The Stela of Paser is Real—and its Elusive “Third Translation” has Evaded Scholars for Centuries

‘Stelae’ are ancient Egyptian funerary stones painted or carved with inscriptions and images, usually used to memorialize the dead. The Stela of Paser is an astonishingly complex, visually and verbally witty, three-thousand year old limestone hieroglyphic puzzle.

Housed in the British Museum since 1835, the Stela of Paser is badly damaged--like most stelae, it was originally in classic tombstone shape, though is now missing much of its outer edges. A large fissure runs from bottom left to top right, splitting the stela into two pieces. Its mystery comes from the top horizontal line of text which is a Middle Kingdom Egyptian hymn and also contains directions on how to read it:

“As for this writing, it is to be read three times.
Its like has not been seen before, or heard since the time of the god.”