In life I had been a member of the court, a Djat, what would be later called a vizier or advisor to the Pharaoh and the highest civil servant in the land. I was thus guaranteed a proper interment, complete with preparation for the afterlife and burial at Saqqara. My heart, the seat of the soul was left intact while the worthless matter in my head was removed with hooked tools through my nostrils. The canonic jars representing the four sons of Horus were used to secure my internal organs. Qebhsenuef the falcon headed, looked after my intestines, Duamuutef the jackal headed cared for my stomach. Hapy with the head of a baboon looked after my lungs and Imsety with a human head secured my liver.
The wrappings that constricted my body were annoying even in death, and they also blocked out Ra. I wished to be a young scribe again running and playing on the hot desert sands in my free time. The smell of the Nile in my nostrils had thrilled me, while watching the hippopotamuses and crocodiles in the great river, as Ra blessed me raining down on my shaved head.
When my body was stolen during a tomb robbery, I had no idea where my remains had been taken to.
Here I lay exposed to the elements presumably abandoned, or put up for ransom. I did not wish to be picked apart by Egyptian vultures. I began to roll myself rocking back and forth at first, finally rolling to the edge of the precipice. I could sense the change in temperature from the updraft but the height of the drop I did not know. Finally, I took a chance and rolled over the edge falling through midair hoping for a soft landing.
Suddenly I was awake wrapped tightly in my sheets and I could see the floor of my bedroom rapidly approaching as I hit the carpet cushioning my fall from the bed. My book on ancient Egypt landing next to me. I had fallen asleep reading it late into the night. Just then my mother yelled up the stairs wondering about the noise .
“Are you all right up there?”
“Yes Mom, I got twisted in my sheets and fell off the bed,” I yelled down.
“Ok, breakfast will be ready soon. Make your bed and come down for school. You weren’t up all-night reading that book again, were you?”
“No Mom!” I said rolling my eyes up to the ceiling.
It was nice to be alive and only twelve years old with a full life ahead, but it would have been cool to be a Djat in ancient Egypt!
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