This interest was intensified when he read, on the front page of the manuscript, the names of an ancient Egyptian monarch “Nibmara Amenhotep, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Triumphant.”
“This is indeed a treasure, Steven! A perfect copy of the Book of the Dead. You did well to purchase it before I got wind of it. By Jove! It is in better condition than the Papyrus of Ani in the British Museum!”
Without replying Steven Ranney turned to the last two pages of the scroll. Inserted between them was a brown stained sheet of hieroglyphics written in red ink.
“Read this, Clem. To me it appears to be a find of far more importance than the Ritual itself.”
Gardiner translated aloud the lines of somewhat tremblingly written hieroglyphics:
“A Contract which the Hereditary Prince, the Count, Sole Companion of the King, Instructor of the Royal Princess, and Chief Royal Architect, Amenhotep, son of Hap, made with Hotepra, Great High Priest of Amen.
“It is ordained that there be given to the statue of Amenhotep which is in his tomb on the western shore, 1,000 loaves of bread, 1,000 fatted geese, 1,000 jars of wine and 100 bulls, upon the 1st day of the 1st month of the year, what time the servants bring presents to their lord, and lights are lit in house, in tomb and in temple!
“In payment of this endowment of his tomb, Amenhotep, son of Hap, engages to reveal to Hotepa, Great High Priest of Amen, the secret hiding-place of the Luminous Book of Thoth, Scribe of the Gods!
“Behold! Amenhotep, son of Hap, he saith: ‘By the magic incantation contained within this book the Gods are compelled! By its hekau-charms the Boat of the Sun is stopped, the Moon is darkened!
“Lo, he that reciteth the formulæ contained therein, may descend into the Underworld and return to mingle again with mortal men.