There are 192 glyphs in K, according to my reconstruction. A few of the glyphs are completely or partly destroyed, but there is no doubt about theIr number or of their distribution. The text is quite possible to read. In 1 of the 192 positions there never was any glyph. This is somewhat similar to how in G the text is 471 + 1 = 472 glyphs long, while there are no more than 471 glyphs on the tablet. In G the missing glyph must be added by reading Gb8-30 twice, not only as the last glyph on side b but also as a first glyph before reading side a. In K the missing glyph is absent in another way, but its position must be counted to reach the intended number 192. Its absence is a sign which must be read, and indeed it is crucial to observe in order to fully understand the main structure and the ideas behind the K text. Only if you know the frame of reference is it possible to understand a text, and the absent glyph is here an essential part of the frame of reference. Let us therefore begin by presenting the vacant position in its immediate surroundings:
The difference in number of glyphs compared with G is 472 - 192 = 280, which is no coincidence - both texts are firmly defined and there is no possibility to take away or add a single glyph. 280 (= 10 * 28) is a consequence ot the two structures and not the result of any intention from either of two creators (if they are different). |
