facing left and then the conservatives took over and had the artist paint over and draw him facing right. The cover paint has since dissolved and we are left with two portraits of the same man.
The first--and likely the last--time that list will be pinged! LOL!
"..they were highly esteemed in the palace as the chief manicurists of the king"
Sort of like clothing designers or interior decorators?
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