Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom
264
Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume II: The New Kingdom
264eBook
Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
Related collections and offers
Overview
Volume I outlines the early and gradual evolution of Egyptian literary genres, including biographical and historical inscriptions carved on stone, the various classes of literary works written with pen on papyrus, and the mortuary literature that focuses on life after death. Introduced with a new foreword by Antonio Loprieno.
Volume II shows the culmination of these literary genres within the single period known as the New Kingdom (1550-1080 B.C.). With a new foreword by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert.
Volume III spans the last millennium of Pharaonic civilization, from the tenth century B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era. With a new foreword by Joseph G. Manning.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780520933064 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | University of California Press |
| Publication date: | 04/03/2006 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 264 |
| File size: | 352 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Ancient Egyptian Literature
A Book of Readings Volume II: The New Kingdom
By Miriam Lichtheim
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Copyright © 2006 The Regents of the University of CaliforniaAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-520-93306-4
CHAPTER 1
Inscriptions from Private Tombs
The three tomb inscriptions in this section are major representatives of their kind. The Autobiography of Ahmose son of Abana continues the traditional genre of tomb autobiography. Its special interest is historical, for it furnishes the principal account of the expulsion of the Hyksos. It is a wholly martial autobiography that describes the actions and career of a soldier. As such it is a rarity among Egyptian autobiographies, for most of them came from members of the civilian bureaucracy.
Ahmose began his career as a soldier on board a ship, stepping into the position that his father had held. Having come to the attention of King Ahmose, he was transferred to the north, where he saw action in the decisive battles against the Hyksos, first at Avaris and subsequently at Sharuhen in Palestine. Then he participated in the Nubian campaigns of Kings Amenhotep I and Thutmose I, where he so distinguished himself that he was promoted to the rank of commander of a crew and given substantial landholdings in his home town Nekheb, modern El-Kab. Finally he took part in the Syrian campaign of Thutmose I in which the king reached the Euphrates. Thus risen from the ranks, he was able to bequeath wealth to his descendants and to found a family which reached the upper echelons of the civil service. His son Itruri and his grandson Paheri became tutors of the king's sons, and Paheri attained the post of mayor of Nekheb and lunyt. The style of the autobiography is simple, straightforward, and unadorned.
The grandson Paheri, whose career probably began under Thutmose I, built for himself the handsomest of the known tombs of El-Kab. In addition to being mayor of two towns, he was "scribe of the grain accounts" for an area extending north as far as Dendera. The fine reliefs in his tomb show him overseeing the various agricultural activities that were in his charge. His tomb does not contain an autobiographical prose narration. Instead he had the rear wall of the main hall inscribed with elaborate prayers and a recital of his virtues, the whole composition designed to help attain a blessed afterlife envisaged in considerable detail. This vision contains many of the features that were incorporated in the spells of the Book of the Dead.
The highest official of the state was the vizier. His duties were so important and so numerous that he was installed by the king in person, in a public ceremony in which the king gave him a formal charge. The text of this charge was inscribed on a wall of the sumptuous tomb of the Vizier Rekhmire, who served King Thutmose III. The same text with variants appears in two other Theban tombs of viziers of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The king's speech is composed in the orational style.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AHMOSE SON OF ABANA
In his Tomb at El-Kab
The inscription is carved in two parts: lines 1-31 on the right-hand wall of the hall of the rock-tomb (east wall), and lines 32-40 on the left side of the door wall (south wall). Also on the right-hand wall is the standing relief figure of Ahmose accompanied by the small figure of his grandson Paheri.
A list of Ahmose's landholdings and slaves, not translated here, is inscribed on the right side of the door wall.
Publication: LD III, 12, b-d. V. Loret, L'inscription d'Ahmès fils d'Abana, Bibliothèque d'étude, 3 (Cairo, 1910). Urk. IV, 1-11.
Translation: BAR, II, §§ 1-16, 38-39, 78-82. Urk. deutsch, pp. 1-6. B. Gunn and A. H. Gardiner, JEA, 5 (1918), 48-54. J. A. Wilson in ANET, pp. 233-234 (excerpts).
Historical study: C. Vandersleyen, Les Guerres d'Amosis, fondateur de la XVIIIe dynastie, Monographies Reine Élisabeth, 1 (Brussels, 1971), pp. 17-87. For additional references see PM V, 182 and Vandersleyen, op. cit., pp. 17-21.
(1) The Crew Commander Ahmose son of Abana, the justified; he says. I speak to you, all people. I let you know what favors came to me. I have been rewarded with gold seven times in the sight of the whole land, with male and female slaves as well. I have been endowed with very many fields. The name of the brave man is in that which he has done; it will not perish in the land forever.
He speaks as follows. I grew up in the town of Nekheb, my father being a soldier of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Seqenenre, the justified. Baba (5) son of Reonet was his name. I became a soldier in his stead on the ship "The Wild Bull" in the time of the Lord of the Two Lands, Nebpehtire, the justified. I was a youth who had not married; I slept in ...
Expulsion of the Hyksos
Now when I had established a household, I was taken to the ship "Northern," because I was brave. I followed the sovereign on foot when he rode about on his chariot. When the town of Avaris was besieged, I fought bravely on foot in his majesty's presence. Thereupon I was appointed to the ship "Rising in Memphis." Then there was fighting on the water in "Pjedku" of Avaris. I made a seizure (10) and carried off a hand. When it was reported to the royal herald the gold of valor was given to me.
Then they fought again in this place; I again made a seizure there and carried off a hand. Then I was given the gold of valor once again.
Then there was fighting in Egypt to the south of this town, and I carried off a man as a living captive. I went down into the water—for he was captured on the city side—and crossed the water carrying him. When it was reported to the royal herald I was rewarded with gold once more. Then Avaris was despoiled, and I brought spoil from there: one man, three women; total, four persons. His majesty gave them to me as slaves.
(15) Then Sharuhen was besieged for three years. His majesty despoiled it and I brought spoil from it: two women and a hand. Then the gold of valor was given me, and my captives were given to me as slaves.
Nubian campaign of King Ahmose
Now when his majesty had slain the nomads of Asia, he sailed south to Khent-hen-nefer, to destroy the Nubian Bowmen. His majesty made a great slaughter among them, and I brought spoil from there: two living men and three hands. Then I was rewarded with gold once again, and two female slaves were given to me. His majesty journeyed north, his heart rejoicing in valor and victory. He had conquered southerners, northerners.
Destruction of the rebels Aata and Tetian
Then Aata came to the South. (20) His fate brought on his doom. The gods of Upper Egypt grasped him. He was found by his majesty at Tent-taa. His majesty carried him off as a living captive, and all his people as booty. I brought two young warriors as captives from the ship of Aata. Then I was given five persons and portions of land amounting to five arurae in my town. The same was done for the whole crew.
Then came that foe named Tetian. He had gathered the malcontents to himself. His majesty slew him; his troop was wiped out. Then I was given three persons and five arurae of land in my town.
Nubian campaign of King Amenhotep I
Then I conveyed King Djeserkare, the justified, when he sailed south to Rush, to enlarge (25) the borders of Egypt. His majesty smote that Nubian Bowman in the midst of his army. They were carried off in fetters, none missing, the fleeing destroyed as if they had never been. Now I was in the van of our troops and I fought really well. His majesty saw my valor. I carried off two hands and presented them to his majesty. Then his people and his cattle were pursued, and I carried off a living captive and presented him to his majesty.
I brought his majesty back to Egypt in two days from "Upper Well," and was rewarded with gold. I brought back two female slaves as booty, apart from those that I had presented to his majesty. Then they made me a "Warrior of the Ruler."
Nubian campaign of King Thutmose I
Then I conveyed King Aakheperkare, the justified, when he sailed south to Khent-hen-nefer, (30) to crush rebellion throughout the lands, to repel the intruders from the desert region. I was brave in his presence in the bad water, in the towing of the ship over the cataract. Thereupon I was made crew commander.
Then his majesty [was informed that the Nubian] ––––––. At this his majesty became enraged like a leopard. His majesty shot, and his first arrow pierced the chest of that foe. Then those [enemies turned to flee], helpless before his Uraeus. A slaughter was made among them; their dependents were carried off as living captives. (35) His majesty journeyed north, all foreign lands in his grasp, and that wretched Nubian Bowman head downward at the bow of his majesty's ship "Falcon." They landed at Ipet-sut.
Syrian campaign of King Thutmose I
After this (his majesty) proceeded to Retjenu, to vent his wrath throughout the lands. When his majesty reached Nahrin, his majesty found that foe marshalling troops. Then his majesty made a great slaughter of them. Countless were the living captives which his majesty brought back from his victories. Now I was in the van of our troops, and his majesty saw my valor. I brought a chariot, its horse, and him who was on it as a living captive. When they were presented to his majesty, I was rewarded with gold once again.
(40) I have grown old; I have reached old age. Favored as before, and loved [by my lord], I [rest] in the tomb that I myself made.
THE PRAYERS OF PAHERI
In his Tomb at El-Kab
Paheri's career probably began under Thutmose I and may have lasted through the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. He became a scribe of the treasury and also mayor of the towns of Nekheb and Iunyt (El-Kab and Esna).
The back wall of the main hall of his tomb was given the shape of a round-topped stela with a niche in its center. The niche was filled by three seated statues, and the surface of the stela was inscribed in horizontal lines with a text that begins in the rounded top and continues on the right and left sides of the niche. This is a mortuary text consisting of four parts: (1) the traditional prayer for offerings in a much enlarged version; (2) an elaborate vision of life in the beyond; (3) a recital of Paheri's virtuous conduct as an official; (4) an appeal to the living to recite the prayer for offerings, again much more elaborate than such appeals had been in the past.
Publication: J. J. Tylor and F. LI. Griffith, The Tomb of Paheri at El Kab; bound with E. Naville, Ahnas el Medineh, Egypt Exploration Fund, 11th memoir (London, 1894), the text: pp. 27-31 and pi. 9. J. J. Tylor, Wall Drawings and Monuments of El Kab: the Tomb of Paheri (London, 1895), the text: pi. 16. Urk. IV, 111-123.
Translation: Urk. deutsch, pp. 55-61. G. Fecht, ZÄS, 92 (1965), 15-23 (lines 5-21). For additional references see also PM V, 177-181.
The prayer for offerings
(1) An offering given by the King (to) Amun,
Lord of Thrones-of-the-Two-Lands,
King of eternity, lord of everlastingness,
Ruler, lord of the two great plumes,
Sole one, primordial, eldest,
Primeval, without [equal],
[Creator] of men and gods,
Living flame that came from Nun,
[Maker] of light for mankind;
(And) Nekhbet, the White one of Nekhen,
Mistress of heaven, lady of the Two Lands;
(And) Osiris Khentamentiu,
Lord of Thinis, great in Abydos;
(And) Hathor, mistress of the desert,
Strong of heart among the gods;
(And) Ptah-Sokar, lord of Shetyt,
Anubis, lord of Roseau,
(And) the Enneads, great and small.
May they give a thousand of bread, beer, beef and fowl,
A thousand of food-offerings,
A thousand of drink-offerings,
All the plants that sprout from earth,
A thousand of all things good and pure,
That are offered to the eternal lord;
To receive the bread that came before (him),
The milk that came upon the altar,
To drink the water that flows from Yebu,
–––––
On the monthly feast, the sixth-day feast,
The half-monthly feast, the great procession,
The rise of Sothis, the wag-feast,
The Thoth-feast, the first-birth feast,
The birth of Isis, the procession of Min,
The procession of the sem-priest,
The evening meal, the rise of the river—
The feasts of heaven on their fixed days,
In accord with daily custom.
You are clothed in the robe of finest linen,
The garments that clad the flesh of the god;
You are anointed with pure oil,
You drink water from the altar's rim;
You partake of its possessions,
As a noble in front of the blessed;
For the ka of the Mayor of Nekheb,
The Scribe Paheri, the justified,
(5) The loyal trusty of his lord.
The life in the beyond
You come in, you go out,
Your heart in joy at the praise of the lord of gods;
A good burial after revered old age,
After old age has come.
You take your place in the lord-of-life,
You come to the earth in the tomb of the west.
To become indeed a living ba,
It shall thrive on bread, water, and air;
To assume the form of phoenix, swallow,
Of falcon or heron, as you wish.
You cross in the ferry without being hindered,
You fare on the water's flowing flood.
You come to life a second time,
Your ba shall not forsake your corpse.
Your ba is divine among the spirits,
The worthy ba's converse with you.
You join them to receive what is given on earth,
You thrive on water, you breathe air,
You drink as your heart desires.
Your eyes are given you to see,
Your ears to hear what is spoken;
Your mouth speaks, your feet walk,
Your hands, your arms have motion.
Your flesh is firm, your muscles are smooth,
You delight in all your limbs;
You count your members: all there, sound,
There is no fault in what is yours.
Your heart is yours in very truth,
You have your own, your former heart.
You rise to heaven, you open dat,
In any shape that you desire.
You are summoned daily to Wennofer's altar,
You receive the bread that comes before (him),
The offering to the lord of the sacred land;
For the ka of the Mayor of Nekheb, the Mayor of Iunyt,
Who counts the grain from Iunet to Nekheb,
The watchful leader, (10) free of fault,
The Scribe Paheri, the justified.
You eat bread beside the god,
At the great terrace of the Ennead's Lord;
You turn from there to where he is,
In the midst of the leading council.
You walk about among them,
You consort with the Horus-servants;
You go up, you go down, unhindered,
You are not turned back at the gate of dat.
The portals of lightland open for you,
The bolts slide back of themselves;
You reach the Hall of the Two Truths,
The god who is in it welcomes you.
You settle down in the netherworld,
You stride about in the city (15) of Hapy.
Your heart rejoices as you plow
In your plot in the Field of Reeds;
You are rewarded with what you have grown,
You gather a harvest rich in grain.
The rope is roped for you in the ferry,
You sail as your heart desires.
You go outdoors each morning,
You return each evening.
The torch is lit for you at night,
Until the sun shines on your breast.
One says to you, "Welcome, welcome,"
In this your house of the living.
You see Re in heaven's lightland,
You watch (20) Amun as he dawns.
You waken gladly every day,
All afflictions are expelled.
You traverse eternity in joy,
In the favor of the god who is in you.
Your heart is with you without failing you,
Your provisions remain in their place;
For the ka of the Scribe Paheri, the justified.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Ancient Egyptian Literature by Miriam Lichtheim. Copyright © 2006 The Regents of the University of California. Excerpted by permission of UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Brief Chronology of the New KingdomAbbreviations and Symbols
Foreword by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert
Introduction
Continuity and Change
PART ONE: Monumental Inscriptions
I. Inscriptions from Private Tombs
The Autobiography of Ahmose Son of Abana
The Prayers of Paheri
The Installation of the Vizier Rekhmire
II. Inscriptions from Royal Monuments
Obelisk Inscriptions of Queen Hatshepsut
From the Annals of Thutmose III
The Poetical Stela of Thutmose III
The Great Sphinx Stela of Amenhotep II at Giza
Stela of Amenhotep III
The Later Boundary Stelae of Amenhotep IV
Akhenaten
Dedication Inscriptions of Seti I
The Kadesh Battle Inscriptions of Ramses II
The Poetical Stela of Merneptah (Israel Stela)
PART TWO: Hymns, Prayers, and a Harper's Song
The Great Hymn to Osiris
Two Hymns to the Sun-God
Hymns and Prayers from El-Amarna
The Short Hymn to the Aten
Two Hymns and a Prayer in the Tomb of Ay
The Great Hymn to the Aten
A Prayer and a Hymn of General Haremhab
Three Penitential Hymns from Deir el-Medina
Votive Stela of Nebre with Hymn to Amen-Re
Votive Stela of Neferabu with Hymn to Mertseger
Votive Stela of Neferabu with Hymn to Ptah
Prayers Used as School Texts
Praise of Amen-Re
Prayer to Amun
Prayer to Amun
Prayer to Thoth
Prayer to Thoth
A Harper's Song from the Tomb of Neferhotep
PART THREE: From the Book of the Dead
Chapters 23, 30B, 43, 59, 77, 105, 109
Chapter 125
PART FOUR: Instructions
The Instruction of Any
The Instruction of Amenemope
PART FIVE: Be a Scribe
Papyrus Lansing: A Schoolbook
The Immortality of Writers
PART SIX: Love Poems
From Papyrus Chester Beatty I
From Papyrus Harris 500
From the Cairo Vase 1266 + 25218
PART SEVEN: Tales
The Destruction of Mankind
The Doomed Prince
The Two Brothers
Truth and Falsehood
Horus and Seth
The Report of Wenamun