062 Millstone

Museum Description: Shabaqo Stone

Room: 4/Case: None/Number: EA 498

Scripture: Job 41:24

This was originally an inscription of an account of the creation of the earth, in which the god Ptah played a major role.  It was severely damaged by being reused as a millstone.  This would have been the lower millstone.  A round upper stone would be rotated on top to crush the grain, as often mentioned in the Bible.

Ptah was supposed to be one of the creators of the universe, but still was unable to prevent the fourth plague of gadflies from coming on only the Egyptians and not the Israelites dwelling in the land of Goshen.  Ptah was also supposed to be one of the healer gods, but that did not stop the sixth plague of boils.   Ptah had an important shrine in the sacred city of Memphis.  It had some of the largest statues ever discovered in Egypt, which you can still see there today.  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.