What is this Beni Hassan thing anyway? I've browsed through the references to Ancient Egyptian jugglers in many articles on juggling history. For many moons I've craved a deeper understanding of the ancient Egyptian juggler so often cited in brief histories of juggling. No doubt you've also asked, "Were they a cult, or like court jesters, or athletes just playing around or a cradle for Vaudeville or what?"

 

With good fortune the Brooklyn Museum has one of the most highly acclaimed Egyptology departments in the country, and Dr. Bianchi, associate curator, accommodatingly helped me clarify the matter. The results were astounding.

 

First, Beni Hassan is a geographic location which includes 150 tombs. The tomb we seek is the 15th. It is of the middle kingdom period of about 1994-1781 B.C. The prince entombed there is unknown.

 

Each tomb is divided into registers, and the references to juggling are on the third. The context seems significant. The third register starts with weavers, then girl acrobats, then jugglers, all dressed as dancers (characterized by the braided hair with a ball attached.)

 

The first juggler seems to be doing a two ball multiplex (closer examination reveals the hands empty), the second apparently a three ball cascade, and the third what seems to be an exaggerated Mills Mess without the third ball.

 

The following four women are suggested to be playing "Picka-a-Back Ball." Two girls on their partners' backs throw balls to each other, and the loser must take a partner on their backs. The six women after that are configured two in the center, in the same position as the "Pick-a­Backers," while the others clap to keep time. This goes into the fourth register, which is farmers and farm animals.