180 Baking Bread

Museum Description: Baking, Brewing and Butchery

Room: 63/Case: 4/Number: EA 41576

Scripture: Genesis 18:6

Bread was a staple in the diet of many ancient nations, including the Israelites.  Here we can a depiction made for an Egyptian tomb, so bread could be eaten in the afterlife.  One man pounds grain into flour, while a woman grinds grain on a quern.  We can also see a yoke being used to carry the flour, and a woman baking the bread in an oven.  Seeing such an ancient depiction of everyday life can really bring Bible accounts to life.

The Egyptians had an elaborate belief in the immortality of the soul.  They believed that there were several other aspects of their being. The 'ka' was a spiritual copy of the physical body. The 'ba' could be likened to a person’s character or personality.  The 'akh', “germinated” from the mummy as magic spells were said over it, and would then live in the underworld with the gods.  What a contrast to the simple truth in the Bible that "the dead know nothing at all"!  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.