The Book of Abraham, Facsimile #3 problems …

One of the most evident issues with Joseph Smith’s interpretation of Facsimile 3 from the Book of Abraham is his misidentification of two clearly female figures as male. According to Smith’s explanation, the figures are labeled (from left to right) as King Pharaoh, Abraham, Prince of Pharaoh, Shulem (a waiter), and Olimlah (a slave).

However, modern Egyptologists identify the figures quite differently. The second and fourth figures—whom Joseph identifies as King Pharaoh and Prince of Pharaoh—are actually the goddesses Isis and Ma’at, respectively. This is visually evident in the artwork: both wear distinctive female attire, including dresses and traditional headdresses. Isis is adorned with the Horned Sun Disk, a symbol of divine motherhood and royalty, while Ma’at wears the Feather of Truth, emblematic of cosmic order and justice.

This misidentification is not a minor discrepancy. As Egyptologist Robert K. Ritner noted, Joseph Smith’s interpretation “turns the goddess Ma’at into a male prince,” highlighting a fundamental misunderstanding of the iconography and gender roles in Egyptian funerary art.

The scene itself is a standard judgment vignette from the Book of Breathings, in which the deceased (Hor) is led by Anubis and Ma’at into the presence of Osiris and Isis. The presence of these deities and their symbolic regalia is well-documented in Egyptian religious texts and art, making Smith’s reinterpretation especially problematic from a scholarly perspective.