Greg Reeder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I know of Late examples and some references to
> 19th Dynasty temple examples and netherworld
> books, but I know almost nothing of their
> significance, hence my question above. I would
> love to be directed to an article about it.

Assmann, J. 1997. Zur Ästhetik de Gehemnis. Kryptographie als Kalligraphie im alten Ägypten. In A. Assmann, J. Assmann, A. Hahn and H.-J. Lüsebrink, Eds., Schleier und Schwelle. Geheimnis und Offentlichkeit: 313-327. Archäologie der literarischen Kommunikation V/I. Munich: Wilhelm Fink Verlag.

Darnell, J. C. 1995. The Enigmatic Netherworld Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity: Cryptographic Compositions in the Tombs of Tutankhamun, Ramesses VI, and Ramesses IX. (4 Vols.). Ph. D. Dissertation (Unpublished). Near Eastern Studies and Civilizations. University of Chicago: Chicago.

Étienne-Fart, M. 1994. "De rebus quae geruntur ..." dans deux inscriptions ramessides. BIFAO 94: 133-142. [A study of two Ramesside inscriptions of cryptographic nature containing unusual or even unique hieroglyphic signs. The author's interpretation of the graphic games and their reference/symbolism in two inscriptions leads him to their reading, of theological purport. The first is the "cryptographic" protocol of Seti I in the Osireion of Abydos; the second are the "cryptographic" writings of the name of queen Nefertari on the blocks Egyptian Museum Cairo JE 72015 and 72016].

Heerma van Voss, M. 1974. De gerichtsscene in het Egyptische Poortenboek. In M. S. H. G. Heerma van Voss, Ph. H. J. Houwinkten Cate, et al., ed. Travels in the World of the Old Testament. Studies Presented to Professor M. A. Beek on the Occasion of his 65th Birthday: 80-90. Amsterdam: Van Gorkum. [Author discusses a scene in the Book of Gates in which Osiris is sitting on a platform, in front of him a pair of scales, and on the steps to the platform four figures approaching him. In the room here represented also occur four heads of antelopes, a bark with a pig and two monkeys, and the figure of Anubis. Heerma enumerates the occurrences of the scene, 6 in royal tombs of the New Kingdom and 3 on sarcophagi of the Late Period, and attempts to translate the difficult cryptographic texts, with comments as to their meaning.]

Junge, F. 1984. Zur "Sprachwissenschaft" der Ägypter. In Studien zu Sprache and Religion Ägyptens. Zu Ehren von Wolfhart Westendorf überreicht von seinen Freunden and Schülern: 257-272. Göttingen: Göttingen University. [Author focuses on two points, morphophonemics and cryptography. Concerning the first point he remarks that the Egyptians distinguished between lexemes and morphemes by the presence or absence of determinatives respectively. The principles of cryptography are briefly exposed. The author points out that it constituted an important means of interpreting the world.]

Silverman, D. P. 1980. Cryptographic Writing in the Tomb of Tutankhamun. SAK 8: 233-236.

Winter, E. 1966. Die Rolle der Kryptographie in der altägyptischen Hieroglyphenschrift. Adeva-Mitteilungen (Graz) 8 (Mai 1966): 7-10.

HTH.

Katherine Griffis-Greenberg

Doctoral Candidate
Oriental Institute
Doctoral Programme in Oriental Studies [Egyptology]
Oxford University
Oxford, United Kingdom