The Tabnit sarcophagus is the sarcophagus of the Phoenician king Tabnit of Sidon, the father of King Eshmunazar II. The sarcophagus is decorated with two separate and unrelated inscriptions – one in Egyptian hieroglyphics and one in Phoenician script. It was created in the early 5th century BC, and was unearthed in 1887 by Osman Hamdi Bey at the Ayaa Necropolis near Sidon together with the Alexander Sarcophagus and other related sarcophagi. Tabnit's body was found floating perfectly preserved in the original embalming fluid. Both the sarcophagus and Tabnit's decomposed skeleton are now in the Istanbul Archaeology Museums.
The sarcophagus, together with the Eshmunazar II sarcophagus, were possibly acquired by the Sidonians following their participation in the Battle of Pelusium (525 BC), and served as models for later Phoenician sarcophagi.
The tombs near Sidon were discovered in 1887 by the American Presbyterian minister William King Eddy (the father of William A. Eddy). William Wright sent a letter to The Times with news of Eddy's discovery and imploring the British Museum to "take immediate measures to secure these treasures and prevent their falling into the hands of the vandal Turk". This alerted the new curator of the fledgling Istanbul Archaeological Museum, Osman Hamdi Bey, who arranged for a full excavation and the transfer of the sarcophagi to Istanbul.
Open the book
And I saw an angel come down from heaven
Having the key of the bottomless pit
And a great chain in his hand
I laid whole on the dragon, That old serpent
Which is the Devil, and Satan, and born in a thousand years
I'm the soldier type, keep grip on steel like Conan
Money bulgin' out my pockets, I peel with both hands
Inter-national dopeman, known as a D-Boy
If ya need me nigga, know you can call on the decoy
Me, All I do is move blow off tha corner
Paper chasin', cause I'm tryin to stack doe like colma, (Watch me)
I'm tryin' to keep my head on tight
Baller blockers make a nigga wanna ride at night
Block watchers callin' coppers so my mind ain't right
The Devil with me but the young boy acknowledge Christ
I did alot of ridin' in my time, and God blessed me still
I look out for tha one the knocks
So why the Devil keep on fuckin' with me, why
Why he knockin' at my door, my door
Why the Devil keep on fuckin' with me
Can you tell me why he huntin' me for
Tell me what he huntin' me for, tell me
Could you tell me
Could you tell me what he huntin' me for
Tell me what he huntin' me for
Could you tell me, tell me
Could you tell me what he huntin' me for
You thinkin' lifes a joke, I'll slice your throat
Oh you a thug, you about to get yo' rights revoked
I'm from the Dirty, we don't even know the price of soap
I'm a star, look in the sky, you need a microscope
I'm way ahead of the game, thuggin' runs in my veins
My pockets chubby, so I went and got a gun in my name
Its just me, him and my blunt in the Range
A young nigga with the filty slang
Ha ha, I hop out like a Jack In The Box
With three macks and a glock
I'm askin' for nothin', I'm snatchin' my props
I'm gettin' money while I'm laughin' at cops
It ain't ya lad, I ain't bad
It's the Devil, why don't you tell'em to stop
Its like somebodys lookin' over my shoulder
Its hard to focus in the open I'm surrounded by vultures
So many haters I don't know where to turn
And niggaz be starin' us down like we got money to burn
First things first, I'm sick of all you industry thugs
You feel me, You a enemy if anything cuz
In memory of
Death to the powers that be
See I'm a motherfuckin' soldier ain't no coward in me
Somebody is constanly watching and following me
Throw shades over my eyes, Wont allow me to see
Allow me to peek
Forget about reading the fine print
My lyrical content on some Vietnam shit
Shoot 99% dogg, top of the line
I'm back on my grind
Satan in the back of my mind
Go a-head with the bullshit, tomorrow ain't promised
I'm pushin' the rock to stop from getting knocked unconscious
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for thou walk with me
It's Bad Boy baby, we done seen the ups and downs
Sunny days, rainy days, we'll never stop
Da Band, the next generation, God first
And we won't stop, Yea, Lets go
Yea, get off me, get off me
You know what team I'm on
One God, One love, One family, Bad Boy
I'm like Micheal baby
Dark Angel, Yea, You feel me
I see all you Devils out there
You'll never stop us
Da Band, 2003, The next generation