- Oct 3, 2018
- 1 min read

Pharaoh and Baboons

I'm an early riser. Essentially, it's the way I'm made - normally waking between 6.00 and 6.30. These days, it's also an assisted wake-up when Molly stirs and demands her breakfast at daybreak. Quite often, the consequence is an afternoon nap.

One day, as my eyes were adjusting to the light filtering through my shutters at about 4 p.m., I noticed that the plasterwork seemed to be crystallising into the profile of a pharaoh with two baboons at his feet! I did a quick search and discovered this interesting piece - too lengthy and complex to summarise here http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/baboons.htm

I also found an article which suggested that the Ancient Egyptians trained baboons for the apprehension of criminals! This seems to be confirmed by the third of the illustrations.

I couldn't help writing:

The Pharaoh and his Baboons

On quiet Sunday afternoons

The Pharaoh entertains baboons.

He casts his dice and reads the runes

Before his eunuch plays the spoons.

At times he gets down to specifics

And teaches them some hieroglyphics.

The Grand Vizier moves on to physics,

Geometry and metaphysics.

The Pharaoh says, “You see that my mates

Are more than just a bunch of primates.”