Behold, they opened the forts, they cast
themselves
on
their bellies (singing praises before] his Majesty.
their bellies (singing praises before] his Majesty.
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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 ? Would that he who did this unto me
another, knowing me not, [then] I would not censure him for it!
But I, when I was born from the womb, when I was formed in
the egg, the deed of God was in me; and as his Ka endureth,
I do nothing without him! He it is who commandeth me to
act. "
Then he counted his [Nemart's] goods to the Treasury, his
granary to the sacred store of Amen in Aptesut.
were
3
(The King of Heracleopolis, the siege of which had been raised by the
King's troops, brings presents and promises tribute. ]
The ruler of Henen-seten, Pefauibast, came with tribute to
Pharaoh: gold, silver, every kind of mineral, and horses of the
chosen ones of the stable. He cast himself on his belly before
his Majesty, and said, “Salutation to thee, Horus, mighty King,
bull overthrowing bulls. Duat drew me down, I was over-
whelmed in darkness, for which light hath been given unto me.
«I found not a friend on the day of trouble, who would stand
in the day of fight, except thee, O mighty King! Thou hast
drawn away the darkness from me, and I will be thy servant
with all that pertain to me. Henen-seten shall pay tribute to
thy storehouse, thou the image of Harakhti, chief of the Akhmu
Seku. While he exists, so long shalt thou exist as King; if he
be not destroyed thou shalt not be destroyed, O King Piankhy,
living for ever!
1 Music, dancing, etc.
2 An oath.
3 Karnak.
4 The underworld.
5 The stars of the northern hemisphere; see Maspero's Dawn of Civiliza-
tion,' p. 94. By Harakhti, the sun is probably meant.
## p. 5285 (#457) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5285
(El Lahûn, prepared to oppose the entry of the King, yields without fighting:
the treasuries are confiscated. ]
His Majesty went north to the opening of the canal near
Rahent'; he found Per-sekhem-kheper-ra with its walls raised
high, its citadel closed and filled with every valiant man of
the North land. Then his Majesty sent to them saying: “Ye
who live in death, ye who live in death, miserable ones, wretched
ones living in death! If a moment passeth without opening (to
me], behold, ye are reckoned as conquered, and that is painful
to the King. Close not the gates of your life so as to come to
the execution block of this day. Do not love death and hate
your life;
[embrace] life in the face of all the land. ”
Then they sent to his Majesty to say: "Behold, the shadow
of God is upon thy head; the son of Nut? gives to thee his two
hands. What thy heart desireth is accomplished immediately, as
that which issues from the mouth of a god. Behold thou it!
Thou wast born as a god, and thou seest us in thy two hands.
Behold thy city, its forts [are open; do as thou wilt with it];
enterers enter in and goers out go out: let his Majesty do as he
pleaseth. ”
Then they came out with the son of the chief of the Me,
Tafnekht. The host of his Majesty entered into it; he slew not
one of all the people whom he found. [The chancellors came],
with the royal seal-bearers to seal its goods, assigning its treas-
uries to the Treasury, its granaries to the divine offerings of his
father Amen Ra, lord of the thrones of the two lands.
[Likewise with Mêdûm and Athet-taui. ]
His Majesty floated down-stream, he found that Mêdûm, the
Abode of Seker, lord of making light, had been shut up; it
could not be reached, it had put fighting into its heart. [But
they feared] terror (seized] them; awe closed their mouths.
Then his Majesty sent to them saying: “Behold ye, there are
two ways before you, choose ye as ye will: open, and ye live;
close, and ye die. My Majesty passeth not by a city closed. ”
1 The mouth of the barrier, i. e. , the entrance into the Faiyûm. The name
El Lahûn is derived from Rahent; and the city Per-sekhem-kheper-ra, « The
house of Usorkon I. ,) must have been at or close to the modern village of
El Lahûn.
? Set, the god of physical strength.
## p. 5286 (#458) ###########################################
5286
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
Then they opened immediately. His Majesty entered this
city; he offered [an oblation] to the god Menhy in Sehez. He
assigned its treasury and granaries to the divine offerings of
Amen in Apt-esut.
His Majesty floated down-stream to Athet-taui; he found the
fortress closed, the walls full of valiant soldiers of the North
land.
Behold, they opened the forts, they cast themselves on
their bellies (singing praises before] his Majesty. «Thy father
hath destined for thee his heritage as lord of the two lands; thou
art in them,' thou art lord of what is upon earth. ”
His Majesty proceeded [to the temple) to cause to be offered
a great offering to the gods who are in this city, of bulls, fat
oxen and fowls, and everything good and pure. Then its treas-
ury was assigned to the Treasury, its granaries to the divine
offerings [of Amen].
[To Memphis he offers a free pardon, but the city prepares to fight. ]
His Majesty went north towards Anbuhez. Then he sent to
them, saying, "Do not close, do not fight, O Residence originally
of Shu! Let the enterers enter and the comers out come out:
let none going be stopped. I will offer sacrifice to Ptah and the
gods who are in Anbuhez; I will worship Sokaris in the Secret
Place; I will behold Res-Anbef. I will go north in peace (for
his Majesty loveth that] Anbuhez be safe and sound, and that
[even] the children weep not. Ye saw the nomes of the South:
not one [soul] was slain therein except the rebels who had blas-
phemed God. Execution on the block was done to the rebel-
lious. ”
Then they closed their forts; they caused soldiers to go out
against a few of the host of his Majesty, consisting of artisans,
of chief builders, and pilots (who had gone towards] the quay of
Anbuhez.
1 Athet-taui (Lisht ? ) was the boundary of Upper and Lower Egypt, and
probably lay in both of them. « The gods who are in this city of the
next paragraph are doubtless kings of the XIIth Dynasty as presiding
deities of the place, this royal Residence having apparently been founded by
Amenenhat I. Compare p. 5238.
? Ra, the first King of Egypt, was fabled to have resided at Heliopolis;
Shu his son and successor at Memphis. The city is called sometimes Anbu. .
hez, “white wall, sometimes Men-nefer, after the pyramid of Pepy I.
3 « South of his wall," an epithet of Ptah, god of Memphis.
## p. 5287 (#459) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5287
[Tafnekht himself visits Memphis in the night, encourages the troops, and
departs, promising to return when he has arranged matters with the allies. ]
Now that chief of Sais came to Anbuhez in the night, urging
its soldiers, its sailors and all the best of its troops, in number
eight thousand men, urging them greatly, greatly.
“Behold,
Mennefer is full of soldiers of all the best of the North land,
barley and durra, and all kinds of grain, the granaries are over-
flowing, and all kinds of weapons of (war. There is a] wall
built, a great battlement made with cunning craft. The river
bounds the eastern side, and no way of attack is there. The
stalls remain full of fat cattle, the treasury is furnished with all
things: silver, gold, copper, bronze, stuffs, incense, honey, oint-
ment. I will go, I will give things to the chiefs of Lower
Egypt; I will open to them their nomes. ' I shall be [away
traveling] three [? ] days until I return. ” He mounted a horse,
he called not for his chariots, he went north in fear of his
Majesty.
[Piankhy finds Memphis strongly fortified and the high Nile risen to its walls.
The army proposes to bridge it, or attack the city it by elaborate ap-
proaches. )
When the earth lightened and it was the second day? his
Majesty came to Anbuhez, He moored upon its north side, he
found the water risen to the walls and ships moored at [the
quay of] Mennefer. Then his Majesty saw that it was mighty
indeed, the wall raised high with new building, the battlement
manned with strength; no way of attacking it was found. Each
person fell to saying his say among the hosts of his Majesty of
every rule of warfare, and every man said, “Let us lay siege to
[Anbuhez]; behold, her soldiers are many. ” Others said: “Make
a causeway unto it; let us raise the ground to its wall; let us
construct a wooden work, let us set up ships' masts, let us make
its edges of poles. Let us divide it with these things on every
side of it, with embankments and
upon its north side,
in order to raise the ground to its wall that we may find a way
for our feet. ”
1 It is difficult to see what is meant by this. Possibly Tafnekht was pro-
posing to bribe the Northern chiefs into continuing the war, by giving up his
recently acquired claims as suzerain.
? Or «very early. ”
3 Perhaps Let us put these things at intervals. ”
## p. 5288 (#460) ###########################################
5288
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[The King determines to assault it immediately; he seizes all the boats at the
quay, where the houses were comparatively unprotected, and landing his
men in them at that point captures the city. ]
Then his Majesty raged against it [the city] like a leopard,
he said:-“As I live, as I love Ra, as my father Amen who
formed me praiseth me, these things have happened unto it by
the command of Amen. These things are what men say: "[The
North Country] with the nomes of the South they open to him
[Tafnekht] from afar; they had not placed Amen in their hearts,
they knew not what he had commanded. [Then] he [Amen]
made him [Piankhy] in order to accomplish his mighty will, to
cause the awe of him to be seen. ' I will take it like a water
flood; [this] hath [my father Amen commanded me. ”
Then he caused his ships and his army to set out to attack the
quay of Mennefer.
They brought back to him every ferry-boat,
every cabin-boat, every dahabiyeh, and the ships in all their
number that were moored at the quay of Mennefer, the bows
being moored in its houses [on account of the height of the
water. Not] the least of the soldiers of his Majesty mourned. ?
His Majesty came to direct the ships in person in all their
number. His Majesty commanded his soldiers: Forward to it!
Scale the walls, enter the houses upon the bank of the stream.
If one of you enters upon the wall there will be no stand
against him [for a moment], the levies [? ] will not bar you.
Moreover, it is feeble that we should shut up the South Country,
moor at the North land, and sit still at the Balance of the two
lands. )3
Then Mennefer was captured as by a flood of water; men
were slain within it in great numbers, and were taken as pris-
oners to the place where his Majesty was.
[In Memphis Piankhy sacrifices. The neighboring garrisons flee; three North-
ern chiefs and all the nomarchs submit in person; the treasures of Mem-
phis are confiscated. ]
When the [land lightened] and the second day came, his
Majesty caused men to go to it to protect the temples of God
for him, to guard the sanctuary of the gods from the profane,
.
1 The boats were floating on a level with the top of the quay.
? I. e. , no single one of the assailants was injured in the slightest degree.
3 Meaning of course at the boundary between Upper and Lower Egypt. ”
* By waving the wand of sanctification therein.
## p. 5289 (#461) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5289
to sacrifice to the royal circle of gods of Hetkaptah,' to purify
Mennefer with natron and incense, to put the priests on the
place of their feet. ? His Majesty proceeded to the house of
[Ptah]; his purification was performed in the Chamber of Early
Morning, and all the things prescribed for a king were accom-
plished. He entered the temple, great offerings were made to
his father Ptahresanbef, of fat bulls, oxen, and fowl, and every
good thing. His Majesty proceeded to his house.
Then all the villages that were in the region of Mennefer
heard, namely, Hery the city, Penynaauaa, the tower of Byu,
and the oasis of By; they opened their gates, they fled in flight;
one knoweth not the place to which they went.
Came Auapeth with the chief of the Me, Akaneshu, with the
erpa Pediast, with all the nomarchs of the North land, bearing
their tribute, to see the beauties of his Majesty.
Then were assigned the treasuries and the granaries of Men-
nefer, and made into the second offerings of Amen, of Ptah, of
the circle of the gods in Hetkaptah.
(Piankhy crosses over to Babylon, and worships there. )
When the land lightened and the second day came his
Majesty proceeded to the East, and made a purification to Tum
in Kheraha,' [and to] the circle of the gods in the house of the
circle of the gods; namely, the cave in which the gods are, con-
sisting of fat bulls, oxen, and fowls, that they might give Life,
Prosperity, and Health to the King Piankhy, living forever.
[He proceeds along the Sacred Way to Heliopolis, visiting the holy places,
and enters the sanctuary of Tum in Heliopolis, etc. King Usorkon
submits. ]
His Majesty proceeded to Anue on that mount of Kheraha,
upon the road of the god Sep, to Kheraha. His Majesty pro-
i The sacred name of Memphis, supposed to be the origin of the name
"Αιγυπτος - «Egypt. ”
? I. e. , to re-establish the order of the temple services, etc.
3 A chamber set apart for the sacred toilet; see also below, p. 5290.
* Or «very early. ”
5 Kheraha was on the site of old Cairo, known to the classical authors as
Babylon. The cave mentioned is not now known.
6 On, Heliopolis. Here was a sacred well of water (“The Cool Pool »),
supposed to spring from Nu, the primeval waters in heaven and earth, and
not to be derived from Hapi or the Nile. Tradition relates that it was at
this same well, still pointed out at Matariyeh, that the Blessed Virgin washed
the Child on her arrival in Egypt.
## p. 5290 (#462) ###########################################
5290
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
ceeded to the camp which was on the west of the Atiu canal; he
was purified in the midst of the Cool Pool, his face was washed
in the stream of Nu, in which Ra washes his face. He pro-
ceeded to the sand-hill in Anu, he made a great sacrifice on the
sand-hill in Anu, before the face of Ra at his rising, consisting
of white bulls, milk, frankincense, incense, all woods sweet-
smelling. He came, proceeding to the house of Ra; he entered
the temple with rejoicings. The chief lector praised the god
that warded off miscreants from the King. The rites of the
Chamber of Early Morning were performed, the cloak was put
on, he was purified with incense and cold water, flowers for the
Het Benben? were brought to him. He took the flowers, he
ascended the staircase to the great window, to see Ra in the Het
Benben. The King himself stood alone, he put the key into the
bolt, he opened the double doors, and saw his father Ra in the
Het Benben. He sanctified the Madet boat of Ra, the Sektet
boat of Tum. ” The doors were shut, clay was applied and
sealed with the King's own seal; and the priests were charged,
“I, I have examined the seal; let none other enter therein of all
the kings who shall exist. "
Then they cast themselves on their bellies before his Maj-
esty, saying, Unto eternity, Horus loving Anu shall not be
destroyed. ” Returning thence, he entered the house of Tum,
and followed the image of his father Tum Khepera, chief of
Anu.
Came the King Usorkon to see the beauties of his Majesty.
(Piankhy goes to the vicinity of Athribis and receives the homage of all
the Northern princes and nobles. Pediast of Athribis invites him to
his city. ]
When the land lightened on the second day, his Majesty
went to the quay, and the best of his ships crossed over to
the quay of Kakem. The camp of his Majesty was pitched on
the south of Kaheni, on the east of Kakem. These kings and
1 Or «mishaps. ” This seems to have been a sort of Te Deum.
2 The Benben was a pyramidal stone, sacred to Ra or representing him.
It was shaped like the top of an obelisk.
3 The boats in which the Sun god traversed the heavens during forenoon
and afternoon respectively.
* 1. e. , the King.
5 Or «very early. ”
6 Athribis.
## p. 5291 (#463) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5291
nomarchs of the North land, all the chiefs who wore the feather,
every vizier, all the chiefs, every royal acquaintance in the West
and in the East, and in the islands in the midst, came to see the
beauties of his Majesty. The erpa Pediast threw himself on his
belly before his Majesty, and said: “Come to Kakem, that thou
mayest see the god Khentkhety; that thou mayest khu [? ] the
goddess Khuyt; that thou mayest offer sacrifices to Horus in his
house, consisting of fat bulls, oxen, fowls; that thou mayest
enter my house, open my treasury, and load thyself with the
things of my father. I will give thee gold unto the limits of thy
desire, malachite heaped before thy face, horses many of the best
of the stable, the leaders of the stall. ”
[Piankhy goes to Athribis and worships the local god. Pediast sets the ex-
ample of giving up his goods without concealment. ]
Proceeded his Majesty to the house of Horus Khentkhety,
and caused to be offered fat bulls, oxen, ducks, fowl to his father
Horus Khentkhety, lord of Kemur. Proceeded his Majesty to
the house of the erpa Pediast; he presented him with silver,
gold, lapis lazuli, malachite, a great collection of every kind of
thing, and stuffs, and royal linen in every count, couches covered
with fine linen, frankincense, and unguents in jars, stallions and
mares of the leaders of his stable. He [Pediast] cleared himself
by the life of Gods before the face of these kings and great chiefs
of the North land:-“Each one of them that hides his horses,
that conceals his goods, let him die the death of his father.
Thus may it be done to me, whether ye acquit thy humble ser-
vant in all things that ye knew of concerning me, or whether ye
say I have hidden from his Majesty anything of my father, gold,
jewelry, with minerals and ornaments of all kinds, bracelets for
the arms, collars for the neck, pendants [? ] inlaid with minerals,
amulets for every limb, chaplets for the head, rings for the ears,
all the apparel of a king, every vessel of royal purification in
gold, and every sort of mineral; all these things I have offered
1 The land was divided among kings, nomarchs, and, apparently, Libyan
chiefs entitled to wear a feather. The kings had their viziers; the nom-
archs and chiefs bad their subordinate chiefs, etc. “Royal acquaintances »
were persons related to the royal families.
? 1. e. , the linen was of various degrees of fineness, or as we also say
technically, of various counts »; meaning that there are so many threads
more or less in any given square of stuff.
3 An oath.
## p. 5292 (#464) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5292
So.
1
1
before the king, stuffs and clothes in thousands of all the best of
my looms. I know by what thou wilt be appeased. Go to the
stable, choose thou what thou wilt of all the horses that thou
desirest. ” Then his Majesty did so.
[The princes of Lower Egypt return to their cities to fetch further tribute.
A revolt at Mesed is promptly suppressed and the city given as a re-
ward to Pediast. )
Said these kings and nomarchs before his Majesty, “Let us
go to our cities, let us open our treasuries, let us select accord-
ing to the desire of thy heart, let us bring to thee the best of
our stables, the chief of our horses. ” Then his Majesty did even
List of their names :
The King Usorkon in Per Bast and the territory of Ranefer;
The King Auapeth in Tentremu and Taanta [? ];
The nomarch Zedamenafankh in Mendes and the Granary
of Ra;
His son and heir, the captain of the host in Hermopolis
Parva, Ankhhor;
The nomarch Akanesh in Thebneter, in Perhebyt, and in
Smabehed;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Pathenf in Per-Sepd and
in the Granary of Anbuhez;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Pamai in Busiris;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Nesnakedy in Heseb-ka;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Nekhthornashenut in Per-
gerer;1
The chief of the Me, Pentuart;
The chief of the Me, Pentabekhent;
The priest of Horus, lord of Letopolis, Pedihorsmataui;
The nomarch Hurobasa in the house of Sekhemt mistress of
Sa, and the house of Sekhemt mistress of Rohesaut;
The nomarch Zedkhiau in Khentnefer;
The nomarch Pabas in Kheraha and the house of Hapi.
With all their good tribute [consisting of] gold, silver, [lapis
lazuli], maſlachite), [couches] covered with fine linen, frankin-
cense in jars, [and all things that pertain to a man great] in
wealth, rich in horses.
1 First we have two kings, six nomarchs and high Libyan chiefs; after
these, two under-chiefs are mentioned, and then four nomarchs in the first
and second nomes of Lower Egypt, which are separated as having belonged
to Tafnekht's kingdom.
## p. 5293 (#465) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5293
one
.
[After] these things came to say to his Majesty:
[“Whereas the nomarch and captain of the] host [
hath
thrown down] the wall (of
and] set fire to his treasury,
[and Aed away] upon the river, he hath fortified Mesed' with
soldiers, and hath
Then his Majesty caused his warriors to go to see what took
place therein, as an ally of the erpa Pediast. One came to report
to his Majesty saying, “We have slain all the people that we found
there. ” His Majesty gave it as a present to the erpa Pediast.
[Lastly, Tafnekht begs for mercy: ambassadors receive his presents and sub-
mission to the King, and he is pardoned. ]
Then the chief of the Me, Tafnekht, heard it;? he caused a
messenger to go to the place where his Majesty was, begging his
mercy, saying:—“Be gracious! I have not seen thy face in the
days of shåme; I cannot stand before thy flame; I am terrified
at thy awe. Behold, thou art Nubti in the Land of the South,
Mentu, the mighty bull. In all these matters to which thou hast
given thy attention thou hast not found thy humble servant
until I reached the island of the sea. I am afraid of thy mighty
spirit according to that saying, “The flame is my enemy. Doth
not the heart of thy Majesty cool with these things that thou
hast done unto me? Verily I am in misery. I am not smitten
according to the account of the wickedness. Having weighed
with the balance, having reckoned by the ounce, thou multipliest
it unto me thrice; having carried away the seed, thou sweepest up
[the remnant) at the same time. Do not cut down the grove
to its root. As thy Ka endureth, thy terror is in my body, thy
fear in my bones; I have not sat in the room of carousal,” the
harp hath not been brought to me. Behold, I eat the bread of
hunger, I drink water in thirst, since the day that thou learnedst
my name. Pain is in my bones, my head is unshaven, my
clothes in rags, in order that Neith may be made gracious unto
me. Long is the course that thou hast brought to me; turn thy
1 Site unknown.
2 Tafnekht was on an island in the Mediterranean, and therefore heard
the news of the surrender of the Northern princes only after some time bad
elapsed.
3 Nubti=Set, the god of valor. Mentu was the god of battle.
* « Kedt-weight,” really 140 grains.
5 Lit. , «beer-room. ”
## p. 5294 (#466) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5294
now.
face unto me A year hath cleansed my Ka and purified
thy servant from his wickedness. Let my goods be taken to the
Treasury, consisting of gold with every sort of mineral, and the
best of the horses accoutred with everything. Let a messenger
come to me in haste, that he may drive fear from my heart.
Let me go out to the temple in his sight, let me clear myself
with an oath by God. ”
His Majesty caused to go the Chief Lector Pediamennestaui,
and the captain of the host Puarma. He [Tafnekht] presented
him [Piankhy] with silver, gold, stuffs, every valuable mineral.
He went out to the temple, he praised God, he cleared him-
self with an oath by God, saying: "I will not transgress the
command of the King. I will not reject the words of his
Majesty; I will not sin against a nomarch without thy knowledge;
I will act according to the words of the King; I will not trans-
gress what he hath commanded. ” Then his Majesty was satisfied
therewith.
[Crocodilopolis and Aphroditopolis having submitted, the whole country is at
the feet of the conqueror, who loads his ships with the tribute and de-
parts homeward.
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 ? Would that he who did this unto me
another, knowing me not, [then] I would not censure him for it!
But I, when I was born from the womb, when I was formed in
the egg, the deed of God was in me; and as his Ka endureth,
I do nothing without him! He it is who commandeth me to
act. "
Then he counted his [Nemart's] goods to the Treasury, his
granary to the sacred store of Amen in Aptesut.
were
3
(The King of Heracleopolis, the siege of which had been raised by the
King's troops, brings presents and promises tribute. ]
The ruler of Henen-seten, Pefauibast, came with tribute to
Pharaoh: gold, silver, every kind of mineral, and horses of the
chosen ones of the stable. He cast himself on his belly before
his Majesty, and said, “Salutation to thee, Horus, mighty King,
bull overthrowing bulls. Duat drew me down, I was over-
whelmed in darkness, for which light hath been given unto me.
«I found not a friend on the day of trouble, who would stand
in the day of fight, except thee, O mighty King! Thou hast
drawn away the darkness from me, and I will be thy servant
with all that pertain to me. Henen-seten shall pay tribute to
thy storehouse, thou the image of Harakhti, chief of the Akhmu
Seku. While he exists, so long shalt thou exist as King; if he
be not destroyed thou shalt not be destroyed, O King Piankhy,
living for ever!
1 Music, dancing, etc.
2 An oath.
3 Karnak.
4 The underworld.
5 The stars of the northern hemisphere; see Maspero's Dawn of Civiliza-
tion,' p. 94. By Harakhti, the sun is probably meant.
## p. 5285 (#457) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5285
(El Lahûn, prepared to oppose the entry of the King, yields without fighting:
the treasuries are confiscated. ]
His Majesty went north to the opening of the canal near
Rahent'; he found Per-sekhem-kheper-ra with its walls raised
high, its citadel closed and filled with every valiant man of
the North land. Then his Majesty sent to them saying: “Ye
who live in death, ye who live in death, miserable ones, wretched
ones living in death! If a moment passeth without opening (to
me], behold, ye are reckoned as conquered, and that is painful
to the King. Close not the gates of your life so as to come to
the execution block of this day. Do not love death and hate
your life;
[embrace] life in the face of all the land. ”
Then they sent to his Majesty to say: "Behold, the shadow
of God is upon thy head; the son of Nut? gives to thee his two
hands. What thy heart desireth is accomplished immediately, as
that which issues from the mouth of a god. Behold thou it!
Thou wast born as a god, and thou seest us in thy two hands.
Behold thy city, its forts [are open; do as thou wilt with it];
enterers enter in and goers out go out: let his Majesty do as he
pleaseth. ”
Then they came out with the son of the chief of the Me,
Tafnekht. The host of his Majesty entered into it; he slew not
one of all the people whom he found. [The chancellors came],
with the royal seal-bearers to seal its goods, assigning its treas-
uries to the Treasury, its granaries to the divine offerings of his
father Amen Ra, lord of the thrones of the two lands.
[Likewise with Mêdûm and Athet-taui. ]
His Majesty floated down-stream, he found that Mêdûm, the
Abode of Seker, lord of making light, had been shut up; it
could not be reached, it had put fighting into its heart. [But
they feared] terror (seized] them; awe closed their mouths.
Then his Majesty sent to them saying: “Behold ye, there are
two ways before you, choose ye as ye will: open, and ye live;
close, and ye die. My Majesty passeth not by a city closed. ”
1 The mouth of the barrier, i. e. , the entrance into the Faiyûm. The name
El Lahûn is derived from Rahent; and the city Per-sekhem-kheper-ra, « The
house of Usorkon I. ,) must have been at or close to the modern village of
El Lahûn.
? Set, the god of physical strength.
## p. 5286 (#458) ###########################################
5286
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
Then they opened immediately. His Majesty entered this
city; he offered [an oblation] to the god Menhy in Sehez. He
assigned its treasury and granaries to the divine offerings of
Amen in Apt-esut.
His Majesty floated down-stream to Athet-taui; he found the
fortress closed, the walls full of valiant soldiers of the North
land.
Behold, they opened the forts, they cast themselves on
their bellies (singing praises before] his Majesty. «Thy father
hath destined for thee his heritage as lord of the two lands; thou
art in them,' thou art lord of what is upon earth. ”
His Majesty proceeded [to the temple) to cause to be offered
a great offering to the gods who are in this city, of bulls, fat
oxen and fowls, and everything good and pure. Then its treas-
ury was assigned to the Treasury, its granaries to the divine
offerings [of Amen].
[To Memphis he offers a free pardon, but the city prepares to fight. ]
His Majesty went north towards Anbuhez. Then he sent to
them, saying, "Do not close, do not fight, O Residence originally
of Shu! Let the enterers enter and the comers out come out:
let none going be stopped. I will offer sacrifice to Ptah and the
gods who are in Anbuhez; I will worship Sokaris in the Secret
Place; I will behold Res-Anbef. I will go north in peace (for
his Majesty loveth that] Anbuhez be safe and sound, and that
[even] the children weep not. Ye saw the nomes of the South:
not one [soul] was slain therein except the rebels who had blas-
phemed God. Execution on the block was done to the rebel-
lious. ”
Then they closed their forts; they caused soldiers to go out
against a few of the host of his Majesty, consisting of artisans,
of chief builders, and pilots (who had gone towards] the quay of
Anbuhez.
1 Athet-taui (Lisht ? ) was the boundary of Upper and Lower Egypt, and
probably lay in both of them. « The gods who are in this city of the
next paragraph are doubtless kings of the XIIth Dynasty as presiding
deities of the place, this royal Residence having apparently been founded by
Amenenhat I. Compare p. 5238.
? Ra, the first King of Egypt, was fabled to have resided at Heliopolis;
Shu his son and successor at Memphis. The city is called sometimes Anbu. .
hez, “white wall, sometimes Men-nefer, after the pyramid of Pepy I.
3 « South of his wall," an epithet of Ptah, god of Memphis.
## p. 5287 (#459) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5287
[Tafnekht himself visits Memphis in the night, encourages the troops, and
departs, promising to return when he has arranged matters with the allies. ]
Now that chief of Sais came to Anbuhez in the night, urging
its soldiers, its sailors and all the best of its troops, in number
eight thousand men, urging them greatly, greatly.
“Behold,
Mennefer is full of soldiers of all the best of the North land,
barley and durra, and all kinds of grain, the granaries are over-
flowing, and all kinds of weapons of (war. There is a] wall
built, a great battlement made with cunning craft. The river
bounds the eastern side, and no way of attack is there. The
stalls remain full of fat cattle, the treasury is furnished with all
things: silver, gold, copper, bronze, stuffs, incense, honey, oint-
ment. I will go, I will give things to the chiefs of Lower
Egypt; I will open to them their nomes. ' I shall be [away
traveling] three [? ] days until I return. ” He mounted a horse,
he called not for his chariots, he went north in fear of his
Majesty.
[Piankhy finds Memphis strongly fortified and the high Nile risen to its walls.
The army proposes to bridge it, or attack the city it by elaborate ap-
proaches. )
When the earth lightened and it was the second day? his
Majesty came to Anbuhez, He moored upon its north side, he
found the water risen to the walls and ships moored at [the
quay of] Mennefer. Then his Majesty saw that it was mighty
indeed, the wall raised high with new building, the battlement
manned with strength; no way of attacking it was found. Each
person fell to saying his say among the hosts of his Majesty of
every rule of warfare, and every man said, “Let us lay siege to
[Anbuhez]; behold, her soldiers are many. ” Others said: “Make
a causeway unto it; let us raise the ground to its wall; let us
construct a wooden work, let us set up ships' masts, let us make
its edges of poles. Let us divide it with these things on every
side of it, with embankments and
upon its north side,
in order to raise the ground to its wall that we may find a way
for our feet. ”
1 It is difficult to see what is meant by this. Possibly Tafnekht was pro-
posing to bribe the Northern chiefs into continuing the war, by giving up his
recently acquired claims as suzerain.
? Or «very early. ”
3 Perhaps Let us put these things at intervals. ”
## p. 5288 (#460) ###########################################
5288
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
[The King determines to assault it immediately; he seizes all the boats at the
quay, where the houses were comparatively unprotected, and landing his
men in them at that point captures the city. ]
Then his Majesty raged against it [the city] like a leopard,
he said:-“As I live, as I love Ra, as my father Amen who
formed me praiseth me, these things have happened unto it by
the command of Amen. These things are what men say: "[The
North Country] with the nomes of the South they open to him
[Tafnekht] from afar; they had not placed Amen in their hearts,
they knew not what he had commanded. [Then] he [Amen]
made him [Piankhy] in order to accomplish his mighty will, to
cause the awe of him to be seen. ' I will take it like a water
flood; [this] hath [my father Amen commanded me. ”
Then he caused his ships and his army to set out to attack the
quay of Mennefer.
They brought back to him every ferry-boat,
every cabin-boat, every dahabiyeh, and the ships in all their
number that were moored at the quay of Mennefer, the bows
being moored in its houses [on account of the height of the
water. Not] the least of the soldiers of his Majesty mourned. ?
His Majesty came to direct the ships in person in all their
number. His Majesty commanded his soldiers: Forward to it!
Scale the walls, enter the houses upon the bank of the stream.
If one of you enters upon the wall there will be no stand
against him [for a moment], the levies [? ] will not bar you.
Moreover, it is feeble that we should shut up the South Country,
moor at the North land, and sit still at the Balance of the two
lands. )3
Then Mennefer was captured as by a flood of water; men
were slain within it in great numbers, and were taken as pris-
oners to the place where his Majesty was.
[In Memphis Piankhy sacrifices. The neighboring garrisons flee; three North-
ern chiefs and all the nomarchs submit in person; the treasures of Mem-
phis are confiscated. ]
When the [land lightened] and the second day came, his
Majesty caused men to go to it to protect the temples of God
for him, to guard the sanctuary of the gods from the profane,
.
1 The boats were floating on a level with the top of the quay.
? I. e. , no single one of the assailants was injured in the slightest degree.
3 Meaning of course at the boundary between Upper and Lower Egypt. ”
* By waving the wand of sanctification therein.
## p. 5289 (#461) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5289
to sacrifice to the royal circle of gods of Hetkaptah,' to purify
Mennefer with natron and incense, to put the priests on the
place of their feet. ? His Majesty proceeded to the house of
[Ptah]; his purification was performed in the Chamber of Early
Morning, and all the things prescribed for a king were accom-
plished. He entered the temple, great offerings were made to
his father Ptahresanbef, of fat bulls, oxen, and fowl, and every
good thing. His Majesty proceeded to his house.
Then all the villages that were in the region of Mennefer
heard, namely, Hery the city, Penynaauaa, the tower of Byu,
and the oasis of By; they opened their gates, they fled in flight;
one knoweth not the place to which they went.
Came Auapeth with the chief of the Me, Akaneshu, with the
erpa Pediast, with all the nomarchs of the North land, bearing
their tribute, to see the beauties of his Majesty.
Then were assigned the treasuries and the granaries of Men-
nefer, and made into the second offerings of Amen, of Ptah, of
the circle of the gods in Hetkaptah.
(Piankhy crosses over to Babylon, and worships there. )
When the land lightened and the second day came his
Majesty proceeded to the East, and made a purification to Tum
in Kheraha,' [and to] the circle of the gods in the house of the
circle of the gods; namely, the cave in which the gods are, con-
sisting of fat bulls, oxen, and fowls, that they might give Life,
Prosperity, and Health to the King Piankhy, living forever.
[He proceeds along the Sacred Way to Heliopolis, visiting the holy places,
and enters the sanctuary of Tum in Heliopolis, etc. King Usorkon
submits. ]
His Majesty proceeded to Anue on that mount of Kheraha,
upon the road of the god Sep, to Kheraha. His Majesty pro-
i The sacred name of Memphis, supposed to be the origin of the name
"Αιγυπτος - «Egypt. ”
? I. e. , to re-establish the order of the temple services, etc.
3 A chamber set apart for the sacred toilet; see also below, p. 5290.
* Or «very early. ”
5 Kheraha was on the site of old Cairo, known to the classical authors as
Babylon. The cave mentioned is not now known.
6 On, Heliopolis. Here was a sacred well of water (“The Cool Pool »),
supposed to spring from Nu, the primeval waters in heaven and earth, and
not to be derived from Hapi or the Nile. Tradition relates that it was at
this same well, still pointed out at Matariyeh, that the Blessed Virgin washed
the Child on her arrival in Egypt.
## p. 5290 (#462) ###########################################
5290
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
ceeded to the camp which was on the west of the Atiu canal; he
was purified in the midst of the Cool Pool, his face was washed
in the stream of Nu, in which Ra washes his face. He pro-
ceeded to the sand-hill in Anu, he made a great sacrifice on the
sand-hill in Anu, before the face of Ra at his rising, consisting
of white bulls, milk, frankincense, incense, all woods sweet-
smelling. He came, proceeding to the house of Ra; he entered
the temple with rejoicings. The chief lector praised the god
that warded off miscreants from the King. The rites of the
Chamber of Early Morning were performed, the cloak was put
on, he was purified with incense and cold water, flowers for the
Het Benben? were brought to him. He took the flowers, he
ascended the staircase to the great window, to see Ra in the Het
Benben. The King himself stood alone, he put the key into the
bolt, he opened the double doors, and saw his father Ra in the
Het Benben. He sanctified the Madet boat of Ra, the Sektet
boat of Tum. ” The doors were shut, clay was applied and
sealed with the King's own seal; and the priests were charged,
“I, I have examined the seal; let none other enter therein of all
the kings who shall exist. "
Then they cast themselves on their bellies before his Maj-
esty, saying, Unto eternity, Horus loving Anu shall not be
destroyed. ” Returning thence, he entered the house of Tum,
and followed the image of his father Tum Khepera, chief of
Anu.
Came the King Usorkon to see the beauties of his Majesty.
(Piankhy goes to the vicinity of Athribis and receives the homage of all
the Northern princes and nobles. Pediast of Athribis invites him to
his city. ]
When the land lightened on the second day, his Majesty
went to the quay, and the best of his ships crossed over to
the quay of Kakem. The camp of his Majesty was pitched on
the south of Kaheni, on the east of Kakem. These kings and
1 Or «mishaps. ” This seems to have been a sort of Te Deum.
2 The Benben was a pyramidal stone, sacred to Ra or representing him.
It was shaped like the top of an obelisk.
3 The boats in which the Sun god traversed the heavens during forenoon
and afternoon respectively.
* 1. e. , the King.
5 Or «very early. ”
6 Athribis.
## p. 5291 (#463) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5291
nomarchs of the North land, all the chiefs who wore the feather,
every vizier, all the chiefs, every royal acquaintance in the West
and in the East, and in the islands in the midst, came to see the
beauties of his Majesty. The erpa Pediast threw himself on his
belly before his Majesty, and said: “Come to Kakem, that thou
mayest see the god Khentkhety; that thou mayest khu [? ] the
goddess Khuyt; that thou mayest offer sacrifices to Horus in his
house, consisting of fat bulls, oxen, fowls; that thou mayest
enter my house, open my treasury, and load thyself with the
things of my father. I will give thee gold unto the limits of thy
desire, malachite heaped before thy face, horses many of the best
of the stable, the leaders of the stall. ”
[Piankhy goes to Athribis and worships the local god. Pediast sets the ex-
ample of giving up his goods without concealment. ]
Proceeded his Majesty to the house of Horus Khentkhety,
and caused to be offered fat bulls, oxen, ducks, fowl to his father
Horus Khentkhety, lord of Kemur. Proceeded his Majesty to
the house of the erpa Pediast; he presented him with silver,
gold, lapis lazuli, malachite, a great collection of every kind of
thing, and stuffs, and royal linen in every count, couches covered
with fine linen, frankincense, and unguents in jars, stallions and
mares of the leaders of his stable. He [Pediast] cleared himself
by the life of Gods before the face of these kings and great chiefs
of the North land:-“Each one of them that hides his horses,
that conceals his goods, let him die the death of his father.
Thus may it be done to me, whether ye acquit thy humble ser-
vant in all things that ye knew of concerning me, or whether ye
say I have hidden from his Majesty anything of my father, gold,
jewelry, with minerals and ornaments of all kinds, bracelets for
the arms, collars for the neck, pendants [? ] inlaid with minerals,
amulets for every limb, chaplets for the head, rings for the ears,
all the apparel of a king, every vessel of royal purification in
gold, and every sort of mineral; all these things I have offered
1 The land was divided among kings, nomarchs, and, apparently, Libyan
chiefs entitled to wear a feather. The kings had their viziers; the nom-
archs and chiefs bad their subordinate chiefs, etc. “Royal acquaintances »
were persons related to the royal families.
? 1. e. , the linen was of various degrees of fineness, or as we also say
technically, of various counts »; meaning that there are so many threads
more or less in any given square of stuff.
3 An oath.
## p. 5292 (#464) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5292
So.
1
1
before the king, stuffs and clothes in thousands of all the best of
my looms. I know by what thou wilt be appeased. Go to the
stable, choose thou what thou wilt of all the horses that thou
desirest. ” Then his Majesty did so.
[The princes of Lower Egypt return to their cities to fetch further tribute.
A revolt at Mesed is promptly suppressed and the city given as a re-
ward to Pediast. )
Said these kings and nomarchs before his Majesty, “Let us
go to our cities, let us open our treasuries, let us select accord-
ing to the desire of thy heart, let us bring to thee the best of
our stables, the chief of our horses. ” Then his Majesty did even
List of their names :
The King Usorkon in Per Bast and the territory of Ranefer;
The King Auapeth in Tentremu and Taanta [? ];
The nomarch Zedamenafankh in Mendes and the Granary
of Ra;
His son and heir, the captain of the host in Hermopolis
Parva, Ankhhor;
The nomarch Akanesh in Thebneter, in Perhebyt, and in
Smabehed;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Pathenf in Per-Sepd and
in the Granary of Anbuhez;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Pamai in Busiris;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Nesnakedy in Heseb-ka;
The nomarch and chief of the Me, Nekhthornashenut in Per-
gerer;1
The chief of the Me, Pentuart;
The chief of the Me, Pentabekhent;
The priest of Horus, lord of Letopolis, Pedihorsmataui;
The nomarch Hurobasa in the house of Sekhemt mistress of
Sa, and the house of Sekhemt mistress of Rohesaut;
The nomarch Zedkhiau in Khentnefer;
The nomarch Pabas in Kheraha and the house of Hapi.
With all their good tribute [consisting of] gold, silver, [lapis
lazuli], maſlachite), [couches] covered with fine linen, frankin-
cense in jars, [and all things that pertain to a man great] in
wealth, rich in horses.
1 First we have two kings, six nomarchs and high Libyan chiefs; after
these, two under-chiefs are mentioned, and then four nomarchs in the first
and second nomes of Lower Egypt, which are separated as having belonged
to Tafnekht's kingdom.
## p. 5293 (#465) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5293
one
.
[After] these things came to say to his Majesty:
[“Whereas the nomarch and captain of the] host [
hath
thrown down] the wall (of
and] set fire to his treasury,
[and Aed away] upon the river, he hath fortified Mesed' with
soldiers, and hath
Then his Majesty caused his warriors to go to see what took
place therein, as an ally of the erpa Pediast. One came to report
to his Majesty saying, “We have slain all the people that we found
there. ” His Majesty gave it as a present to the erpa Pediast.
[Lastly, Tafnekht begs for mercy: ambassadors receive his presents and sub-
mission to the King, and he is pardoned. ]
Then the chief of the Me, Tafnekht, heard it;? he caused a
messenger to go to the place where his Majesty was, begging his
mercy, saying:—“Be gracious! I have not seen thy face in the
days of shåme; I cannot stand before thy flame; I am terrified
at thy awe. Behold, thou art Nubti in the Land of the South,
Mentu, the mighty bull. In all these matters to which thou hast
given thy attention thou hast not found thy humble servant
until I reached the island of the sea. I am afraid of thy mighty
spirit according to that saying, “The flame is my enemy. Doth
not the heart of thy Majesty cool with these things that thou
hast done unto me? Verily I am in misery. I am not smitten
according to the account of the wickedness. Having weighed
with the balance, having reckoned by the ounce, thou multipliest
it unto me thrice; having carried away the seed, thou sweepest up
[the remnant) at the same time. Do not cut down the grove
to its root. As thy Ka endureth, thy terror is in my body, thy
fear in my bones; I have not sat in the room of carousal,” the
harp hath not been brought to me. Behold, I eat the bread of
hunger, I drink water in thirst, since the day that thou learnedst
my name. Pain is in my bones, my head is unshaven, my
clothes in rags, in order that Neith may be made gracious unto
me. Long is the course that thou hast brought to me; turn thy
1 Site unknown.
2 Tafnekht was on an island in the Mediterranean, and therefore heard
the news of the surrender of the Northern princes only after some time bad
elapsed.
3 Nubti=Set, the god of valor. Mentu was the god of battle.
* « Kedt-weight,” really 140 grains.
5 Lit. , «beer-room. ”
## p. 5294 (#466) ###########################################
EGYPTIAN LITERATURE
5294
now.
face unto me A year hath cleansed my Ka and purified
thy servant from his wickedness. Let my goods be taken to the
Treasury, consisting of gold with every sort of mineral, and the
best of the horses accoutred with everything. Let a messenger
come to me in haste, that he may drive fear from my heart.
Let me go out to the temple in his sight, let me clear myself
with an oath by God. ”
His Majesty caused to go the Chief Lector Pediamennestaui,
and the captain of the host Puarma. He [Tafnekht] presented
him [Piankhy] with silver, gold, stuffs, every valuable mineral.
He went out to the temple, he praised God, he cleared him-
self with an oath by God, saying: "I will not transgress the
command of the King. I will not reject the words of his
Majesty; I will not sin against a nomarch without thy knowledge;
I will act according to the words of the King; I will not trans-
gress what he hath commanded. ” Then his Majesty was satisfied
therewith.
[Crocodilopolis and Aphroditopolis having submitted, the whole country is at
the feet of the conqueror, who loads his ships with the tribute and de-
parts homeward.
