Ancient Egyptian Literature Collection PDF

Tanta university ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Faculty of Arts 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 compiled by...

Tanta university ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Faculty of Arts 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 compiled by Dr. Mohmed Elbayoumi mohmed 2025  ‫رسالة برنامج اآلثار المصرية‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫مؤهل ومواكب الحتياجات سوق العمل‬ ‫يلتزم البرنامج بإعداد خريج ّ‬ ‫في مجاالت دراسة اآلثار المصرية والحفائر والمتاحف والمحافظة‬ ‫على التراث من أجل خدمة المجتمع وقضاياه والبحث العلمي‪.‬‬ ‫أهداف برنامج اآلثار المصرية‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫يهدف برنامج اآلثار المصرية القديمة إلى‪:‬‬ ‫مؤهل علمياً وعملياً‪.‬‬ ‫ إعداد خريج ّ‬ ‫ أن يكون الخريج مواكباً لمتطلبات السوق والتكنولوجيا الحديثة‬ ‫المستخدمة في مجال اآلثار المصرية القديمة‪.‬‬ ‫‪2‬‬  ‫ دراسة وفهم كل ما يتعلق باآلثار المصرية القديمة وطرق‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫وأساليب الحفر المختلفة فضالً عن دراسة علم المتاحف‬ ‫وكيفية إدارتها وما بها من آثار وقطع فنية ذات قيمة تاريخية‬ ‫عالية‪.‬‬ ‫ثار‬ ‫ات التي تؤهله للتعامل مع قضايا اآل‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫ إكساب الخريج المهار‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫المصرية القديمة من سرقات وتزييف وغيرها‪ ،‬والمحافظة على التراث‬ ‫المصري القديم بما يخدم المجتمع وينمي ثقافته‪.‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬  The contents PART I : TALES OF MIDDLE EGYPTIAN LITERATURE - The story of Sinuhe ……… 7-23 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ PART II : LATE EGYPTIAN STORIES - The quarrel of APOPHIS and SEKNENRE ….. 24-30 - The tale of the doomed prince …… 31-43 PART III: ROYAL STELAE - The famine stela …… 44-63 - The Israel stela ……. 64-70 PART IV: DIALOGUES and INSTRUCTIONS - The man who was weary of life …………71-91 2024/2025 2024/2025 - The instruction of Onchsheshonqy …… 92- 114 2024/2025 PART V: Texts from religious book - The Egyptian Attitude Toward Death ……. 115- 121 PART VI: Texts from temples - Karnak reliefs ……. 122- 125 - The birth of queen Hatshepsut ….. 126-130 PART VII AUTOBIOGRAPHIES - Weni the elder …… 131-137 PART VIII: DEMOTIC LITERATURE - The magician Hihor …… 138--140 PART IX: Gods and RELIGIOUS LITERATURE - Egyptian and Foreign gods ….. 141-168 - Selections from the Pyramid texts …. 169-177 4  Introduction ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ The compositions have been arranged mainly by type rather than by date. The first section, the narratives and tales of the Middle Kingdom, consists of The Story of Sinuhe. it was probably set down in Dynasty 12 (1991–1786 b.c.). The second section comprises the narratives of the New Kingdom, Dynasties 18–20 (1554–1085 b.c.), which are known as the Late Egyptian 2024/2025 Stories. The tales 2024/2025 2024/2025 included are The Quarrel of Apophis and Seknenre, The Tale of the Doomed Prince. The third section includes several royal stelae: The famine stela and The Israel stela. The fourth section, comprising wisdom or instruction literature and dialogues, encompasses a wide chronological range. , as The Man Who Was Weary of Life, and The instruction of Onchsheshonqy. This work also includes texts from religious book and texts from temples, and autobiographies from stelae 5  and tombs, also there are selected texts from the religious literature and gods. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ The book is addressed to the general reader, the student, and the specialist. The student and specialist are advised, however, that free translations are often used for passages which are difficult or offer the possibility of alternative translations. The translation does not always reflect the final judgment of the translator; he cannot have consistently chosen the right alternative. In journal articles 2024/2025 or monographs it is not 2024/2025 uncommon to find a 2024/2025 sentence discussed at length, with an equal number of pages devoted to the same passage several years later by another scholar. The translator of a text of some length for the general reader cannot burden it with extensive notes and investigations. 6 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ PART I: TALES OF MIDDLE EGYPTIAN LITERATURE - The story of Sinuhe 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 7 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪8‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪9‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪10‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪11‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪12‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪13‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪14‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪15‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪16‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪17‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪18‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪19‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪20‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪21‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪22‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪2024/2025‬‬ ‫‪23‬‬ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ PART II : LATE EGYPTIAN STORIES - The quarrel of APOPHIS and SEKNENRE - The tale of the doomed prince 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 24  THE QUARREL OF APOPHIS AND SEKNENRE ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ For nearly a century Asiatic Hyksos rulers and their vassals had dominated Egypt, controlling the Delta and Middle Egypt. This fragment of a Ramesside historical romance presents the origins of the conflict between Thebes in the south and the Hyksos King Apophis. At a time when Thebes was still tributary to the Hyksos, 2024/2025 King Apophis, seeking to agitate the Theban 2024/2025 2024/2025 ruler Seknenre, sends a fantastic complaint regarding hippopotamuses at Thebes creating so much noise that Hyksos citizens were unable to sleep. How much history this story actually contains is debatable. The lost continuation of this tale may have provided more substantive immediate causes for the war that ensued. Examination of King Seknenre’s mummy has revealed that his violent death resulted from wounds received from a Hyksos-type battle ax,suggesting that he died in battle against the Hyksos. 25 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ It came to pass that the land of Egypt was in misery, as there was no Lord, l.p.h., (functioning) ≫as… a (proper) king of the time. It happened that King Seknenre, l.p.h., was (but) Ruler, l.p.h., of the Southern City, and misery was in the city of the Asiatics, while Prince Apophis, l.p.h., was in Avaris, and the entire land 2024/2025 2024/2025 paid tribute to him, 2024/2025 delivering their taxes in full as well as bringing all good produce of Egypt. So King Apophis, l.p.h., adopted Seth for himself as lord, and he refused to serve any god that was in the entire land ex[cept] Seth. He built a temple of fine workmanship for eternity next to the House of King [Apo]phis, l.p.h., and he appeared [at break of ] day in order to sacrifice [...] daily to Seth, while the officials [of the 26  palace], l.p.h., carried garlands, exactly as is practiced ≫in… the temple of Pre-Harakhti. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Now as for / King A[pophis], l.p.h., it was his wish to s[end] an inflamatory message ≫to… King Seknenre, [l.p.h., the] Prince of the Southern City. And many days after this, King [Apophis, l.p.h.], had [the high official]s of his [palace] summoned, [and he proposed to them 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 that a messenger should be] sent [to the Prince of the Southern City with] a complaint [... concerning the] river, [but he was unable to compose it himself. Thereupon his] scribes and wise men [...] and high officials [said, ‘‘O so]vereign, l.p.h., [our lord, demand that there be a withdrawal from the] lagoon of hippopotamuses [which is in the east (sector) of the City because] they don’t let [sleep come 4to us5 either in the daytime or at ni]ght, [for the 27  noise of them is ≫in… our ears.’’ And King Apophis, l.p.h., answered them saying, ‘‘I shall ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ send a message] to the Prince of the [Southern Ci]ty [...] command [... that we may assess the power of the god who is] / with him as protector. He does not rely upon any god that is in the [entire land] except Amon-Re, King of the Gods.’’ 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Now many days after this, King Apophis, l.p.h., sent to the Prince of the Southern City ≫with… the complaint that his scribes and wise men had concocted for him. And when the messenger of King [A]pophis, l.p.h., reached the Prince of the Southern City, he was taken into the presence of the Prince of the Southern City. Then One said to the messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h., ‘‘Why have you been sent to the Southern City? Wherefore have you come journeying here?’’ 28  The messenger then / answered him, ‘‘Itis King Apophis, l.p.h., who has sent ≫me… to you in ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ order to say, ‘Let there be a w[ithdrawa]l from the lagoon of hippopotamuses which is in the east (sector) of the City, because they don’t let sleep come to me either in the daytime or at night,’ for the noise of them is ≫in… his ears.’’ Then the Prince of the Southern City 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 became stupefied for a long while, remaining unable to render [a reply] to the messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h. (Finally) the Prince of the Southern City said to him, ‘‘Is it through this (remark) that your Lord, l.p.h., would investigate matters regarding [the lagoon of hippopotamuses which is in t]he east (sector) of the Southern City?’’ Then the messenger [answered him, ‘‘Implement the m]atters for which he sent me.’’ [Then the Prince of the Southern City caused] 29  th[e messenger of King Apophis, l.p.h.], to be taken care of [with] good [thing]s: meat, cakes, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ [.... The Prince of the Southern City said to him, ‘‘Go and tell] your [lord], ‘As for whatever you will tell him, he will do it,’ so you shall tell [him.’’... Then the messenger of King] Apophis, l.p.h., hastened to journey to where / his Lord, l.p.h., was. So the Prince of the Southern 2024/2025 2024/2025 City had his 2024/2025 high officials summoned, as well as every ranking soldier of his, and he repeated to them every issue concerning which King Apophis, l.p.h., had sent to him. Then they were uniformly silent for a long while, being unable to answer him, be it good or bad. Then King Apophis, l.p.h., sent to... (The remainder of the story is lost.) 30  THE TALE OF THE DOOMED PRINCE Although written in the simple and rather ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ monotonous style characteristic of stories of the New Kingdom, this tale, as far as it is preserved, captures the reader’s interest in its narration of the adventures of a young Egyptian crown prince. Like The Story of Sinuhe, 2024/2025 the theme is that 2024/2025 2024/2025 of the Egyptian abroad, but in this later story little attention is given to providing local color. Rather the emphasis is upon plot. The reader, who has initially been informed of the boy’s true identity and the three possible fates that may ultimately prevail over him, seeks to learn how the youth will finally reveal his royal background to the foreigners among whom he lives and to see how Fate operates. 31  This story is illustrative of a certain degree of flexibility in the Egyptian concept of ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ predestination. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the tale is lost, so that the reader’s whetted appetite remains unsatisfied. A happy conclusion would, however, conform to the fairy-tale nature of the story, and the hero’s good qualities and piety toward 2024/2025 his god point to a resolution 2024/2025 in which the 2024/2025 sun god acts as the ultimate arbitrator of his destiny. Although the manuscript is from early Dynasty 19, the story was probably composed in late Dynasty 18. 32  Once upon a time there was a king, so the story goes, to whom no son had ever been born. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ [But when His Majesty, l.p.h., re]quested a son for himself from the gods of his time, they ordered a birth to be granted him, and he went to bed with his wife that night. Now when she [had become] pregnant and had completed the months of childbearing, a son 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 was born. Presently the Hathors1 came to determine a fate for him and said, ‘‘He shall die through a crocodile, or a snake, or even a dog.’’ So the people who were in the boy’s company heard and reported it / to His Majesty, l.p.h. Thereupon His Majesty, l.p.h., became very much saddened. Then His Majesty, l.p.h., had [a] stone [house] built [for him] upon the desert, supplied with personnel and with all good things 33  of the palace, l.p.h., so that the boy did not (have to) venture outside. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Now when the boy had grown older, he went up onto his roof and espied a greyhound following a grown-up who was walking along the road. He said to his servant, who was beside him, ‘‘What’s that walking behind the grown-up who is coming along [the] road?’’ And he told him, ‘‘It’s 2024/2025 a greyhound.’’ And the boy said to him, 2024/2025 2024/2025 ‘‘Have one like it brought to me.’’ Thereupon the servant went and reported it / to His Majesty, l.p.h. Then His Majesty, l.p.h., said, ‘‘Let a young springer be taken to him [because of ] his heart’s disquiet.’’ So they ≫had… a greyhound taken to him. Now after the days had elapsed for the boy to mature in all his body, he sent word to his father, saying, ‘‘What’s the point of my staying 34  put here? For look, I am committed to Fate. Let me be released so that I may act according to my ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ desire until God does what is his will.’’ Then a chariot was harnessed for him, equipped [with] / all sorts of weapons, and [a servant was put in] his following for an escort. He was ferried over to the eastern bank and told, ‘‘Now you may set out as you wish,’’ [while] his greyhound 2024/2025 was (still) with2024/2025 him. He went 2024/2025 northward over the desert, following his inclination and living on every sort of desert game. Presently he reached the Prince of Nahrin. Now none had been born to the Prince of Nahrin except a daughter. There had been built for her a house whose window / was seventy cubits distant from the ground. He sent for all the sons of all the princes of the land of Khor (Syria) and told them, 35  ‘‘As for the one who will reach my daughter’s window, she shall be a wife for him.’’ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Now after many days had elapsed and while they were (engaged) in their daily routine, presently the boy passed by them. They took the boy to their house, cleansed him, gave fodder to his team, did every sort of thing for the boy, salving him and bandaging his feet, and / gave 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 food to his escort. They said to him by way of conversation, ‘‘Where have you come from, you handsome youth?’’ He told them, ‘‘I am the son of a chariot warrior of the land of Egypt. My mother died, and my father took for himself another wife, a stepmother. She came to despise me, and [I] left her presence in flight.’’ And they embraced him and kissed him over [all his]body. 36  [Now after many days had elapsed], he said to the boys, ‘‘What’s this you are engaged in, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ [boys?’’ And they told him, ‘‘It’s been three] whole [month]s now that we have been spending / time here [leaping up, for the one who] will reach [the] window of the daughter of the Prince of Nahrin, [he will] give her to him for [a wife.’’ He] said to them, ‘‘If my feet were [not] hurting me so, I would proceed to leap up2024/2025 2024/2025 with you.’’ 2024/2025 They proceeded to leap up according to their daily routine, while the boy stood by at a distance watching, and the eyes of the daughter of the Prince of Nahrin were upon him. Now after ≫many days… had elapsed, / the boy came in order to leap up along with the children of the princes. He leapt up and reached the window of the daughter of the Prince of 37  Nahrin. She kissed him and embraced him over all his body. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Then someone went in order to impart the news to her father and told him, ‘‘Somebody has reached the window of your daughter.’’ Then the prince inquired about him, saying, ‘‘The son of which of the princes?’’ And he was told, ‘‘A chariot warrior’s son.4 It was from his stepmother’s 2024/2025 presence that he2024/2025 came in flight from 2024/2025 the land of Egypt.’’ Thereupon / the Prince of Nahrin became very much angered. He said, ‘‘Is it to this Egyptian fugitive that I should give my daughter? Send him away!’’ Someone came to tell him, ‘‘Now depart to where you came from!’’ But the daughter took hold of him and swore by God, saying, ‘‘By Pre- Harakhti, if he is taken away from me, I shall neither eat nor drink 38  but shall die right away.’’ Then the messenger went and reported to her father every word… she ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ had said, and her father… sent men to slay him / right where he was. But the daughter said to them…, ‘‘By Pre, if he is slain, as soon as the sun sets, I shall be dead. I won’t stay alive an hour longer than he.’’ Then [someone went] to tell this to her father. And / 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 [her father had] the [youth] and his daughter [brought be]fore him. The youth [came before] him, and his worth impressed the prince. He embraced him and kissed him over all his body, and he said to him, ‘‘Tell me your background. See, you are (now) a son to me.’’ And he told him, ‘‘I am the son of a chariot warrior of the land of Egypt. My mother died, and my 39  father took for himself another wife. She came to despise me, and I left her presence in flight.’’ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Then he gave him his daughter for a wife and / gave him house and fields as well as cattle and all sorts of good things. Now after many days… had elapsed, the youth told his wife, ‘‘I am committed to three fates: crocodile, snake, and dog.’’ Then she said to him, ‘‘Have the dog which 2024/2025 2024/2025 follows you killed.’’ 2024/2025 And he told her, ‘‘What a demand! I won’t let my dog, which I reared when it was a puppy, be killed.’’ And she began watching over her husband very carefully, not letting him venture outside alone. Now from the day that the boy had come from the land of Egypt in order to travel about, the crocodile had been / his fate [...]. It appeared [from the midst of ] the lake opposite him in the 40  town in which the youth was living with [his wife]. However, a water spirit was in it. The ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ water spirit would not let the crocodile emerge, nor would the crocodile let the water spirit emerge to stroll about. As soon as the sun rose, [they would be] engaged there in fighting each other every single day over a period of two whole months. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Now after some days had elapsed, the youth sat down and made holiday in his house. And after the end of the evening breeze the youth lay down upon his bed, and sleep took possession of his body. Then / his wife filled one [bowl with wine and] another bowl with beer. Presently a [snake] emerged [from its] hole to bite the youth, but his wife was sitting beside him without falling asleep. The [bowls were thus standing] accessible to the snake, and it imbibed and became 41  intoxicated. Then it reclined turning upside down. Thereupon [his wife had] it [chopped] to ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ pieces with her hatchet. She then awoke her husband [...] / him, and she told him, ‘‘See, your god has delivered one of your fates into your hand. He will watch over [you henceforth.’’ Then he] made an offering to Pre, praising him and extolling his power daily. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Now af[ter some days had elapsed], the youth went out to stroll about for recreation on his property. [His wife] did not go out [with him], but his dog was following him. Then his dog took on (the power of) speech, [saying, ‘‘I am your fate.’’ Thereupon] he ran before it. Presently he reached the lake and descended into the [water in flight before the] / dog. And so the crocodile [seized h]im and carried him off to where the water spirit was, [but he had left. The] crocodile 42  told the youth, ‘‘I am your fate that has been made to come in pursuit of you, but [it is two ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ whole months] now that I have been fighting with the water spirit. Now see, I shall let you go. If my [opponent returns to engage me] to fight, [come] and lend me your support in order to… kill the water spirit. Now if you see the [...] see the crocodile.’’ Now after dawn and the2024/2025 2024/2025 next day had come 2024/2025 about, the [water spirit] returned [...]. (The remainder of the tale is lost.) 43 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ PART III: ROYAL STELAE - The famine stela - The Israel stela 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 44  The famine stela ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Lightly carved on a granite boulder on Sehel Island near the first cataract, this description of ‘‘seven lean years in Egypt’’ was surely composed and copied in the Ptolemaic period, though set in the Third Dynasty reign of Djoser, some 2,500 years earlier. The text provides the priesthood of Khnum at Elephantine with a ‘‘historical’’ claim to all revenue of the territory known as the Dodecaschoinus 2024/2025 2024/2025 (twelve 2024/2025 schoinoi, or some eighty miles), extending southward from Aswan into Lower Nubia. The late date is indicated by vocabulary, grammar, orthography, and the divine filiation accorded Djoser’s famous deified architect, Imhotep. It is possible, however, that the text reflects a late rendition of earlier documents or legends. As noted by Miriam Lichtheim, the claim was probably motivated by the encroaching demands of the younger, but increasingly prestigious temple of Isis at Philae, located just south of Elephantine and thus directly adjacent to 45  the wealthy territory in question. Above the rectangular stela is a depiction of Djoser offering to the primary ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ deities of Elephantine: Khnum-Re, Satis, and Anukis. The text, discovered by the American Egyptologist Charles Wilbour in 1889, preserves the earliest explicit link between the ‘‘Horus Netcherkhet,’’ builder of the Saqqara Step Pyramid, and the ‘‘King Djoser’’ known from an early ivory plaque and formal king lists. For the historical background of the text, see Gertrud Dietze, ‘‘Philae und die Dodekaschoinos in ptolemaischer Zeit,’’ 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Ancient Society 25 (1994): 94–97. 46  Regnal year 18 of the Horus: ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Netcherkhet, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Netcherkhet, the Horus of Gold: Djoser, under the authority of the count, hereditary prince and ruler of southern estates, overseer of Nubians in Elephantine, 2024/2025 Mesir. This 2024/2025 royal decree was 2024/2025 brought to him to inform you: ‘‘I was despondent upon my throne, and those in the palace were in grief. My heart was extremely sad since the Inundation had not come on time for a period of seven years. Grain was scarce, the kernels dried out, everything edible in short supply. Every man was so 47  restrained by his taxation that they went inside so as not to go out. The child was ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ in tears, the youth astray, and the elderly—their hearts were miserable, their legs drawn together, squatting on the ground with their arms held inward. The courtiers were in ruin, the 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 temples sealed up, the chapels dusty, everything found wanting. I directed my thoughts back to the past, and I consulted a member of the staff of the Ibis, the chief lector priest Imhotep,son of Ptah Southof- His-Wall: ‘Where is the place that the Inundation is born? What town is the 48  undulating one in? What god is resident that he might join / with me?’ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ He arose: ‘I shall proceed to the sanctuary of Thoth at Hermopolis,2 being wary for the confidence of everyone regarding what they should do.I shall enter into the House of Life, I shall 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 spread out the ‘‘Souls of Re,and I shall be guided by them.’ So he departed and he returned to me directly. He informed me about the flow of the Inundation,[its regions] and everything with which they are provided. He revealed to me the hidden wonders to which the ancestors, without equal among 49  the kings since the very beginning, had made their way. He declared to me: ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‘There is a city in the midst of the flood waters. The Inundation surrounds it. Elephantine is its name. It is the first of the first. It is the first nome adjacent to Wawat. Earthly mound and 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 celestial height, it is the seat of Re when he calculates casting life before everyone. ‘‘Sweetness of Life’’ is the name of its sanctuary, ‘‘Twin Caverns’’ the name of the water. They are the breasts that nourish everything. It is the bedchamber of the Inundation, [in which] he rejuvenates himself in [his] time. [It is the place from which] he 50  [seizes(?)] the shore, fecundating by mounting as a male, a bull to a female, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ renewing his virility, providing for his desire, surging at twenty-eight cubits and passing Sema-behdet at seven. Khnum is the deity there, [...] his sandals placed on the flood, holding the 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 door bolt in his hand, opening the (flood)gates as he wishes. He is eternal there as Shu. Master of largess,overseer of fields, so he will be named when he has reckoned the land of Upper and Lower Egypt / to grant allotments to every god. It is he who has regulated barley, [emmer], fowl, fish, and everything by which they live. The cord is there with the scribal 51  palette; the sighting stick is there with his royal level for his plumb bob, he ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ being master of largess because of it, in accordance with what Shu, son of Re, has placed in heaven. His temple is open to the southeast, just so that Re rises opposite it each day. Its waters rage at its schoenus, a wall 2024/2025southern side by a 2024/2025 2024/2025 separating the Nubians daily. A range of mountains are its foundation on the east, with all sorts of precious stones and hard quarry stones, and everything that is sought to build every temple of Upper and Lower Egypt, together with the stalls of the sacred animals, and the royal tombs, 52  and every statue that stands within temple and sanctuary. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Their products are gathered before Khnum and round about him, and similarly the tall plants and every sort of flower that exists starting from Elephantine and 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 ending in Bigeh, present there on the east and on the west. There is in the midst of the river, covered by water at its yearly season, its place of relaxation for every man who works these stones on its banks. There exists in the river, in sight of this city of Elephantine itself, a central outcrop, difficult in its form, called the snare of Elephantine. 53  Learn the names of the gods who are prominent in the temple of Khnum: Satis, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Anukis, Hapy, Shu, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Horus, Isis, and Nephthys. Learn the names / of the stones that are there, lying in the midst of the district, present in the east and west, present [on the banks of the] 2024/2025 canal of Elephantine, 2024/2025 present in 2024/2025 Elephantine, present in the midst of the east and west, and present in the midst of the river: greywacke, granite, mxtbtb, rags, and wtˇsy prominent in the east, prDn in the west, tˇsy in the west and present in the river. The names of the precious stones of the quarries which are in the area above these, present among them for a 54  distance of four schoenoi: gold, silver, copper, iron, lapis lazuli, turquoise, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ green-stone, red jasper, gay, quartz, beryl, and rock crystal(?). In addition to these, green feldspar, red ochre, garnet, lbht, haematite, malachite, galena, carnelian, shrt, mlml, and ochre are within this 2024/2025 township.’ 2024/2025 2024/2025 I heard what was in it, and my heart brooded. When I had listened about the flood, the sealed scrolls were opened. I made a purification, I made a procession of the secret ones, and I made a complete offering consisting of bread, beer, fowl, oxen, and every good thing for the gods and goddesses in Elephantine whose names 55  are invoked. I slept in peace, and I found a god standing facing me. I propitiated ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ him by adoration; I prayed to him in his presence. He revealed himself to me with radiant face, and he spoke: ‘I am Khnum, your fashioner. My arms are behind you to shelter your body, to 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 make healthy your limbs. I have dispatched to you gemstones upon gemstones, [that had not been found] previously and with which no work had been done to build temples, to renew ruins, or to inlay both parts of a statue’s eyes.15 For I am the lord of fashioning, I am the one who fashioned himself, the very great Abyss, who came into being at the first, the Inundation 56  who courses / as he wills, who crafts mankind, who guides every man in his ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ (critical) hour, Tatenen, the father of the gods, Shu the great, the chief of heaven. There are two sockets16 for the naos that bears me. The wellspring, I have 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 released it. I know the Inundation will embrace the fields with an embrace that joins life to every nostril, even as embracing the field will rejuvenate it. Thus I shall have the Inundation flow forth for you, with no year of want or sluggishness for any land. The fields will grow, bowed down beneath the growth of their meal. Renenutet will preside over 57  everything, with everything readied in millions. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ I shall cause that your kindred be filled, so that they might take possession together with you. Gone will be the hunger years that begot borrowing from their granaries. The land of Egypt will come at a2024/2025 clip, the banks will glisten, 2024/2025 the flood 2024/2025 will be excellent, and their hearts will be happier than they had ever been previously.’ So I awakened while my mind raced, now separated from my fatigue, and I made this decree beside my father Khnum. A royal offering to Re-Khnum, lord of the cataract region, preeminent in Nubia: ‘In 58  return for these things that you have done for me, I shall offer to you your western ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ border in Manu, your eastern border in Bakhu, from Elephantine down to Takhompso, comprising twelve schoenoi on the east and west, consisting of fields and canals, of river and of every place within the alloted 2024/2025 schoenoi. Let every 2024/2025 man who 2024/2025 cultivates the fields and those who revive the slain by irrigating the banks and all new lands that are within the alloted schoenoi deliver their harvests to your magazine, / in addition to your share that is in Hermopolis. All fishermen and of all hunters who catch fish or trap birds and any sort of game, who trap any lions on 59  the desert—I shall tax them one-tenth of the take of all these, and all the calves ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ born of the herds within the alloted schoenoi in [their entirety]. I shall give the branded animals for every burnt offering and all daily offerings of every day, and I shall give one-tenth of gold, ivory, 2024/2025 ebony, carob wood, 2024/2025 ochre, 2024/2025 carnelian, shrt, dlw-plants, nfw-plants, wood of every sort of tree, and everything that the Nubians of Lower Nubia bring to Egypt, and every man who goes under the supervision of those among them. No administrative staff are to give orders in these places or to exact anything from among them, for the property 60  is protected with respect to my grant for your sanctuary. I shall offer to you this ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ domain containing stones and good arable land, without anybody therein [subtracting] anything from it. The residents, your scribes, the agents of the South and the archivists will document everything 2024/2025 that the gardeners, 2024/2025 and the 2024/2025 smiths, and the master craftsmen, and the goldsmiths, and the reckoners of herdsmen, and the Nubians, and the gang of crewmen and all the corvee labor who act to finish these stones, will give in gold, silver, copper, lead, baskets of [...], firewood, the things that every man working with them should give in payment, / comprising 61  one-tenth of all these. And I shall give one-tenth of the gemstones and quarry ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ stones brought from the upper area and the stones on the east. And there is to be an overseer who measures the quantity of gold, silver, copper, true gemstones, and the things that the sculptors will mark for 2024/2025the house of gold to fashion sacred 2024/2025 2024/2025 images or to erect statues that have fallen into disrepair, together with any necessity not present. Everything is to be placed in a storehouse until they are refashioned, with everything that was lacking in your temple ascertained, that it might be as it was in ancient times. 62  Publish this decree in writing on a stela in a sacred place, because it ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ happened as said, and on a tablet so that the divine words concerning it might exist in the temples twice over. He who spits upon it unjustly is destined for punishment. The overseers of priests and the 2024/2025overseer of everyone2024/2025 of the temple 2024/2025 will make my name remain in the temple of Khnum-Re, lord of Elephantine, mighty forever. 63  THE ISRAEL STELA ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Commonly referred to as the Israel Stela, this monumental text was inscribed on the verso of a large freestanding stela of Amenhotep III (Cairo Museum 34025) from western Thebes and on a more poorly preserved stela at karnak. As an encomium to Merenptah it dwells 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 principally upon the results of his victory over Libyans who had invaded Egypt from the west and ensconced themselves in the Delta. While some translators have treated the entire composition as a poem, I have restricted a poetic rendition to the final section, asserting the king's dominance over Egypt's western Asiatic neighbors, including Israel. At karnak there is a pictorial counterpart to several lines of this poem, discussed in articles by 64  Frank J. Yurco and Anson F. Rainey,who, however, disagree on which of the peoples depicted in the ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ karnak reliefs are Israelites. The text Year 5, third month of the third season, day 3, under the Majesty of ReHarakhti, Mighty Bull, who rejoices over Maat; the King of Upper and Lower Egypt,Baenre-miamon; the Son of Re,Merenptah- 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 hetephimaat:magnifying the strength and exalting the might of Re-Harakhti, Mighty Bull ,who has smitten the Nine Bows and set his name for all eternity, and recounting his victories in all lands so as to cause every land combined to know and to cause perfection to be beheld in his valorous deeds. The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Baenre- miamon; the Son of Re, Merenptah-hetephimaat; the Bull, possessor of strength, who has slain his enemies, handsome upon the field of valor when his 65  onslaught has succeeded; the Sun who has cleared away the storm cloud that had been over the Black ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Land and who has caused Egypt to see the rays of the solar disk, who has removed a mountain of ore from the people's necks that he might give air to the folk who had been constrained, who has let (those of) Hikuptah exult over their foes and caused Tatenen to rejoice over his rebels, who has opened the portals of the Walled City 2024/2025 2024/2025 that had been barred 2024/2025 and allowed its temples to receive their food offerings-the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Baenre-miamon; the Son of Re, Merenptah- hetephimaat. The Unique One, who fortified the hearts of myriads, at the sight of whom breath entered nostrils, who shattered the land of the Tjemeh during his lifetime and instilled perpetual dread I in the hearts of the Meshwesh. He caused Libyans to desist 66  treading the Black Land, great terror being in their hearts because of Egypt. Their vanguard turned tail; ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ their legs could not stand firm but ran. Their archers discarded their bows; their runners hearts were weary with moving on. They unfastened their water- skins, flung to the ground; their haversacks were untied, thrown away. The vile enemy chief of Libya fled all alone in the deep of night, no feather2024/2025 2024/2025 on his head and his 2024/2025 feet unshod. His wives were abducted in his very presence; the flour for his food provisions was taken away. He had no water from the water-skin to sustain him. His siblings faces were fierce enough to slay him; they were fighting one another among his leaders. Their tents were set afire, reduced to ashes; all his goods were consumables for the troops. When he reached his country, he was in laments; every 67  survivor in his land was loath to receive him. "The chief whom an evil fate has shorn of the feather!" all ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ those of his town were saying about him. He is in the power of all the gods of Memphis. The lord of the Black Land has anathematized his name. Meriy' is an abomination of the White-Walled City,so also son after son in his family for eternity. Baenre-miamon will be in pursuit 2024/2025 of his children; Merenptah-hetephimaat 2024/2025 2024/2025 has been set upon him as fate. He is become proverbial / to Libya, one generation telling the next generation of his victories. "Never had this been done to us since (the time of) Pre, says every old man in telling his son. It goes ill with Libyans! They have ceased living (in) the goodly habit of roaming about within the countryside. In one day their movement was curtailed; in a single year the 68  Tjehenu (Libyans) were consumed. Seth has turned his back upon their chief; by his dictate ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ their villages have been devastated. No longer is there work of carrying a load these days. It is advantageous to hide since one is safe in the cave. The great lord of the Black Land is powerful; might belongs to him. Who dares to 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 fight being aware how freely he strides? Foolish and witless is he who would take him on. He cannot remain ignorant of tomorrow, the violator of his border. "As for the Black Land," so it is said, "since (the time of) the gods she is the sole daughter of Pre, and it is his son who is upon the throne of the sun god. No mind can devise a scheme for violating her people.The eye of every god is in pursuit of her despoiler. It will put an end to her foes," so say those who gaze at their 69  stars and all who predict 11by observing the winds. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ A great wonder has come to pass for Egypt: the one who attacked her was placed (in) her hand as a captive by the counsels of the divine king, vindicated against his adversaries in the presence of Pre. Meriy, the one who committed evil rand subversion 1 against every god who is in the Walled City, was judged 2024/2025 2024/2025 / with him in 2024/2025 Heliopolis, and the Ennead declared him guilty of his crimes. 70 ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ PART IV: DIALOGUES and INSTRUCTIONS - The man who was weary of life - The instruction of Onchsheshonqy 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 71  THE MAN WHO WAS WEARY OF LIFE ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ This Middle Kingdom text, preserved on Papyrus Berlin 3024, has often been interpreted as a debate between a man and his ba on the subject of suicide. I offer here the suggestion that the text is of a somewhat different nature. What is presented in this text is not a debate, but a psychological 2024/2025 picture of a man depressed by the 2024/2025 2024/2025 evil of life to the point of feeling unable to arrive at any acceptance of the innate goodness of existence. His inner self is, as it were, unable to be integrated and at peace. His dilemma is presented in what appears to be a dramatic monologue which illustrates his sudden changes of mood, his wavering between hope and despair, and an almost heroic effort to find strength to cope with life. 72  It is not so much life itself which wearies the speaker as it is his own efforts to arrive at a ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ means of coping with life’s difficulties. This text presents the earliest insights into the complexities of the human psychological structure. The translation offered here attempts to follow the Egyptian text as closely as possible, but I have taken a few liberties in order to bring out what I feel is the authentic meaning 2024/2025 2024/2025 of the original. For 2024/2025 the Egyptian text of this document. 73  The beginning of the manuscript has been lost, although there remain of it a few fragments ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ which, as is obvious from the context, constitute the conclusion of a speech by the man’s ba. [...] your [...] in order to speak [...] for their decision is unbiased [...] bribery, for their decision is unbiased. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 I opened my mouth in response to my ba, answering what he had said: ‘‘This is become too onerous for me today; my ba is not in accord with me. This is even worse than opposing me; it is like forsaking me! 74  But my ba shall not depart!1 He must stand now as my defense in this. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ (I shall restrain him) in my body as with a net of rope. Never shall he succeed in fleeing on the day of anguish. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 But behold! My ba would deceive me, but I heed him not,While I am impelled toward a death whose time has not yet come. He flings me on the fire to torment me [...] And yet he shall be within me on the day of anguish; 75  He shall stand (with me) in the West as one who perfects my happiness. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Though he would now depart, yet shall he return. My ba is senseless in disparaging the agony in life 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 And impels me to death before my time. / And yet the West will be pleasant for me, for there is no sorrow there. Such is the course of life, and even trees must fall. So trample down my illusions, for my distress is endless! 76  Thoth will judge me, he who satisfies the gods, Khons will defend me, / he who records the ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ truth. Re will hear my words, he who guides the sun barque, Isdes will defend me in the sacred hall, For my longing is too intense 2024/2025 2024/2025 to bring me 2024/2025 any joy, / And only the gods will purge my innermost pain.’’ What my ba said to me: ‘‘Are you not a man? At least you are alive! So what do you gain by pondering on your life like the owner of a tomb, 77  One who speaks to him who passes by about his life on earth? ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Indeed, you are just drifting; you are not / in control of yourself, And any rogue could say, ‘I shall guide you.’ You are, in effect, dead, although your name 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 still lives. The beyond is the place of rest, the desire of the heart; The West is the (final) landing place, But your journey (has not yet reached its end).’’ 78  The following passage is obviously spoken not by the ba, but by the man. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ ‘‘If m y b a, m y stubborn b rother, will listen to me, / And if his desire is in full accord with me, he will flourish; 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 For I shall cause him to reach the West Like one who is in his pyramid Which stands above his grave in the sight of his descendants. I shall build a shelter over your corpse, That you may be the envy of any other ba / who is exhausted. 79  I shall build a shelter, one which will be perfectly cool, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ That you may be the envy of any other ba who is too hot. I shall drink water at the pool and gather provisions, That you may be the envy of any other ba who is hungry. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 But if you compel / me to death in this way, You will not find a place whereon to rest in the West. Let your heart be calm, my ba, my brother, Until I have an heir who will make offerings and officiate at my tomb. 80  On the day of burial and complete my resting place / in the necropolis.’’ ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ My ba opened his mouth to me in answer to what I had said: ‘‘If you are obsessed with burial, it will cause only sadness of heart, For it brings tears to grieve a man. It will bear a man away (untimely) 2024/2025 2024/2025 from his 2024/2025 home And bring him to a tomb in the desert. Never again will it be possible for you to go up and see / the sunlight. Even those who built with stones of granite, Who constructed magnificent pyramids, Perfecting them with excellent skill, So that the builders might become gods, Now their offering stones are empty, 81  And they are like those who die on the riverbank with no survivors. ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ / The flood carries off some, and likewise the sun (takes) others, And now only the fish are curious about them at the edge of the river. For your own sake, listen to me! Behold, it is good when men listen. 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 Seek happy days and forget your care. There was a peasant who farmed his plot of land. He loaded his harvest / into a boat and towed it, For his time of taxation had come. He saw the approach of the darkness of a storm from the north, So he kept watch over the boat. 82  The sun disappeared, and then came out again, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ But meanwhile his wife and children had perished On a lake / infested at night by crocodiles. Finally he sat down and cried aloud, saying, ‘I weep not for the mother, For it is not within her power to go out from the West 2024/2025 2024/2025 2024/2025 For another life on earth. I grieve for her children who were crushed in infancy, And who saw the face of the crocodile / without ever having lived.’ There was (another) peasant who asked for something to eat, But his wife said to him, ‘It will soon be suppertime 83  He went outside to sulk (?) for a while And then forced himself to come back to his ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ house; But he was like a completely different man. His wife was civil (?) with him, but he would not listen to her. He was moody (?) / and his family was disrupted (?).’’ I opened my mouth to my 2024/2025 ba in answer to 2024/2025 2024/2025 what he had said ‘‘Behold , my very being is loath some, Behold, more than the dung of vultures On summer days when the sky is hot. Behold, my very being is loathsome, Behold, more than a catch of fish / On a day of fishing when the sky is hot. Behold, my very being is loathsome, Behold, more than the stench of ducks 84  Or reed-coverts where waterfowl lodge. Behold, my very being is loathsome, ‫ﺃﺳﻤﺎﺀ ﻛﺮﻡ ﻋﺒﺪﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡ ﺃﺑﻮﺍﻟﻴﺰﻳﺪ‬ Behold, more than the smell of fishermen / Or the marshes where they fish. Behold, my very being is loathsome, Beho