[The following inscription, one of the longest in existence,
covers both faces and the sides of a large stela of black
basalt in the Museum at Gizeh. It was found in the temple of
Gebel Barkal, beyond Dongola in Nubia. Here was one of the
capitals of a native Ethiopian dynasty, and in the temple
dedicated to Amen a number of historical stelae were set up by
different kings, of whom Piankhy (about 800 B.C.) was the
earliest. Not improbably he was descended from the priest kings
of the XXIst Egyptian dynasty (at Thebes, about 1000 B.C.); at
any rate, the name which he bore occurs in that dynasty, and
his devotion to Amen agrees with the theory. We learn from the
stela that by some means he had obtained the suzerainty over
Upper Egypt, which was governed by local kings and nomarchs;
while Lower Egypt was similarly divided but independent. Among
the princes of the North land the most powerful was Tafnekht,
probably a Libyan nomarch of Sais who had absorbed the whole of
the western side of Lower Egypt. The stela relates the conflict
that ensued when Tafnekht endeavored to unite Lower Egypt in a
confederacy and invade the Upper Country. This gave Piankhy,
who knew his own strength, an opportunity of which he was not
slow to avail himself. The Delta was protected from invasion by
its network of canals, and by its extensive marshes. But when
the armies and navies of the local kings had been drawn into
Upper Egypt and there repeatedly defeated, weakened and cowed,
the princes of the North Land were at the mercy of the
victorious Ethiopian, who was rewarded for his activity and
skill in strategy with an abundance of spoil and tribute,
probably also with the permanent subjection of the country.
The inscription is in a very perfect state; with the exception
of one lacuna of sixteen short lines the losses are very small.
The narrative is far more artistic and sustained than was usual
in records of any considerable length. The piety of the
Ethiopian and his trust in his god Amen are remarkably
indicated; and some passages cannot fail to remind us of the
Biblical records of certain Jewish kings and of the prophecies
concerning Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus. There is nothing that
suggests the bloodthirstiness and wanton cruelty of the
contemporary kings of Assyria. Altogether, when the time and
circumstances are taken into account, the impression left is
one very favorable to Piankhy. If he seems to insist overmuch
on his Divine mission, this exaggeration is perhaps due to the
priests of Amen who drafted the document, desirous of thereby
promoting the honor both of their god and of their king.
There are numerous indications in the signs composing the
inscription that the text was written originally in a cursive
character, and afterwards transcribed into hieroglyphics for
record on stone.]
[Date.]
Year xxi, month Thoth,[103] under the Majesty of the King of Upper and
Lower Egypt, Meriamen Piankhy, living forever:--
[Attention demanded.]
Command: My Majesty saith, Hear how I have done more than the ancestors!
I am a king, the figure of a god, the living image of Tum, who came
forth from the body fashioned as a a ruler, whose elders feared him, ...
whose mother recognized that he would reign [while he was yet] in the
egg; the good God, beloved of the gods, Son of the Sun, working with
his hand,[104] Meriamen Piankhy.
[The narrative. Report of Tafnekht's invasion received: the
king's joy thereat.]
There came one to tell his Majesty, whereas the ruler of the West, the
nomarch and chief in Neter, Tafnekht, was in the [Harpoon] Nome, in the
Nome of the Bull of the Desert, in Hap, in ..., in An, in Per-nub, and
in Mennefer,[105] he took unto himself the entire West from the
sea-coast to Athet-taui, and went south with a great army; the two lands
were united in following him, the nomarchs and the rulers of fenced
cities were as hounds at his feet. No fortress was closed [against him];
the nomes of the South, Mertum, and Per-Sekhem-Kheper-ra, the Temple of
Sebek, Per-Mezed, Tekanesh,[106] and every city of the West, opened
their gates in fear of him. He turned back to the Eastern nomes; they
opened to him even as the former. Het-benu, Tayuzayt, Het-seten,
Per-nebt-tep-ah.[107] Behold [he hath crossed over to] besiege
Henen-seten,[108] he hath ringed it about,[109] not allowing outgoers to
go out, not allowing incomers to enter, by reason of the daily fighting.
He hath measured it out on every side, each nomarch gauging his own
[length of] wall, that he may post each one of the nomarchs and the
rulers of fenced cities at his section."
Now [his Majesty heard these things] with good courage, laughing, and
with joy of heart.
[Anxiety of the King's governors in Upper Egypt at Tafnekht's
progress. Loss of Hermopolis.]
Behold these chiefs, nomarchs, and captains of the host who were in
their various cities sent to his Majesty daily, saying: "Hast thou
ceased [from action] until thou forgettest the South Country, the nomes
of the royal domain[110]? Tafnekht is pushing forward his conquest, he
findeth not any to repel his arm. Nemart [the ruler in Hermopolis] and
nomarch of Het-Ur[111] hath breached the fortress of Neferus, he hath
ruined his own city for fear lest he [Tafnekht] should take it, and then
lay siege to another city. Behold, he hath gone to be at his
[Tafnekht's] feet;[112] he hath refused allegiance to his Majesty, and
standeth with him [Tafnekht] like one of [his retainers. He hath
harried] the nome of Oxyrhynkhos,[113] and he giveth to him[114]
[Tafnekht] gifts, as his heart inclineth, of all things that he findeth
[therein]."
[Piankhy orders the governors to besiege Hermopolis.]
Then his Majesty sent a message to the nomarchs and the captains of the
host who were in Egypt, the captain Puarma, with the captain Armersekny,
with every captain of his Majesty who was in Egypt, saying: "Make haste
in striking, join battle, encircle [Hermopolis], capture its people, its
cattle, its ships upon the river. Let not the fellahin come out to the
field; let not the plowman plow; lay siege to the Hare-city,[115] fight
against it daily." Thereupon they did so.
[Piankhy dispatches an army from Ethiopia, bidding them fear
not to fight, for Amen is their strength; and to do homage unto
the god at Thebes.]
Then his Majesty sent an army to Egypt, urging them very
greatly:--"[Spend day and] night as though ye were playing drafts, so
that ye fight according as ye see that he hath arrayed battle at a
distance. If he say the infantry and cavalry have hastened to another
city, why then remain ye until his army come, and fight even as he shall
say. And if his allies are in another city, hasten ye to them; and the
nomarchs, and those whom he bringeth to strengthen him, the Tehenu[116]
and his chosen troops, let battle be arrayed against them. One of old
saith:--'We know not how to cry unto him. It is the enlistment of troops
and the yoking of war-horses, the pick of thy stables, that giveth
victory in battle. Thou knowest that Amen is the god that leadeth
us.'[117]
"When ye reach Thebes, the approach to Apt-esut,[118] enter ye into the
water, wash ye in the river, dress on the bank of the stream, unstring
the bow, loosen the arrow. Let no chief boast as possessing might, there
being no strength to the mighty if he regard him [Amen] not. He maketh
the feeble-handed into strong-handed; a multitude may turn their backs
before the few; one man may conquer a thousand. Sprinkle yourselves with
the water of his altars; kiss ye the ground before his face; say ye to
him, 'Give unto us a way that we may fight in the shadow of thy strong
arm. The band that thou leadest, it cometh to pass that it overthroweth
that which hath overthrown many.'"
Then they cast themselves on their bellies before his Majesty [saying],
"It is thy name that giveth us strength of arm, thy wisdom is the
mooring-post[119] 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 fleet.]
They went down-stream; they reached Thebes; they did according to all
the things said by his Majesty.
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.[120]
[Proceeding to attack Heracleopolis, they are met on the river
by the confederates 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,[121] 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 home
of Hesebka; and every chief wearing the feather[122] 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.[123]
When they went out against them, a mighty overthrow was made of them,
greater than anything, and their ships were captured upon the river; the
remainder crossed over and moored on the west side, in the neighborhood
of Per-peg.
[In a second battle, fought by land on the opposite shore, the
enemy is overthrown; 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.]
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.[124]
Account of the overthrow made of them: men, persons ...[125] [But] the
King Nemart went up-stream to the South when it was reported to him,
"Khmenu[126] 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 be 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 gloriously in his divine form
unto Southern Apt, in his goodly feast of the feast of Apt at
night-time,[127] 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.[128] On the second day of Athyr[129] 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[130] 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,[131] 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.[132] 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,[133] 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.[134] His Majesty came out
of the pavilion of the boat; horses were yoked and chariots mounted. The
fear of his Majesty reached unto the ends of Asia;[135] 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."[136] They made a great
and grievous lamentation, like one beaten.[137]
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, slaying 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 uraeus 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
sisters. She cast herself upon her belly in the chamber of the women,
before the face of the royal wives: "Come ye unto me, O ye royal wives,
daughters, and sisters, that ye may pacify Horus,[138] lord of the
palace. Great is his mighty spirit! How grand is his right of victory!
Let...."[139]
[Presumably the Queen intercedes; Nemart comes out to Piankhy,
surrenders, and brings tributes.]
"Who is it that hath led thee?[140] 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 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."[141]
Then he cast himself upon his belly before his Majesty [saying]: "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 confiscates 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.[142] The soldiers of the Hermopolite nome rejoiced
and sang; they said: "How beautiful is Horus resting in his country, Son
of the Sun, Piankhy! Celebrate for us a Sed festival,[143] 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 that women use;[144] 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 undertaking of mine? Would that he who
did this unto me were 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,[145] 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 Apt-esut.[146]
[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[147] 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.[148] 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!"
[El Lahun, 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[149]; 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[150] 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 treasuries to the Treasury, its granaries
to the divine offerings of his father Amen Ra, lord of the thrones of
the two lands.
[Likewise with Medum and Athet-taui.]
His Majesty floated down-stream, he found that Medum, 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."
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,[151] 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 treasury 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![152] 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.[153] 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
blasphemed God. Execution on the block was done to the rebellious."
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.
[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 overflowing, 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, ointment.
I will go, I will give things to the chiefs of Lower Egypt; I will open
to them their nomes.[154] 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 approaches.]
When the earth lightened and it was the second day[155] 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[156] 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."
[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.[157] Not] the least of the soldiers of his
Majesty mourned.[158]
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.'[159]
Then Mennefer was captured as by a flood of water; men were slain within
it in great numbers, and were taken as prisoners to the place where his
Majesty was.
[In Memphis Piankhy sacrifices. The neighboring garrisons flee;
three Northern chiefs and all the nomarchs submit in person;
the treasures of Memphis 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,[160] to sacrifice to the royal
circle of gods of Hetkaptah,[161] to purify Mennefer with natron and
incense, to put the priests on the place of their feet.[162] His Majesty
proceeded to the house of [Ptah]; his purification was performed in the
Chamber of Early Morning,[163] and all the things prescribed for a king
were accomplished. 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 Mennefer, 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,[164] his Majesty
proceeded to the East, and made a purification to Tum in Kheraha,[165]
[and to] the circle of the gods in the house of the circle of the gods;
namely, the cave in which the gods are, consisting 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 Anu[166] on that mount of Kheraha, upon the
road of the god Sep, to Kheraha. His Majesty proceeded 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 proceeded 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[167] 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[168] 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.[169]
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 Majesty, saying,
"Unto eternity, Horus[170] 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,[171] his Majesty went to the
quay, and the best of his ships crossed over to the quay of Kakem.[172]
The camp of his Majesty was pitched on the south of Kaheni, on the east
of Kakem. These kings and nomarchs of the North land, all the chiefs who
wore the feather, every vizier, all the chiefs, every royal
acquaintance[173] 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 example 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,[174] 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 God[175] 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 servant 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 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 reward to Pediast.]
Said these kings and nomarchs before his Majesty, "Let us go to our
cities, let us open our treasuries, let us select according 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 so. _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 Pergerer;[176]
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], ma[lachite], [couches] covered with fine linen, frankincense in
jars, [and all things that pertain to a man great] in wealth, rich in
horses....
[After] these things came one 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 fled away] upon the river, he
hath fortified Mesed[177] 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 submission to the King, and he is pardoned.]
Then the chief of the Me, Tafnekht, heard it;[178] 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 shame; 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.[179] 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,[180] 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,[181] 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 face unto me now. 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 himself 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 transgress 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 departs homeward.]
One came to say to his Majesty: "The temple of Sebek, they have opened
its fort, Metnu hath cast itself upon its belly, there is not a nome
that is shut against his Majesty in the nomes of the South, North, West,
or East. The islands in the midst are upon their bellies with fear of
him, and are causing their goods to be brought to the place where his
Majesty is, like the serfs of the palace."
When the land lightened, very early[182] came these two rulers of the
South and two rulers of the North, wearing uraei,[183] to smell the
ground to the mighty spirit of his Majesty. Behold, moreover, these
kings and nomarchs of the North land came to see the beauties of his
Majesty; their feet were as the feet of women,[184] they entered not to
the King's house, for that they were impure and eaters of fishes, which
is an abomination to the King's house. Behold, the King Nemart, he
entered to the King's palace, for that he was pure, he ate not fishes.
They stood upon their feet, but the one of them entered the palace.
Then the ships were loaded with silver, gold, bronze, stuffs, all things
of the North land, all products of Kharu, all woods of the Divine Land.
His Majesty went up-stream, his heart enlarged, all about him were
rejoicing; West and East, they rose high, rejoicing around his Majesty,
singing and rejoicing; they said:--"O mighty King! O mighty King!
Piankhy! O mighty King! Thou hast come, thou hast ruled the North land.
Thou makest bulls into women. Happy is the heart of the mother that bore
a male child, that was impregnated with thee amongst the mountains.
Praises be given unto her! the cow that hath borne a bull! Thou shalt be
to eternity, thy victory remaineth, O Ruler, loving Thebes."
Translation of F. Ll. Griffith.
[Illustration: _EGYPTIAN FUNERAL FEAST._
Photogravure from a Painting by Edwin Long, R. A.
"It was not uncommon to keep the mummies in the house, ... and
Damascenius relates that they sometimes introduced them at the
table, as though they could enjoy their society.... Many months
often elapsed between the ceremony of embalming and the actual
burial.... It was during this interval that feasts were held in
honor of the dead, to which the friends and relations were
invited. On these occasions they dined together and enjoyed the
same festivities as when invited to a repast, the guests being
in like manner anointed and bedecked with flowers and presented
with other tokens of welcome usual at an Egyptian party, and it
was principally at this [Greek: nekrodeipnon] that I suppose the
introduction of the mummy to have taken place."
"Manners and Customs of Ancient Egyptians."--_Wilkinson._]