The showcases in the Egyptian department of the Dutch State Museum of Antiquities in Leiden are dimly lit. After all, light might damage the precious ancient papyri on display. You have to know what you’re looking for, but it’s there: the Leiden Amun papyrus. One of the most famous texts of the ancient world.
There are questions about its origin. Usually, that means that we must doubt the authenticity of this papyrus. One cannot be too sceptical about antiquities from unknown excavations, because it is extremely easy to fake an authentic-looking papyrus (see issue 37 of Ancient History magazine). Only papyri with a well-documented provenance are worthy of study.
Not even Champollion
However, in this particular case, we don’t have to worry. This text has been known since 1828, when the museum, recently founded, acquired the collection of Giovanni d’Anastasi (1780-1860). D’Anastasi was a
