Book of Abraham, Facsimile #2 – A Textual Orientation Error:
A notable issue in Facsimile #2 concerns the treatment of the linear hieroglyphic text in lines 8 through 11. In Joseph Smith’s presentation, these lines are numbered and read from bottom to top, which is the reverse of the correct direction.
Standard Egyptian convention dictates that such lines should be read from top to bottom, following the natural order of the script. Reversing this orientation reflects a misunderstanding of basic hieroglyphic layout and further undermines the claim of any authoritative translation or interpretation.
This inversion is more than a minor typographic oversight—it points to a broader pattern of error and improvisation in Smith’s handling of Egyptian materials.
