Behold [he hath crossed
over to] besiege Henen-seten,' he hath ringed it about, not
allowing outgoers to go out, not allowing incomers to enter, by
reason of the daily fighting.
over to] besiege Henen-seten,' he hath ringed it about, not
allowing outgoers to go out, not allowing incomers to enter, by
reason of the daily fighting.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v09 - Dra to Eme
We embarked, we
went down to the river, we reached north of Koptos by one mile.
1 The place of embalmment.
? A similar method is still employed by Arab doctors and wizards. To heal
a disease a formula is written out and then washed off the paper in a bowl
of water, which is given to the patient to drink.
## p. 5268 (#440) ###########################################
5268
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
Behold, Thoth had discovered everything that happened to Na-
neferkaptah on account of the roll; Thoth delayed not, he com-
plained before the Sun, saying, “Know my right, my judgment
with Naneferkaptah the son of Pharaoh Mernebptah! He went
to my place, he robbed it, he took my box containing my book,
he killed my guard who was watching it. '
"It was said to him, He is before thee, with every man that
belongeth to him-all. ” 1
“There was sent a power from God down from heaven, saying,
Let not Naneferkaptah go to Memphis safe, with every man that
belongeth to him - all. ”
"An hour passed: Merab, the boy, came out from under the
awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he fell into the river, he
did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered a cry
- all. Naneferkaptah came out from under his cabin, he read a
writing over him, he caused him to come up, for it was that a
power from God in the water was laid on his upper side. ? He
read a writing over him, he made him relate before him of every-
thing that had happened to him — all, and the accusation that
Thoth made before Ra.
“We returned to Koptos with him. We caused him to be
taken to the Good House and laid in state; we caused him to be
embalmed like a prince and great man; we caused him to rest in
his coffin in the cemetery of Koptos.
« Said Naneferkaptah my brother, Let us go down the river,
let us not delay before Pharaoh hear the things that have hap-
pened to us, and his soul be sad therefore. "
“We embarked, we went down-stream, we delayed not; and
traveled to the north of Koptos by one mile. At the place of
the falling of Merab the boy into the river, I came out from
under the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, I fell into the
river, I did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered
a cry-all. They told it to Naneferkaptah, he came out from
under the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he read a
writing over me, he caused me to leap up, for it was that a
power from God in the water rested on my upper side. He
caused me to be taken up, he read a writing over me, he caused
me to relate before him everything that had happened unto me
- all; and the accusation that Thoth had made before Ra. He
1 Cf. Job i. , 12.
2 1. e. , above him.
## p. 5269 (#441) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5269
returned to Koptos with me, he caused me to be brought to the
Good House, he caused me to be laid in state, he caused me to
be embalmed with the embalmment of a prince and very great
person, he caused me to rest in the tomb where Merab the boy
lay.
“He embarked, he went down - stream, he hastened north of
Koptos by one mile to the place of our falling into the river.
He spake with his soul, saying:- Can I go to Koptos and dwell
there? Otherwise, if it be that I go to Memphis, the moment
that Pharaoh asks me after his children, what shall I say to him ?
Can I tell it to him, saying, I took thy children to the nome of
Thebes, I killed them, I being alive; I came to Memphis, I being
alive still ? )
"He caused them to bring a strip of royal linen before him;
he made it into a girdle. He bound the roll, he put it upon his
stomach, he made it firm. Naneferkaptah came out from under
the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he fell into the river,
he did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered a
cry — all, saying: 'Great woe! Oppressive woe! Has he gone
back,' the good scribe, the learned man, to whom there is no
equal ?
“The pleasure-boat of Pharaoh went down-stream, without any
one on earth knowing where Naneferkaptah was. They reached
Memphis, they made report of it before Pharaoh. Pharaoh came
down to meet the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh in mourning, the army
of Memphis took mourning - all, together with the priests of Ptah,
the chief prophet of Ptah, with the officials and household of
Pharaoh — all. They saw Naneferkaptah clinging to the rudders
of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, by virtue of his art of a good
scribe. They drew him up, they saw the roll on his stomach.
Said Pharaoh, Let this roll that is on his stomach be hidden
away. '
“Said the officers of Pharaoh, with the priests of Ptah, and
the chief prophet of Ptah, before Pharaoh: O our great lord the
King, may he accomplish the duration of Ra ! ? Naneferkaptah
was a good scribe, a learned man exceedingly. '
“Pharaoh caused to be given to him entrance to the Good
House for sixteen days, wrapping for thirty-five and coffining for
seventy; he was caused to rest in his tomb, in his places of rest. ”
1 An expression for death, like our gone home. ”
? 1. e. , “May he live as long as the Sun god. ”
## p. 5270 (#442) ###########################################
5270
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[Having finished her story, Ahura proceeds to point out the moral to
Setna. ]
“I am suffering the ills which have come upon us because of
this roll of which thou sayest, Let it be given to me! ' Thou
hast no claim to it: our life on earth has been taken for it. ”
Said Setna, "Ahura, let this roll be given me which I see
between thee and Naneferkaptah, else will I take it by force. ”
Rose Naneferkaptah on the couch; he said: “Art thou Setna,
before whom this woman has told these misfortunes which thou
hast not suffered — all? The book named, canst thou take it only
by strength of a good scribe? It were sufficient to play draughts
with me.
Let us play for it at the game of fifty-two points. ”
And Setna said, “I am ready. ”
The board and its pieces were put before them. They played
at the fifty-two, and Naneferkaptah won a game from Setna. He
[Naneferkaptah] read a spell over him; he [Setna] defended him-
self with the game-board that was before him. He [Nanefer-
kaptah] made him [Setna] go into the ground as far as his feet.
He did its like in the second game; he won it from Setna, he
made him go into the ground as far as his middle. He did its
like in the third game; he made him go into the ground as far
as his ears. After these things Setna made a great blow on the
hand of Naneferkaptah. Setna called to Anheru, his brother by
Anherart,saying: "Make haste and go up upon the earth, do
thou relate of everything that has happened to me before Pha-
raoh, and do thou bring the amulets of Ptah my father, and
my rolls of magic. ”
He hastened up upon earth, he related before Pharaoh of
everything that had happened to Setna. Said Pharaoh, “Take to
him the amulets of Ptah his father, and his rolls of magic. ”
Anheru hastened down into the tomb; he laid the talismans on
the body of Setna, he [Setna] sprang to heaven at the moment
named. Setna caused his hand to go after the roll, he took it.
It came to pass that Setna went up from the tomb, Light walk-
ing before him and Darkness walking behind him, and Ahura
1 The presence of names compounded with the name of Anher, god of
Sebennytus, indicates that the story was written during or after the supremacy
of that city, at the end of the native rule.
2 Setna Kha-em-uast was high priest of Ptah.
Evidently a strong expression, to show the instantaneous and powerful
effect of the amulets in drawing him out of the ground.
3
## p. 5271 (#443) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5271
weeping after him, saying, "Hail to thee, King Darkness! Fare-
well to thee, King Light! All consolation is gone that was in the
tomb. "
Said Naneferkaptah to Ahura, “Be not troubled of soul; I
will make him bring this book hither, there being a fork for a
staff in his hand, there being a pan of fire on his head. ” 1
And Setna came up from the tomb, he made it fast behind
him in its manner.
Setna went before Pharaoh, he related before him of the
thing that had happened to him with the roll. Said Pharaoh to
Setna, "Take this roll to the tomb of Naneferkaptah in the mar
ner of a prudent man, else he will make thee bring it, there
being a fork for a staff in thine hand, there being a pan of fire
on thine head. »
Not did Setna hearken to him. It came to pass that Setna
had no habit on earth but unrolling the roll and reading it
before everybody.
After these things there was a day when Setna passed time
in the court of Ptah, and saw a woman beautiful exceedingly,
there being no woman of her beauty. There were ornaments of
much gold upon her, there were children and women walking
behind her, there were fifty-two persons of chiefs of households
assigned to her. The hour that Setna saw her he knew not the
place on earth where he was. Setna called to his attendant
youth, saying, “Go quickly to the place where this woman is;
learn what comes under her command. ”
The attendant youth went quickly to the place where the
woman was, he addressed the handmaid who walked behind her,
he asked her, saying, “What person is this woman ? ” She said
to him, "She is Tabubua, the daughter of the prophet of Bast,
lady of Ankhtaui, she having come hither to pray before Ptah
the great god. ”
The youth went back to Setna, he related before him of
everything that she had told him — all.
[In his infatuation for this woman, Setna forgets all decorum and all duty,
and follows her home to Bubastis, and «ashamed was every one that was
about Setna. ) To win the favor of Tabubua, he hands over to her all his
possessions and the inheritance of his children; and at length she demands
that his children should be put to death to prevent disputes. ]
Setna said, “Let there be done unto them the abomination
that has entered thy heart. ”
1 This choice of symbols of submission is not yet explained.
## p. 5272 (#444) ###########################################
5272
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
She caused his children to be slain before his face; she caused
them to be cast down from the window before the dogs and the
cats. They devoured their flesh, he hearing them, he drinking
with Tabubua.
[Setna awakens from the trance in which he has in imagination sunk to
such depths of wickedness, to find himself lying naked in a strange place. )
An hour it was that passed when Setna saw a great man
riding on a chariot, there being many men running at his feet,
he being like Pharaoh. Setna came to rise; he could not rise for
shame, for there was no clothing upon him. Pharaoh said,
“Setna, what has befallen thee in this state in which thou art ?
Said he, “Naneferkaptah is he who hath done this to me -
all. ”
Pharaoh said, “Go to Memphis: thy children they are seeking
for thee; they are standing on their feet before Pharaoh. ”
Setna said before Pharaoh, My great lord the King, may he
accomplish the duration of Ra! What is the manner of going to
Memphis that I can do, there being no clothes on earth upon
me ? »
Pharaoh called to a youth standing by, he made him give
clothing to Setna. Said Pharaoh to Setna, "Go to Memphis:
thy children, they are alive, they are standing on their feet
before Pharaoh. ”
Setna came to Memphis, he embraced his children with hand,
he found them alive. Pharaoh said, “Is it drinking that hath
brought thee thus ? »
Setna related everything that had happened to him with Tabu-
bua, with Naneferkaptah-all. Pharaoh said: “Setna, I put my
hand upon thee before,' saying, 'Thou wilt be slain if thou dost
not take this roll to the place from which it was brought. Thou
didst not listen to me till this hour, Give this roll to Nanefer-
kaptah, there being a forked stick for a staff in thine hand, there
being a pan of fire on thine head. ”
Setna came out from before Pharaoh, there being a forked
stick for a staff in his hand, there being a pan of fire on his
head. He went down to the tomb in which was Naneferkaptah.
Ahura said to him, “Setna, it is Ptah the grcat god who hath
brought thee back safe. ”
i Compare the expression noted on p. 5265.
## p. 5273 (#445) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5273
Naneferkaptah laughed, saying, “This is a thing that I told
thee before. ”
Setna saluted Naneferkaptah; he found him as it is said,
“He is the sun that is in the whole tomb. ” Ahura and Na-
neferkaptah saluted Setna greatly. Setna said, “Naneferkaptah,
is there aught that is disgraceful ? »
Naneferkaptah said, “Setna, thou knowest this, that Ahura
and Merab her child, they are in Koptos: bring them here into
this tomb by the skill of a good scribe. Let it be commanded
before thee, and do thou take pains, and do thou go to Koptos,
and do thou bring them hither. ”
Setna came up from the tomb and went before Pharaoh; he
related before Pharaoh of everything that Naneferkaptah had
said to him — all.
Pharaoh said, “Setna, go to Koptos, bring Ahura and Merab
her child. "
He said before Pharaoh, "Let the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh be
given to me with its equipment. ”
The pleasure-boat of Pharaoh was given to him with its equip-
ment; he embarked, he sailed up, he did not delay, he arrived
at Koptos.
Information of it was given before the priests of Isis of Kop-
tos, and the chief prophet of Isis. They came down to meet
him, they took his hand to the shore. He went up, he went
into the temple of Isis of Koptos and Harpokrates. He caused
ox, goose, wine to be brought; he made a burnt-offering, a
drink-offering, before Isis of Koptos and Harpokrates. He went
to the cemetery of Koptos, with the priests of Isis and the chief
prophet of Isis; they spent three days and three nights searching
in the tombs which were in the cemetery of Koptos — all, turning
over the stelæ of the scribes of the House of Life, reading the
inscriptions that were on them. They found not the places of
rest in which were Ahura and Merab her son.
Naneferkaptah perceived that they found not the places of
rest of Ahura and Merab her son. He rose from the dead as
an old man, great of age exceedingly. He came to meet Setna,
and Setna saw him. Setna said to the old man, “Thou art of
the appearance of a man great of age: knowest thou the places
of rest in which are Ahura and Merab her child ? »
The old man said to Setna, « The father of the father of my
father told to the father of my father, and the father of my
## p. 5274 (#446) ###########################################
5274
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
9
father told to my father, that the resting-places of Ahura and
Merab her child are by the south corner of the house of Pehe-
mato, as his name is. ”
Said Setna to the old man, “Is it not an injury that Pehemato
hath done thee, by reason of which thou comest to cause his
house to be brought down to the ground ? »
The old man said to Setna, “Let watch be set over me and
let the house of Pehemato be taken down. If it be that they
find not Ahura and Merab her child under the south corner of
his house, may abomination be done to me. ”
A watch was set over the old man; the resting-place of Ahura
and Merab her child was found under the south corner of the
house of Pehemato. Setna caused them to enter as great people
on the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh; he caused the house of Pehe-
mato to be built in its former manner. Naneferkaptah made
Setna to discover what had happened: that it was he who had
come to Koptos to let them find the resting-place in which Ahura
and Merab her child were.
Setna embarked on the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he went
down the river, he did not delay, he reached Memphis with all
the army that was with him—all. Report was made of it before
Pharaoh, he came down to meet the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh.
He caused them to be introduced as great persons to the tomb
where Naneferkaptah was, he caused dirges to be made above
them.
This is a complete writing, relating of Setna Khaemuast, and
Nane ferkaptah, and Ahura his wife, and Merab her child. This
was written in the XXXVth year, the month Tybi.
Translation of F. Ll. Griffith.
THE STELA OF PIANKHY
[The following inscription, one of the longest in existence, covers both
faces and the sides of a large stela of black basalt in the Museum at Gizeh.
It was found in the temple of Gebel Barkal, beyond Dongola in Nubia. Here
was one of the capitals of a native Ethiopian dynasty, and in the temple
dedicated to Amen a number of historical stelæ were set up by different
kings, of whom Piankhy (about 800 B. C. ) was the earliest. Not improbably
he was descended from the priest kings of the XXIst Egyptian dynasty (at
Thebes, about 1000 B. C. ); at any rate, the name which he bore occurs in
## p. 5275 (#447) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5275
that dynasty, and his devotion to Amen agrees with the theory. We learn
from the stela that by some means he had obtained the suzerainty over
Upper Egypt, which was governed by local kings and nomarchs; while Lower
Egypt was similarly divided but independent. Among the princes of the
North land the most powerful was Tafnekht, probably a Libyan nomarch
of Sais who had absorbed the whole of the western side of Lower Egypt.
The stela relates the conflict that ensued when Tafnekht endeavored to
unite Lower Egypt in a confederacy and invade the Upper Country. This
gave Piankhy, who knew his own strength, an opportunity of which he was
not slow to avail himself. The Delta was protected from invasion by its
network of canals, and by its extensive marshes. But when the armies and
navies of the local kings had been drawn into Upper Egypt and there repeat-
edly defeated, weakened and cowed, the princes of the North Land were
at the mercy of the victorious Ethiopian, who was rewarded for his activity
and skill in strategy with an abundance of spoil and tribute, probably also
with the permanent subjection of the country.
The inscription is in a very perfect state; with the exception of one lacuna
of sixteen short lines the losses are very small. The narrative is far more
artistic and sustained than was usual in records of any considerable length.
The piety of the Ethiopian and his trust in his god Amen are remarkably indi-
cated; and some passages cannot fail to remind us of the Biblical records of
certain Jewish kings and of the prophecies concerning Nebuchadnezzar and
Cyrus. There is nothing that suggests the bloodthirstiness and wanton cruelty
of the contemporary kings of Assyria. Altogether, when the time and circum-
stances are taken into account, the impression left is one very favorable to
Piankhy. If he seems to insist overmuch on his Divine mission, this exaggera-
tion is perhaps due to the priests of Amen who drafted the document, desirous
of thereby promoting the honor both of their god and of their king.
There are numerous indications in the signs composing the inscription
that the text was written originally in a cursive character, and afterwards
transcribed into hieroglyphics for record on stone. )
[Date.
EAR xxi, month Thoth,' under the Majesty of the King of
Upper and Lower Egypt, Meriamen Pia. 'shy, living for-
ever:
(Attention demanded. ]
Command: My Majesty saith, Hear how I have done more
than the ancestors! I am a king, the figure of a god, the living
image of Tum, who came forth from the body fashioned as a
a ruler, whose elders feared him,
whose mother recog-
nized that he would reign (while he was yet] in the egg; the
i The first month of the inundation season and of the Egyptian year. This
is the date of the first events recorded, not of the dedication of the stela:
the command” is parenthetical.
## p. 5276 (#448) ###########################################
5276
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
good God, beloved of the gods, Son of the Sun, working with
his hand,' Meriamen Piankhy.
[The narrative. Report of Tafnekht's invasion received: the king's joy
thereat. ]
in.
There came one to tell his Majesty, whereas the ruler of the
West, the nomarch and chief in Neter, Tafnekht, was in the
[Harpoon] Nome, in the Nome of the Bull of the Desert, in Hap,
. , in An, in Per-nub, and in Mennefer,” he took unto him-
self the entire West from the sea-coast to Athet-taui, and went
south with a great army; the two lands were united in following
him, the nomarchs and the rulers of fenced cities were as hounds
at his feet. No fortress was closed (against him]; the nomes of
the South, Mertum, and Per-Sekhem-Kheper-ra, the Temple of
Sebek, Per-Mezed, Tekanesh,' and every city of the West, opened
their gates in fear of him. He turned back to the Eastern
nomes; they opened to him as the former. Het-benu,
Tayuzayt, Het-seten, Per-nebt-tep-ah.
Behold [he hath crossed
over to] besiege Henen-seten,' he hath ringed it about, not
allowing outgoers to go out, not allowing incomers to enter, by
reason of the daily fighting. He hath measured it out on every
side, each nomarch gauging his own [length of] wall, that he may
post each one of the nomarchs and the rulers of fenced cities at
his section. ”
even
i The same expression occurs further on, and evidently refers to the per-
sonal activity of the king.
2 Neter was probably Iseum in the centre of the Delta, and so a nomarch-
ship quite separate from Tafnekht's extensive territory in the west. The list
following the name of Tafnekht seems to name localities representative of the
VIIth(? ), Vith, Vth, IVth(? ), IIId(? ), and ist nomes in Lower Egypt, in
their proper order; the last, Mennefer, being Memphis. These would form
literally the whole western side of Lower Egypt «from the coast to Athet-
taui. ” Athet-taui (Lisht ? ) was a city marking the boundary of Upper and
Lower Egypt.
3 Mêdûm, El Lahûn, Crocodilopolis in the Faiyûm, Oxyrhynkhos, Diknash,
all — except perhaps the last — in order from north to south.
* He crossed over to the east bank and went northward, the cities on his
road throwing open their gates to him. With the exception of the last, Per-
nebt-tep-ah [Aphroditopolis), the modern Atfih opposite Mêdûm, they are dif-
ficult to identify positively.
5 1. e. , Heracleopolis Magna, a very powerful city on the edge of the west-
ern desert, left in the rear on Tafnekht's expedition up the river. Its king
was named Pefaui Bast. Its modern name is Ahnâs.
6 Lit. , "he hath made himself into a tail-in-the-mouth. ) [! ]
## p. 5277 (#449) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5277
Now [his Majesty heard these things] with good courage,
laughing, and with joy of heart.
[Anxiety of the King's governors in Upper Egypt at Tafnekht's progress.
Loss of Hermopolis. ]
Behold these chiefs, nomarchs, and captains of the host who
were in their various cities sent to his Majesty daily, saying:
“Hast thou ceased [from action] until thou forgettest the South
Country, the nomes of the royal domain'? Tafnekht is pushing
forward his conquest, he findeth not any to repel his arm.
Nemart [the ruler in Hermopolis) and nomarch of Het-Ur’ hath
breached the fortress of Neferus, he hath ruined his own city for
fear lest he [Tafnekht] should take it, and then lay siege to
another city. Behold, he hath gone to be at his [Tafnekht's]
feet;he hath refused allegiance to his Majesty, and standeth
with him [Tafnekht] like one of [his retainers. He hath harried
the nome of Oxyrhynkhos, and he giveth to him” [Tafnekht] ]
gifts, as his heart inclineth, of all things that he findeth (therein). ”
[Piankhy orders the governors to besiege Hermopolis. ]
Then his Majesty sent a message to the nomarchs and the
captains of the host who were in Egypt, the captain Puarma,
with the captain Armersekny, with every captain of his Majesty
who was in Egypt, saying: “Make haste in striking, join battle,
encircle [Hermopolis), capture its people, its cattle, its ships
upon the river.
Let not the fellâhîn come out to the field; let
not the plowman plow; lay siege to the Hare-city, fight against
it daily. ” Thereupon they did so.
[Piankhy dispatches an army from Ethiopia, bidding them fear not to fight,
for Amen is their strength; and to do homage unto the god at Thebes. ]
Then his Majesty sent an army to Egypt, urging them very
greatly:-“[Spend day and] night as though ye were playing
drafts, so that ye fight according as ye see that he hath arrayed
battle at a distance. If he say the infantry and cavalry have
1 The precise extent of Piankhy's dominion at this time is uncertain.
2 Hûr, opposite Beni Hasan.
3 The notion intended to be conveyed is that of a dog at heel.
* Oxyrhynkhos itself was already in the hands of Tafnekht; the Hermopo-
lite nome, including Hûr, Nefrus, etc. , lay immediately south of it.
5 The pronoun «he ” is used much too freely in this inscription: occasion-
ally it is impossible to decide to whom it refers.
6 Hermopolis.
## p. 5278 (#450) ###########################################
5278
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
1
hastened to another city, why then remain ye until his army
come, and fight even as he shall say. And if his allies are in
another city, hasten ye to them; and the nomarchs, and those
whom he bringeth to strengthen him, the Tehenu' and his
chosen troops, let battle be arrayed against them. One of old
saith:- We know not how to cry unto him, It is the enlistment
of troops and the yoking of war-horses, the pick of thy stables,
that giveth victory in battle. Thou knowest that Amen is the
god that leadeth us. "?
"When ye reach Thebes, the approach to Apt-esut," enter
ye into the water, wash ye in the river, dress on the bank of
the stream, unstring the bow, loosen the arrow. Let no chief
boast as possessing might, there being no strength to the mighty
if he regard him [Amen] not. He maketh the feeble-handed
into strong-handed; a multitude may turn their backs before
the few; one man may conquer a thousand. Sprinkle yourselves
with the water of his altars; kiss ye the ground before his
face; say ye to him, "Give unto us a way that we may fight
in the shadow of thy strong arm. The band that thou leadest, it
cometh to pass that it overthroweth that which hath overthrown
many. '
Then they cast themselves on their bellies before his Majesty
[saying], "It is thy name that giveth us strength of arm, thy
wisdom is the mooring-post* of thy soldiers; thy bread is in our
bellies on every road, thy beer quencheth our thirst; it is thy
valor that giveth us strength of arm; one is fortified at the
remembrance of thy name! while the host is lacking whose
captain is a vile coward. Who is like unto thee in these things?
Thou art a mighty King that worketh with his hands, master of
the art of war! ”
[The Ethiopian army, after leaving Thebes, defeat the van of Tafnekht's
feet. )
They went down-stream; they reached Thebes; they did
according to all the things said by his Majesty.
1
1 Libyans, mercenaries or otherwise. The XXIId Dynasty was probably
Libyan, and as will be seen from subsequent notes, Libyan influence was still
strong in the time of Piankhy.
2 This would seem to be a quotation taken from some address to an earlier
king. Thothmes III. , for instance, attributed his successes to Amen.
3 The great temple of Amen at Karnak.
* Our equivalent term would be «sheet-anchor. )
## p. 5279 (#451) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5279
They went down-stream upon the river; they found many
ships coming up-stream, with soldiers, sailors, levies of troops,
every mighty man of the North land, furnished with weapons of
war to fight against the host of his Majesty. There was made
a great slaughter of them, the number thereof is not known;
their troops were captured with their ships, they were brought
as live prisoners to the place where his Majesty was. '
[Proceeding to attack Heracleopolis, they are met on the river by the confed-
erates under Tafnekht, and defeat them. ]
They went to Henen-seten, arraying battle. The nomarchs
with the kings of the North land were informed (thereof). Now
the King Nemart with the King Auapeth; the chief of the Me,?
Sheshenk of Busiris, with the chief of the Me, Zed-Amen-auf-
ankh of Mendes, and his son and heir, who was captain of the
host of Hermopolis Parva; the host of the Erpa Bakennefi, with
his son and heir, chief of the Me, Nesnakedy in the nome of
Hesebka; and every chief wearing the feather who was in the
North land, with the King Usorkon who was in Bubastis and in
the land of Ra-nefer: every nomarch, and the governors of
fenced cities in the West and in the East and in the islands in
the midst, assembled with one purpose, as following the feet of
the great chief of the West, ruler of the fenced cities of the
North land, priest of Neith, mistress of Sais, and Sem-priest of
Ptah, Tafnekht.
When they went out against them, a mighty overthrow was
made of them, greater than anything, and their ships were cap-
tured upon the river; the remainder crossed over and moored on
the west side, in the neighborhood of Per-peg.
1 In Ethiopia.
The title “chief of the Me) seems to mean «captain of the Libyan
troops. ” The list contains the names of princes of Lower Egypt only, with
the exception of Nemart of Hermopolis Magna, in Upper Egypt.
$ The feather was a Libyan badge of rank.
* Tafnekht is here given most of his principal titles, including the sacer-
dotal ones of high priest of Neith in Sais, and of Ptah in Memphis. With
the rise of Sais, Neith had become the leading deity of Lower Egypt, rank-
ing even above Ptah. The priests at Gebel Barkal doubtless took a special
pride in the overthrow of the protégé of Neith and Ptah by Piankhy, the wor-
shiper of Amen.
## p. 5280 (#452) ###########################################
5280
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[In a second battle, fought by land on the opposite shore, the enemy is ov
over-
thrown; most escaped northward, but Nemart returns to Hermopolis,
having eluded the besiegers (i. e. , the army of the loyal governors).
Hermopolis is more closely besieged. ]
2
When the land lightened very early, the soldiers of his Majesty
crossed over to them. One host met the other. Then they slew
many men of them, and horses without number, in the charge [? ].
Those who remained fled to the North land with lamentations
loud and sore, more than anything. ' Account of the overthrow
made of them: men, persons
[But] the King Nemart
went up-stream to the South when it was reported to him,
Khmenu’ is in the midst of enemies; the soldiers of his
Majesty are capturing its men and its cattle. ” Then he [Nemart]
entered into Unu, while the soldiers of his Majesty were at the
port of the Hare-city. Then they heard of it; they surrounded
the Hare-city on its four sides; they allowed not goers out to
go out, nor enterers in to enter in.
[The King, enraged at the escape of the enemy, vows that after the New Year
he will go to Thebes, and having discharged a pious duty there, take the
war in hand himself. ]
They sent to report to his Majesty, the King of Upper and
Lower Egypt, Meriamen Piankhy, Giving Life, of every defeat
they had made, and of all the victories of his Majesty. Then
his Majesty raged at it like a leopard:-"Shall one grant unto them
that there be left a remnant of the soldiers of the North land to
permit a goer out to go out from them, to say, 'He commandeth
not to make them die until they bé utterly destroyed? As I live,
as I love Ra, as my father Amen praiseth me, I will go north
myself to ruin that which [Nemart] hath done; I will cause him
to withdraw from battle forever. Verily, after performing the
ceremonies of the New Year, I will sacrifice to my father Amen
in his beautiful festival, when he maketh his fair manifestation of
the New Year. He will lead me in peace to see Amen in the
good feast of the festival of Apt; I shall bring him forth glo-
riously in his divine form unto Southern Apt, in his goodly feast
1 Or «beaten sorely and grievously. ”
2 Here should be the numbers of the slain.
3 « Khmenu,» «Unu,) «Hare-city,” are all names of Hermopolis Magna, the
capital of Nemart's petty kingdom.
## p. 5281 (#453) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5281
of the feast of Apt at night-time,' in the feast established in
Thebes, the feast which Ra instituted for him originally. And I
will bring him forth gloriously to his own house, to rest upon his
throne, on the day of making the god to enter. ? On the second
day of Athyr? I will cause the land of the North to taste the
taste of my fingers. ”
[To retrieve their reputation, the army assaults and captures three cities;
but the King is not appeased. ]
Then the soldiers who were remaining in Egypt heard the
rage that his Majesty was in against them. Then they fought
against Per Mezed' in the nome of Oxyrhynkhos; they took it
like a flood of water. They sent a message to his Majesty, but
his heart was not appeased thereby.
Then they fought against Tatehen, the very strong; they found
it filled with soldiers, and every strong man of the North land.
Then there was made a battering-ram for it; its walls were
breached and a great slaughter was made of them, the number
thereof is not known, including the son of the chief of the
Me, Tafnekht. Then they sent word to his Majesty of it, but
his heart was not appeased thereby.
Then they fought against Het Benu; its citadel was opened
and the soldiers of his Majesty entered into it. Then they sent
word to his Majesty, but his heart was not appeased thereby.
[The King comes to Thebes, and thence proceeds to Hermopolis. He chides
his troops. ]
On the ninth day of Thoth,' came his Majesty down the river
to Thebes; he completed the feast of Amen in the festival of
Apt. His Majesty floated down to the city of the Hare. His
Majesty came out of the pavilion of the boat; horses were yoked
and chariots mounted. The fear of his Majesty reached unto
1
2
Evidently a torchlight procession from Karnak to Luxor (Southern Apt).
The return procession to Karnak.
3 The third month of the season of inundation. Of course a year would
then have elapsed, since the date given in the first line of the inscription.
Oxyrhynkhos.
5 Tehneh (? )
6 Tafnekht, stripped of his grandeur after his defeat at Heracleopolis, is
reduced to the rank of Chief of the Me in Sais. )
7 The first month of the season of inundation, and of the Egyptian year.
' Hermopolis.
IX-331
## p. 5282 (#454) ###########################################
5282
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
1
the ends of Asia; his terror was in every heart. Then his
Majesty came forth disposed to hate his soldiers, raging at them
like a leopard: “Doth it yet remain for you to fight? This is
slackness in my business: the year is completed to the end in
putting terror of me in the North land. ”? They made a great
and grievous lamentation, like one beaten. '
He pitched his tent in the Southwest of Khmenu. It [the
city] was besieged every day. There was made an earthwork to
cover the wall; there was erected a wooden tower to raise the
archers shooting arrows, and the slingers slinging stones, slay-
ing the people thereof every day.
[Hermopolis, vigorously attacked, is brought to great straits. It treats with
the King, and Nemart's wife prays the Queen to intercede for them. ]
The third day came; Unu was abominable to the nose, evil
in its smell. Then Unu threw itself on its belly, praying before
the face of the King; messengers came out and entered with all
things good to behold; gold, every precious mineral, stuffs in a
chest. The diadem was on his [Piankhy's] head, the uræus was
giving forth its terror; there was no ceasing for many days in
praying to his divine crown. His [Nemart's] wife, the royal
wife Satnestentmeh, was caused to approach, to pray the royal
wives, the royal concubines, the royal daughters, the royal sis-
ters. She cast herself upon her belly in the chamber of the
women, before the face of the royal wives: Come ye unto me,
Oye royal wives, daughters, and sisters, that ye may pacify
Horus,' lord of the palace. Great is his mighty spirit! How
grand is his right of victory! Let
> 5
[Presumably the Queen intercedes; Nemart comes out to Piankhy, surrenders,
and brings tributes. ]
“Who is it that hath led thee ? 6 Who is it that hath led
thee? Who is it that hath led thee? Who is it that led thee ?
[Thou hast missed the road of life. But shall the heaven rain
1 To be taken of course in a general sense, referring to the majestic and
terrible aspect of the King.
2 1. 6. , “It has taken a full year,” etc.
3 Or, « They were sorely and grievously beaten with blows. ”
* 1. e. , the King.
5 Here there is a lacuna of sixteen short lines in the inscription.
6 Apparently Piankhy is addressing Nemart.
4
## p. 5283 (#455) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5283
with arrows ? I am (satisfied when] the South is in obeisance,
and the North lands (cry], "Put us in thy shadow. ' Behold, it
is evil
with his offerings. The heart is a rudder that
wrecketh its owner in that which concerneth the will of God; it
looketh on flame as ice.
not a prince; see who is his
father. Thy nomes are full of children. ” 1
Then he cast himself upon his belly before his Majesty (say-
ing]: "Come to me, Horus, lord of the palace! It is thy mighty
will that doeth this unto me: I am one of the servants of the
King that pay dues to the treasury.
Count their dues:
I have paid to thee more than they. "
Then he offered to him silver, gold, lapis lazuli, malachite,
bronze, and minerals of all kinds in great quantity. Behold, the
treasury was filled with this tribute. He brought a horse in his
right hand, a sistrum in his left, a sistrum of gold and lapis
lazuli.
(Piankhy enters Hermopolis and sacrifices to Thoth. Finding the horses in
the rebel King's stables starved, he is wroth with Nemart and confis.
cates his goods. ]
Behold, his [Majesty] was brought forth gloriously from his
palace, and proceeded to the house of Thoth, lord of Khmenu.
He sacrificed bulls, oxen, and fowl to his father Thoth, lord of
Khmenu, and the gods in the House of the Eight. The soldiers
of the Hermopolite nome rejoiced and sang; they said: "How
beautiful is Horus resting in his country, Son of the Sun, Pian-
khy! Celebrate for us a Sed festival,' even as thou hast protected
the Hare-name. ”
His Majesty proceeded to the house of the King Nemart, he
went to every apartment of the palace, his treasury and his
storehouses; he caused to be brought to him the King's wives
and the King's daughters; they praised his Majesty with things
1 The meaning is not clear; but here seems to be a reference to the
diminution of the adult population by prolonged wars.
2 Khmenu means eight. Thoth, in late times at any rate, combined the
powers of the eight gods who accompanied him. He was sometimes called
«twice great, sometimes (eight times great ) =23, an arithmetical term
especially indicated by the Greek name 'Ερμής Τρισμέγιστος.
3 A «jubilee) after a thirty-years' reign; the expression is therefore
equivalent to wishing the King a thirty-years' reign. The soldiers represent
the King as the god Horus come to claim his own land.
## p. 5284 (#456) ###########################################
5284
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
that women use;' but his Majesty would not amuse himself
with them. His Majesty proceeded to the stables of the horses,
the stalls of the foals; he beheld that they were starved. He
said:-"As I live, as I love Ra, as my nostril is refreshed with
life! very grievous are these things to my heart, the starving of
my horses, more than any ill that thou hast done in the fulfilling
of thine own desire. The fear which thy surroundings have of
thee, beareth witness to me of thee. Dost thou ignore that the
shadow of God is over me, and he doth not fail in any under-
taking of mine ?
went down to the river, we reached north of Koptos by one mile.
1 The place of embalmment.
? A similar method is still employed by Arab doctors and wizards. To heal
a disease a formula is written out and then washed off the paper in a bowl
of water, which is given to the patient to drink.
## p. 5268 (#440) ###########################################
5268
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
Behold, Thoth had discovered everything that happened to Na-
neferkaptah on account of the roll; Thoth delayed not, he com-
plained before the Sun, saying, “Know my right, my judgment
with Naneferkaptah the son of Pharaoh Mernebptah! He went
to my place, he robbed it, he took my box containing my book,
he killed my guard who was watching it. '
"It was said to him, He is before thee, with every man that
belongeth to him-all. ” 1
“There was sent a power from God down from heaven, saying,
Let not Naneferkaptah go to Memphis safe, with every man that
belongeth to him - all. ”
"An hour passed: Merab, the boy, came out from under the
awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he fell into the river, he
did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered a cry
- all. Naneferkaptah came out from under his cabin, he read a
writing over him, he caused him to come up, for it was that a
power from God in the water was laid on his upper side. ? He
read a writing over him, he made him relate before him of every-
thing that had happened to him — all, and the accusation that
Thoth made before Ra.
“We returned to Koptos with him. We caused him to be
taken to the Good House and laid in state; we caused him to be
embalmed like a prince and great man; we caused him to rest in
his coffin in the cemetery of Koptos.
« Said Naneferkaptah my brother, Let us go down the river,
let us not delay before Pharaoh hear the things that have hap-
pened to us, and his soul be sad therefore. "
“We embarked, we went down-stream, we delayed not; and
traveled to the north of Koptos by one mile. At the place of
the falling of Merab the boy into the river, I came out from
under the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, I fell into the
river, I did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered
a cry-all. They told it to Naneferkaptah, he came out from
under the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he read a
writing over me, he caused me to leap up, for it was that a
power from God in the water rested on my upper side. He
caused me to be taken up, he read a writing over me, he caused
me to relate before him everything that had happened unto me
- all; and the accusation that Thoth had made before Ra. He
1 Cf. Job i. , 12.
2 1. e. , above him.
## p. 5269 (#441) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5269
returned to Koptos with me, he caused me to be brought to the
Good House, he caused me to be laid in state, he caused me to
be embalmed with the embalmment of a prince and very great
person, he caused me to rest in the tomb where Merab the boy
lay.
“He embarked, he went down - stream, he hastened north of
Koptos by one mile to the place of our falling into the river.
He spake with his soul, saying:- Can I go to Koptos and dwell
there? Otherwise, if it be that I go to Memphis, the moment
that Pharaoh asks me after his children, what shall I say to him ?
Can I tell it to him, saying, I took thy children to the nome of
Thebes, I killed them, I being alive; I came to Memphis, I being
alive still ? )
"He caused them to bring a strip of royal linen before him;
he made it into a girdle. He bound the roll, he put it upon his
stomach, he made it firm. Naneferkaptah came out from under
the awning of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he fell into the river,
he did the will of Ra. Everybody that was on board uttered a
cry — all, saying: 'Great woe! Oppressive woe! Has he gone
back,' the good scribe, the learned man, to whom there is no
equal ?
“The pleasure-boat of Pharaoh went down-stream, without any
one on earth knowing where Naneferkaptah was. They reached
Memphis, they made report of it before Pharaoh. Pharaoh came
down to meet the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh in mourning, the army
of Memphis took mourning - all, together with the priests of Ptah,
the chief prophet of Ptah, with the officials and household of
Pharaoh — all. They saw Naneferkaptah clinging to the rudders
of the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, by virtue of his art of a good
scribe. They drew him up, they saw the roll on his stomach.
Said Pharaoh, Let this roll that is on his stomach be hidden
away. '
“Said the officers of Pharaoh, with the priests of Ptah, and
the chief prophet of Ptah, before Pharaoh: O our great lord the
King, may he accomplish the duration of Ra ! ? Naneferkaptah
was a good scribe, a learned man exceedingly. '
“Pharaoh caused to be given to him entrance to the Good
House for sixteen days, wrapping for thirty-five and coffining for
seventy; he was caused to rest in his tomb, in his places of rest. ”
1 An expression for death, like our gone home. ”
? 1. e. , “May he live as long as the Sun god. ”
## p. 5270 (#442) ###########################################
5270
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[Having finished her story, Ahura proceeds to point out the moral to
Setna. ]
“I am suffering the ills which have come upon us because of
this roll of which thou sayest, Let it be given to me! ' Thou
hast no claim to it: our life on earth has been taken for it. ”
Said Setna, "Ahura, let this roll be given me which I see
between thee and Naneferkaptah, else will I take it by force. ”
Rose Naneferkaptah on the couch; he said: “Art thou Setna,
before whom this woman has told these misfortunes which thou
hast not suffered — all? The book named, canst thou take it only
by strength of a good scribe? It were sufficient to play draughts
with me.
Let us play for it at the game of fifty-two points. ”
And Setna said, “I am ready. ”
The board and its pieces were put before them. They played
at the fifty-two, and Naneferkaptah won a game from Setna. He
[Naneferkaptah] read a spell over him; he [Setna] defended him-
self with the game-board that was before him. He [Nanefer-
kaptah] made him [Setna] go into the ground as far as his feet.
He did its like in the second game; he won it from Setna, he
made him go into the ground as far as his middle. He did its
like in the third game; he made him go into the ground as far
as his ears. After these things Setna made a great blow on the
hand of Naneferkaptah. Setna called to Anheru, his brother by
Anherart,saying: "Make haste and go up upon the earth, do
thou relate of everything that has happened to me before Pha-
raoh, and do thou bring the amulets of Ptah my father, and
my rolls of magic. ”
He hastened up upon earth, he related before Pharaoh of
everything that had happened to Setna. Said Pharaoh, “Take to
him the amulets of Ptah his father, and his rolls of magic. ”
Anheru hastened down into the tomb; he laid the talismans on
the body of Setna, he [Setna] sprang to heaven at the moment
named. Setna caused his hand to go after the roll, he took it.
It came to pass that Setna went up from the tomb, Light walk-
ing before him and Darkness walking behind him, and Ahura
1 The presence of names compounded with the name of Anher, god of
Sebennytus, indicates that the story was written during or after the supremacy
of that city, at the end of the native rule.
2 Setna Kha-em-uast was high priest of Ptah.
Evidently a strong expression, to show the instantaneous and powerful
effect of the amulets in drawing him out of the ground.
3
## p. 5271 (#443) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5271
weeping after him, saying, "Hail to thee, King Darkness! Fare-
well to thee, King Light! All consolation is gone that was in the
tomb. "
Said Naneferkaptah to Ahura, “Be not troubled of soul; I
will make him bring this book hither, there being a fork for a
staff in his hand, there being a pan of fire on his head. ” 1
And Setna came up from the tomb, he made it fast behind
him in its manner.
Setna went before Pharaoh, he related before him of the
thing that had happened to him with the roll. Said Pharaoh to
Setna, "Take this roll to the tomb of Naneferkaptah in the mar
ner of a prudent man, else he will make thee bring it, there
being a fork for a staff in thine hand, there being a pan of fire
on thine head. »
Not did Setna hearken to him. It came to pass that Setna
had no habit on earth but unrolling the roll and reading it
before everybody.
After these things there was a day when Setna passed time
in the court of Ptah, and saw a woman beautiful exceedingly,
there being no woman of her beauty. There were ornaments of
much gold upon her, there were children and women walking
behind her, there were fifty-two persons of chiefs of households
assigned to her. The hour that Setna saw her he knew not the
place on earth where he was. Setna called to his attendant
youth, saying, “Go quickly to the place where this woman is;
learn what comes under her command. ”
The attendant youth went quickly to the place where the
woman was, he addressed the handmaid who walked behind her,
he asked her, saying, “What person is this woman ? ” She said
to him, "She is Tabubua, the daughter of the prophet of Bast,
lady of Ankhtaui, she having come hither to pray before Ptah
the great god. ”
The youth went back to Setna, he related before him of
everything that she had told him — all.
[In his infatuation for this woman, Setna forgets all decorum and all duty,
and follows her home to Bubastis, and «ashamed was every one that was
about Setna. ) To win the favor of Tabubua, he hands over to her all his
possessions and the inheritance of his children; and at length she demands
that his children should be put to death to prevent disputes. ]
Setna said, “Let there be done unto them the abomination
that has entered thy heart. ”
1 This choice of symbols of submission is not yet explained.
## p. 5272 (#444) ###########################################
5272
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
She caused his children to be slain before his face; she caused
them to be cast down from the window before the dogs and the
cats. They devoured their flesh, he hearing them, he drinking
with Tabubua.
[Setna awakens from the trance in which he has in imagination sunk to
such depths of wickedness, to find himself lying naked in a strange place. )
An hour it was that passed when Setna saw a great man
riding on a chariot, there being many men running at his feet,
he being like Pharaoh. Setna came to rise; he could not rise for
shame, for there was no clothing upon him. Pharaoh said,
“Setna, what has befallen thee in this state in which thou art ?
Said he, “Naneferkaptah is he who hath done this to me -
all. ”
Pharaoh said, “Go to Memphis: thy children they are seeking
for thee; they are standing on their feet before Pharaoh. ”
Setna said before Pharaoh, My great lord the King, may he
accomplish the duration of Ra! What is the manner of going to
Memphis that I can do, there being no clothes on earth upon
me ? »
Pharaoh called to a youth standing by, he made him give
clothing to Setna. Said Pharaoh to Setna, "Go to Memphis:
thy children, they are alive, they are standing on their feet
before Pharaoh. ”
Setna came to Memphis, he embraced his children with hand,
he found them alive. Pharaoh said, “Is it drinking that hath
brought thee thus ? »
Setna related everything that had happened to him with Tabu-
bua, with Naneferkaptah-all. Pharaoh said: “Setna, I put my
hand upon thee before,' saying, 'Thou wilt be slain if thou dost
not take this roll to the place from which it was brought. Thou
didst not listen to me till this hour, Give this roll to Nanefer-
kaptah, there being a forked stick for a staff in thine hand, there
being a pan of fire on thine head. ”
Setna came out from before Pharaoh, there being a forked
stick for a staff in his hand, there being a pan of fire on his
head. He went down to the tomb in which was Naneferkaptah.
Ahura said to him, “Setna, it is Ptah the grcat god who hath
brought thee back safe. ”
i Compare the expression noted on p. 5265.
## p. 5273 (#445) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5273
Naneferkaptah laughed, saying, “This is a thing that I told
thee before. ”
Setna saluted Naneferkaptah; he found him as it is said,
“He is the sun that is in the whole tomb. ” Ahura and Na-
neferkaptah saluted Setna greatly. Setna said, “Naneferkaptah,
is there aught that is disgraceful ? »
Naneferkaptah said, “Setna, thou knowest this, that Ahura
and Merab her child, they are in Koptos: bring them here into
this tomb by the skill of a good scribe. Let it be commanded
before thee, and do thou take pains, and do thou go to Koptos,
and do thou bring them hither. ”
Setna came up from the tomb and went before Pharaoh; he
related before Pharaoh of everything that Naneferkaptah had
said to him — all.
Pharaoh said, “Setna, go to Koptos, bring Ahura and Merab
her child. "
He said before Pharaoh, "Let the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh be
given to me with its equipment. ”
The pleasure-boat of Pharaoh was given to him with its equip-
ment; he embarked, he sailed up, he did not delay, he arrived
at Koptos.
Information of it was given before the priests of Isis of Kop-
tos, and the chief prophet of Isis. They came down to meet
him, they took his hand to the shore. He went up, he went
into the temple of Isis of Koptos and Harpokrates. He caused
ox, goose, wine to be brought; he made a burnt-offering, a
drink-offering, before Isis of Koptos and Harpokrates. He went
to the cemetery of Koptos, with the priests of Isis and the chief
prophet of Isis; they spent three days and three nights searching
in the tombs which were in the cemetery of Koptos — all, turning
over the stelæ of the scribes of the House of Life, reading the
inscriptions that were on them. They found not the places of
rest in which were Ahura and Merab her son.
Naneferkaptah perceived that they found not the places of
rest of Ahura and Merab her son. He rose from the dead as
an old man, great of age exceedingly. He came to meet Setna,
and Setna saw him. Setna said to the old man, “Thou art of
the appearance of a man great of age: knowest thou the places
of rest in which are Ahura and Merab her child ? »
The old man said to Setna, « The father of the father of my
father told to the father of my father, and the father of my
## p. 5274 (#446) ###########################################
5274
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
9
father told to my father, that the resting-places of Ahura and
Merab her child are by the south corner of the house of Pehe-
mato, as his name is. ”
Said Setna to the old man, “Is it not an injury that Pehemato
hath done thee, by reason of which thou comest to cause his
house to be brought down to the ground ? »
The old man said to Setna, “Let watch be set over me and
let the house of Pehemato be taken down. If it be that they
find not Ahura and Merab her child under the south corner of
his house, may abomination be done to me. ”
A watch was set over the old man; the resting-place of Ahura
and Merab her child was found under the south corner of the
house of Pehemato. Setna caused them to enter as great people
on the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh; he caused the house of Pehe-
mato to be built in its former manner. Naneferkaptah made
Setna to discover what had happened: that it was he who had
come to Koptos to let them find the resting-place in which Ahura
and Merab her child were.
Setna embarked on the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh, he went
down the river, he did not delay, he reached Memphis with all
the army that was with him—all. Report was made of it before
Pharaoh, he came down to meet the pleasure-boat of Pharaoh.
He caused them to be introduced as great persons to the tomb
where Naneferkaptah was, he caused dirges to be made above
them.
This is a complete writing, relating of Setna Khaemuast, and
Nane ferkaptah, and Ahura his wife, and Merab her child. This
was written in the XXXVth year, the month Tybi.
Translation of F. Ll. Griffith.
THE STELA OF PIANKHY
[The following inscription, one of the longest in existence, covers both
faces and the sides of a large stela of black basalt in the Museum at Gizeh.
It was found in the temple of Gebel Barkal, beyond Dongola in Nubia. Here
was one of the capitals of a native Ethiopian dynasty, and in the temple
dedicated to Amen a number of historical stelæ were set up by different
kings, of whom Piankhy (about 800 B. C. ) was the earliest. Not improbably
he was descended from the priest kings of the XXIst Egyptian dynasty (at
Thebes, about 1000 B. C. ); at any rate, the name which he bore occurs in
## p. 5275 (#447) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5275
that dynasty, and his devotion to Amen agrees with the theory. We learn
from the stela that by some means he had obtained the suzerainty over
Upper Egypt, which was governed by local kings and nomarchs; while Lower
Egypt was similarly divided but independent. Among the princes of the
North land the most powerful was Tafnekht, probably a Libyan nomarch
of Sais who had absorbed the whole of the western side of Lower Egypt.
The stela relates the conflict that ensued when Tafnekht endeavored to
unite Lower Egypt in a confederacy and invade the Upper Country. This
gave Piankhy, who knew his own strength, an opportunity of which he was
not slow to avail himself. The Delta was protected from invasion by its
network of canals, and by its extensive marshes. But when the armies and
navies of the local kings had been drawn into Upper Egypt and there repeat-
edly defeated, weakened and cowed, the princes of the North Land were
at the mercy of the victorious Ethiopian, who was rewarded for his activity
and skill in strategy with an abundance of spoil and tribute, probably also
with the permanent subjection of the country.
The inscription is in a very perfect state; with the exception of one lacuna
of sixteen short lines the losses are very small. The narrative is far more
artistic and sustained than was usual in records of any considerable length.
The piety of the Ethiopian and his trust in his god Amen are remarkably indi-
cated; and some passages cannot fail to remind us of the Biblical records of
certain Jewish kings and of the prophecies concerning Nebuchadnezzar and
Cyrus. There is nothing that suggests the bloodthirstiness and wanton cruelty
of the contemporary kings of Assyria. Altogether, when the time and circum-
stances are taken into account, the impression left is one very favorable to
Piankhy. If he seems to insist overmuch on his Divine mission, this exaggera-
tion is perhaps due to the priests of Amen who drafted the document, desirous
of thereby promoting the honor both of their god and of their king.
There are numerous indications in the signs composing the inscription
that the text was written originally in a cursive character, and afterwards
transcribed into hieroglyphics for record on stone. )
[Date.
EAR xxi, month Thoth,' under the Majesty of the King of
Upper and Lower Egypt, Meriamen Pia. 'shy, living for-
ever:
(Attention demanded. ]
Command: My Majesty saith, Hear how I have done more
than the ancestors! I am a king, the figure of a god, the living
image of Tum, who came forth from the body fashioned as a
a ruler, whose elders feared him,
whose mother recog-
nized that he would reign (while he was yet] in the egg; the
i The first month of the inundation season and of the Egyptian year. This
is the date of the first events recorded, not of the dedication of the stela:
the command” is parenthetical.
## p. 5276 (#448) ###########################################
5276
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
good God, beloved of the gods, Son of the Sun, working with
his hand,' Meriamen Piankhy.
[The narrative. Report of Tafnekht's invasion received: the king's joy
thereat. ]
in.
There came one to tell his Majesty, whereas the ruler of the
West, the nomarch and chief in Neter, Tafnekht, was in the
[Harpoon] Nome, in the Nome of the Bull of the Desert, in Hap,
. , in An, in Per-nub, and in Mennefer,” he took unto him-
self the entire West from the sea-coast to Athet-taui, and went
south with a great army; the two lands were united in following
him, the nomarchs and the rulers of fenced cities were as hounds
at his feet. No fortress was closed (against him]; the nomes of
the South, Mertum, and Per-Sekhem-Kheper-ra, the Temple of
Sebek, Per-Mezed, Tekanesh,' and every city of the West, opened
their gates in fear of him. He turned back to the Eastern
nomes; they opened to him as the former. Het-benu,
Tayuzayt, Het-seten, Per-nebt-tep-ah.
Behold [he hath crossed
over to] besiege Henen-seten,' he hath ringed it about, not
allowing outgoers to go out, not allowing incomers to enter, by
reason of the daily fighting. He hath measured it out on every
side, each nomarch gauging his own [length of] wall, that he may
post each one of the nomarchs and the rulers of fenced cities at
his section. ”
even
i The same expression occurs further on, and evidently refers to the per-
sonal activity of the king.
2 Neter was probably Iseum in the centre of the Delta, and so a nomarch-
ship quite separate from Tafnekht's extensive territory in the west. The list
following the name of Tafnekht seems to name localities representative of the
VIIth(? ), Vith, Vth, IVth(? ), IIId(? ), and ist nomes in Lower Egypt, in
their proper order; the last, Mennefer, being Memphis. These would form
literally the whole western side of Lower Egypt «from the coast to Athet-
taui. ” Athet-taui (Lisht ? ) was a city marking the boundary of Upper and
Lower Egypt.
3 Mêdûm, El Lahûn, Crocodilopolis in the Faiyûm, Oxyrhynkhos, Diknash,
all — except perhaps the last — in order from north to south.
* He crossed over to the east bank and went northward, the cities on his
road throwing open their gates to him. With the exception of the last, Per-
nebt-tep-ah [Aphroditopolis), the modern Atfih opposite Mêdûm, they are dif-
ficult to identify positively.
5 1. e. , Heracleopolis Magna, a very powerful city on the edge of the west-
ern desert, left in the rear on Tafnekht's expedition up the river. Its king
was named Pefaui Bast. Its modern name is Ahnâs.
6 Lit. , "he hath made himself into a tail-in-the-mouth. ) [! ]
## p. 5277 (#449) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5277
Now [his Majesty heard these things] with good courage,
laughing, and with joy of heart.
[Anxiety of the King's governors in Upper Egypt at Tafnekht's progress.
Loss of Hermopolis. ]
Behold these chiefs, nomarchs, and captains of the host who
were in their various cities sent to his Majesty daily, saying:
“Hast thou ceased [from action] until thou forgettest the South
Country, the nomes of the royal domain'? Tafnekht is pushing
forward his conquest, he findeth not any to repel his arm.
Nemart [the ruler in Hermopolis) and nomarch of Het-Ur’ hath
breached the fortress of Neferus, he hath ruined his own city for
fear lest he [Tafnekht] should take it, and then lay siege to
another city. Behold, he hath gone to be at his [Tafnekht's]
feet;he hath refused allegiance to his Majesty, and standeth
with him [Tafnekht] like one of [his retainers. He hath harried
the nome of Oxyrhynkhos, and he giveth to him” [Tafnekht] ]
gifts, as his heart inclineth, of all things that he findeth (therein). ”
[Piankhy orders the governors to besiege Hermopolis. ]
Then his Majesty sent a message to the nomarchs and the
captains of the host who were in Egypt, the captain Puarma,
with the captain Armersekny, with every captain of his Majesty
who was in Egypt, saying: “Make haste in striking, join battle,
encircle [Hermopolis), capture its people, its cattle, its ships
upon the river.
Let not the fellâhîn come out to the field; let
not the plowman plow; lay siege to the Hare-city, fight against
it daily. ” Thereupon they did so.
[Piankhy dispatches an army from Ethiopia, bidding them fear not to fight,
for Amen is their strength; and to do homage unto the god at Thebes. ]
Then his Majesty sent an army to Egypt, urging them very
greatly:-“[Spend day and] night as though ye were playing
drafts, so that ye fight according as ye see that he hath arrayed
battle at a distance. If he say the infantry and cavalry have
1 The precise extent of Piankhy's dominion at this time is uncertain.
2 Hûr, opposite Beni Hasan.
3 The notion intended to be conveyed is that of a dog at heel.
* Oxyrhynkhos itself was already in the hands of Tafnekht; the Hermopo-
lite nome, including Hûr, Nefrus, etc. , lay immediately south of it.
5 The pronoun «he ” is used much too freely in this inscription: occasion-
ally it is impossible to decide to whom it refers.
6 Hermopolis.
## p. 5278 (#450) ###########################################
5278
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
1
hastened to another city, why then remain ye until his army
come, and fight even as he shall say. And if his allies are in
another city, hasten ye to them; and the nomarchs, and those
whom he bringeth to strengthen him, the Tehenu' and his
chosen troops, let battle be arrayed against them. One of old
saith:- We know not how to cry unto him, It is the enlistment
of troops and the yoking of war-horses, the pick of thy stables,
that giveth victory in battle. Thou knowest that Amen is the
god that leadeth us. "?
"When ye reach Thebes, the approach to Apt-esut," enter
ye into the water, wash ye in the river, dress on the bank of
the stream, unstring the bow, loosen the arrow. Let no chief
boast as possessing might, there being no strength to the mighty
if he regard him [Amen] not. He maketh the feeble-handed
into strong-handed; a multitude may turn their backs before
the few; one man may conquer a thousand. Sprinkle yourselves
with the water of his altars; kiss ye the ground before his
face; say ye to him, "Give unto us a way that we may fight
in the shadow of thy strong arm. The band that thou leadest, it
cometh to pass that it overthroweth that which hath overthrown
many. '
Then they cast themselves on their bellies before his Majesty
[saying], "It is thy name that giveth us strength of arm, thy
wisdom is the mooring-post* of thy soldiers; thy bread is in our
bellies on every road, thy beer quencheth our thirst; it is thy
valor that giveth us strength of arm; one is fortified at the
remembrance of thy name! while the host is lacking whose
captain is a vile coward. Who is like unto thee in these things?
Thou art a mighty King that worketh with his hands, master of
the art of war! ”
[The Ethiopian army, after leaving Thebes, defeat the van of Tafnekht's
feet. )
They went down-stream; they reached Thebes; they did
according to all the things said by his Majesty.
1
1 Libyans, mercenaries or otherwise. The XXIId Dynasty was probably
Libyan, and as will be seen from subsequent notes, Libyan influence was still
strong in the time of Piankhy.
2 This would seem to be a quotation taken from some address to an earlier
king. Thothmes III. , for instance, attributed his successes to Amen.
3 The great temple of Amen at Karnak.
* Our equivalent term would be «sheet-anchor. )
## p. 5279 (#451) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5279
They went down-stream upon the river; they found many
ships coming up-stream, with soldiers, sailors, levies of troops,
every mighty man of the North land, furnished with weapons of
war to fight against the host of his Majesty. There was made
a great slaughter of them, the number thereof is not known;
their troops were captured with their ships, they were brought
as live prisoners to the place where his Majesty was. '
[Proceeding to attack Heracleopolis, they are met on the river by the confed-
erates under Tafnekht, and defeat them. ]
They went to Henen-seten, arraying battle. The nomarchs
with the kings of the North land were informed (thereof). Now
the King Nemart with the King Auapeth; the chief of the Me,?
Sheshenk of Busiris, with the chief of the Me, Zed-Amen-auf-
ankh of Mendes, and his son and heir, who was captain of the
host of Hermopolis Parva; the host of the Erpa Bakennefi, with
his son and heir, chief of the Me, Nesnakedy in the nome of
Hesebka; and every chief wearing the feather who was in the
North land, with the King Usorkon who was in Bubastis and in
the land of Ra-nefer: every nomarch, and the governors of
fenced cities in the West and in the East and in the islands in
the midst, assembled with one purpose, as following the feet of
the great chief of the West, ruler of the fenced cities of the
North land, priest of Neith, mistress of Sais, and Sem-priest of
Ptah, Tafnekht.
When they went out against them, a mighty overthrow was
made of them, greater than anything, and their ships were cap-
tured upon the river; the remainder crossed over and moored on
the west side, in the neighborhood of Per-peg.
1 In Ethiopia.
The title “chief of the Me) seems to mean «captain of the Libyan
troops. ” The list contains the names of princes of Lower Egypt only, with
the exception of Nemart of Hermopolis Magna, in Upper Egypt.
$ The feather was a Libyan badge of rank.
* Tafnekht is here given most of his principal titles, including the sacer-
dotal ones of high priest of Neith in Sais, and of Ptah in Memphis. With
the rise of Sais, Neith had become the leading deity of Lower Egypt, rank-
ing even above Ptah. The priests at Gebel Barkal doubtless took a special
pride in the overthrow of the protégé of Neith and Ptah by Piankhy, the wor-
shiper of Amen.
## p. 5280 (#452) ###########################################
5280
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[In a second battle, fought by land on the opposite shore, the enemy is ov
over-
thrown; most escaped northward, but Nemart returns to Hermopolis,
having eluded the besiegers (i. e. , the army of the loyal governors).
Hermopolis is more closely besieged. ]
2
When the land lightened very early, the soldiers of his Majesty
crossed over to them. One host met the other. Then they slew
many men of them, and horses without number, in the charge [? ].
Those who remained fled to the North land with lamentations
loud and sore, more than anything. ' Account of the overthrow
made of them: men, persons
[But] the King Nemart
went up-stream to the South when it was reported to him,
Khmenu’ is in the midst of enemies; the soldiers of his
Majesty are capturing its men and its cattle. ” Then he [Nemart]
entered into Unu, while the soldiers of his Majesty were at the
port of the Hare-city. Then they heard of it; they surrounded
the Hare-city on its four sides; they allowed not goers out to
go out, nor enterers in to enter in.
[The King, enraged at the escape of the enemy, vows that after the New Year
he will go to Thebes, and having discharged a pious duty there, take the
war in hand himself. ]
They sent to report to his Majesty, the King of Upper and
Lower Egypt, Meriamen Piankhy, Giving Life, of every defeat
they had made, and of all the victories of his Majesty. Then
his Majesty raged at it like a leopard:-"Shall one grant unto them
that there be left a remnant of the soldiers of the North land to
permit a goer out to go out from them, to say, 'He commandeth
not to make them die until they bé utterly destroyed? As I live,
as I love Ra, as my father Amen praiseth me, I will go north
myself to ruin that which [Nemart] hath done; I will cause him
to withdraw from battle forever. Verily, after performing the
ceremonies of the New Year, I will sacrifice to my father Amen
in his beautiful festival, when he maketh his fair manifestation of
the New Year. He will lead me in peace to see Amen in the
good feast of the festival of Apt; I shall bring him forth glo-
riously in his divine form unto Southern Apt, in his goodly feast
1 Or «beaten sorely and grievously. ”
2 Here should be the numbers of the slain.
3 « Khmenu,» «Unu,) «Hare-city,” are all names of Hermopolis Magna, the
capital of Nemart's petty kingdom.
## p. 5281 (#453) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5281
of the feast of Apt at night-time,' in the feast established in
Thebes, the feast which Ra instituted for him originally. And I
will bring him forth gloriously to his own house, to rest upon his
throne, on the day of making the god to enter. ? On the second
day of Athyr? I will cause the land of the North to taste the
taste of my fingers. ”
[To retrieve their reputation, the army assaults and captures three cities;
but the King is not appeased. ]
Then the soldiers who were remaining in Egypt heard the
rage that his Majesty was in against them. Then they fought
against Per Mezed' in the nome of Oxyrhynkhos; they took it
like a flood of water. They sent a message to his Majesty, but
his heart was not appeased thereby.
Then they fought against Tatehen, the very strong; they found
it filled with soldiers, and every strong man of the North land.
Then there was made a battering-ram for it; its walls were
breached and a great slaughter was made of them, the number
thereof is not known, including the son of the chief of the
Me, Tafnekht. Then they sent word to his Majesty of it, but
his heart was not appeased thereby.
Then they fought against Het Benu; its citadel was opened
and the soldiers of his Majesty entered into it. Then they sent
word to his Majesty, but his heart was not appeased thereby.
[The King comes to Thebes, and thence proceeds to Hermopolis. He chides
his troops. ]
On the ninth day of Thoth,' came his Majesty down the river
to Thebes; he completed the feast of Amen in the festival of
Apt. His Majesty floated down to the city of the Hare. His
Majesty came out of the pavilion of the boat; horses were yoked
and chariots mounted. The fear of his Majesty reached unto
1
2
Evidently a torchlight procession from Karnak to Luxor (Southern Apt).
The return procession to Karnak.
3 The third month of the season of inundation. Of course a year would
then have elapsed, since the date given in the first line of the inscription.
Oxyrhynkhos.
5 Tehneh (? )
6 Tafnekht, stripped of his grandeur after his defeat at Heracleopolis, is
reduced to the rank of Chief of the Me in Sais. )
7 The first month of the season of inundation, and of the Egyptian year.
' Hermopolis.
IX-331
## p. 5282 (#454) ###########################################
5282
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
1
the ends of Asia; his terror was in every heart. Then his
Majesty came forth disposed to hate his soldiers, raging at them
like a leopard: “Doth it yet remain for you to fight? This is
slackness in my business: the year is completed to the end in
putting terror of me in the North land. ”? They made a great
and grievous lamentation, like one beaten. '
He pitched his tent in the Southwest of Khmenu. It [the
city] was besieged every day. There was made an earthwork to
cover the wall; there was erected a wooden tower to raise the
archers shooting arrows, and the slingers slinging stones, slay-
ing the people thereof every day.
[Hermopolis, vigorously attacked, is brought to great straits. It treats with
the King, and Nemart's wife prays the Queen to intercede for them. ]
The third day came; Unu was abominable to the nose, evil
in its smell. Then Unu threw itself on its belly, praying before
the face of the King; messengers came out and entered with all
things good to behold; gold, every precious mineral, stuffs in a
chest. The diadem was on his [Piankhy's] head, the uræus was
giving forth its terror; there was no ceasing for many days in
praying to his divine crown. His [Nemart's] wife, the royal
wife Satnestentmeh, was caused to approach, to pray the royal
wives, the royal concubines, the royal daughters, the royal sis-
ters. She cast herself upon her belly in the chamber of the
women, before the face of the royal wives: Come ye unto me,
Oye royal wives, daughters, and sisters, that ye may pacify
Horus,' lord of the palace. Great is his mighty spirit! How
grand is his right of victory! Let
> 5
[Presumably the Queen intercedes; Nemart comes out to Piankhy, surrenders,
and brings tributes. ]
“Who is it that hath led thee ? 6 Who is it that hath led
thee? Who is it that hath led thee? Who is it that led thee ?
[Thou hast missed the road of life. But shall the heaven rain
1 To be taken of course in a general sense, referring to the majestic and
terrible aspect of the King.
2 1. 6. , “It has taken a full year,” etc.
3 Or, « They were sorely and grievously beaten with blows. ”
* 1. e. , the King.
5 Here there is a lacuna of sixteen short lines in the inscription.
6 Apparently Piankhy is addressing Nemart.
4
## p. 5283 (#455) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5283
with arrows ? I am (satisfied when] the South is in obeisance,
and the North lands (cry], "Put us in thy shadow. ' Behold, it
is evil
with his offerings. The heart is a rudder that
wrecketh its owner in that which concerneth the will of God; it
looketh on flame as ice.
not a prince; see who is his
father. Thy nomes are full of children. ” 1
Then he cast himself upon his belly before his Majesty (say-
ing]: "Come to me, Horus, lord of the palace! It is thy mighty
will that doeth this unto me: I am one of the servants of the
King that pay dues to the treasury.
Count their dues:
I have paid to thee more than they. "
Then he offered to him silver, gold, lapis lazuli, malachite,
bronze, and minerals of all kinds in great quantity. Behold, the
treasury was filled with this tribute. He brought a horse in his
right hand, a sistrum in his left, a sistrum of gold and lapis
lazuli.
(Piankhy enters Hermopolis and sacrifices to Thoth. Finding the horses in
the rebel King's stables starved, he is wroth with Nemart and confis.
cates his goods. ]
Behold, his [Majesty] was brought forth gloriously from his
palace, and proceeded to the house of Thoth, lord of Khmenu.
He sacrificed bulls, oxen, and fowl to his father Thoth, lord of
Khmenu, and the gods in the House of the Eight. The soldiers
of the Hermopolite nome rejoiced and sang; they said: "How
beautiful is Horus resting in his country, Son of the Sun, Pian-
khy! Celebrate for us a Sed festival,' even as thou hast protected
the Hare-name. ”
His Majesty proceeded to the house of the King Nemart, he
went to every apartment of the palace, his treasury and his
storehouses; he caused to be brought to him the King's wives
and the King's daughters; they praised his Majesty with things
1 The meaning is not clear; but here seems to be a reference to the
diminution of the adult population by prolonged wars.
2 Khmenu means eight. Thoth, in late times at any rate, combined the
powers of the eight gods who accompanied him. He was sometimes called
«twice great, sometimes (eight times great ) =23, an arithmetical term
especially indicated by the Greek name 'Ερμής Τρισμέγιστος.
3 A «jubilee) after a thirty-years' reign; the expression is therefore
equivalent to wishing the King a thirty-years' reign. The soldiers represent
the King as the god Horus come to claim his own land.
## p. 5284 (#456) ###########################################
5284
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
that women use;' but his Majesty would not amuse himself
with them. His Majesty proceeded to the stables of the horses,
the stalls of the foals; he beheld that they were starved. He
said:-"As I live, as I love Ra, as my nostril is refreshed with
life! very grievous are these things to my heart, the starving of
my horses, more than any ill that thou hast done in the fulfilling
of thine own desire. The fear which thy surroundings have of
thee, beareth witness to me of thee. Dost thou ignore that the
shadow of God is over me, and he doth not fail in any under-
taking of mine ?
