Fact or Fiction

The story line of "Egypt: the Uprising" mixes elements of fact with fiction, a la Dan Brown.


In the posts that follow I will introduce some snippets of news and info about places, people, and events that may be Fact or Fiction ...


Exhibit #1: Schist Disk 


Fact or Fiction: Schist disk does in fact exist. And it is on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. 




This is one of the displays at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities and is labelled as "incense burner", but what does it look like it to you? A wheel? Wheels were not invented back then. 


If you answered like some advanced technological marvel, then you are not alone. Many people share your opinion. 


The term "Schist" is derived from a Greek root meaning to split. This discoid artifact was named as such after the type of rock it was fashioned from: Schist rock (rock which can be split in thin layers.)  Schist rock is very delicate is know to be fragile. So who did the ancient Egyptians craft such a complex shape out of it? No one really knows for sure. 


This funky looking artifact is displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and labeled as an "incense burner."


The theory goes that the central opening is used to hold "incense." While this may or may not be true, it still does not explain why the disk is shaped like a wheel. And why it is Tri-lobed.


In "Egypt: The Uprising", this tri-lobed wonder plays an interesting part in the plot. 




Exhibit #2:
One of the very few musical instruments we have left from the ancient Egyptian musical repertoire. 


Mr. Zahi Hawass claims that a delegation from Japan sounded of Tutankhamun's trumpet "of war" when they were visiting the Egyptian museum one week before the revolution broke out. 


The ancient relic also went missing during the looting of the museum by armed thugs. 


Hmmmm...