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Ramesside Inscriptions Translations Volu PDF
Ramesside Inscriptions Translations Volu PDF
Volume I
Kenneth A. Kitchen
Abercromby Press
ISBN: 978 0 9930920 8 4
A CIP catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library
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means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the
publisher.
R amesses I
1. Sinai, Larger Stela, No. 244 (Brussels E.2171) 1
2. Sinai, Lesser Stela, No. 245 (Cairo JdÉ. 38264) 1
3. Buhen, Stela of Year 2 (Louvre C.57) 1
4. Statue Base in the Louvre (E.7690) 2
5. Donation Stela, Year 1 (Strasbourg No. 1378) 3
6. Karnak North, Donation(?) Stela, Year 1 3
7. Fragments from Abydos & Heliopolis 3
8. Obelisk Fragment, Copenhagen (National Museum Inv. 468) 3
9. Monuments of Queen Sitre (Tomb QV 38; Abydos; Tomb KV 17) 4
Sethos I
Northern Wars
1. Karnak (E: bottom), Campaign from Sile to Pa-Canaan, Year 1 4
2. Beth Shan, First Stela, Year 1 (PAM, Jerusalem S.884) 7
3. Karnak (E: middle), Campaign to Yenoam & Lebanon, Year 1 or later 8
4. Beth Shan, Second Stela, [Year lost] (PAM, Jerusalem, S.885 A/B) 10
5. Tell esh-Shihab, Stela, Istanbul, Ancient Orient Museum 10942 10
6. Karnak (W: bottom), Campaign against the Hittites (Undated) 11
7. Karnak (W: middle), Campaign against the Libyans (Undated) 13
8. Karnak (W: top), Campaign to Qadesh and Amurru (Undated) 15
9. Qadesh (Tell Nebi Mend), Stela, Aleppo Museum 384 15
10. Karnak (E. Side), Triumph Scene & Topographical List (XIV) 16
11. Karnak (W. Side), Triumph Scene & Topographical List (XIII) 18
12. Abydos, Temple of Sethos I, Topographical List (XVI) 20
13. Qurneh Temple, North Sphinx, Topographical List (XV) 20
14. Qurneh Temple, South Sphinx, Topographical List 21
15. Kanais, Temple of Sethos I, Triumph Scene & Nubian List 22
16. Kanais, Temple of Sethos I, Triumph Scene & Northern List (XVII) 22
v
Contents
Works of Peace
Dated Inscriptions & Associated Monuments
18. Buhen, Larger Stela, Year 1 (BM 1189) 23
19. Karnak, Alabaster Stela, Year 1 (Cairo CGC 34501) 24
20. Karnak, Temple of Ptah, Stela, Year 1, after 1 Campaign
st
25
21. Speos Artemidos, Great Inscription, Year 1 26
22. Speos Artemidos, Lesser Texts 28
23. Fayum, Boundary Stela, Year 2 (Cairo CGC 34502) 29
24. Nauri, Decree for Abydos Temple of Sethos I, Year 4 29
25. Abydos & Reqaqna, Wine Jar Dockets, Years 4 & 5 (Cairo 2789; B.107) 38
26. East Silsila, Rock Stela, Year 6 39
27. East Silsila, Rock Stela of Official Hapy 40
28. Sinai (Serabit el-Khadim), Stela (247+248) of Asha-hebused, Year 8 40
29. Sinai (Serabit el-Khadim), Stela (250) of Asha-hebused, under S. I and R. II 41
30. Sinai (Serabit el-Khadim), Minor Fragments & Relief (246 & 249) 42
31. Wadi Hammamat, Three Rock Scenes (Montet 94, 213 & 214) 42
32. Kanais, Temple of Sethos I, Threefold Inscription, Year 9 42
33. Kanais, Temple of Sethos I, Dedicatory Texts 45
34. Kanais, Stela of aAnena & Colleague 46
35. Kanais, Stela of Official with Seven Deities & Astarte, etc. 47
36. Aswan, Lesser Stela of Year 9 47
37. Aswan, Larger Stela of Year 9 47
38. Gebel Barkal, Stela of Year 11 (Khartum Museum 1856) 48
39. Giza, Sphinx-Temple, Stela of Sethos I as Huntsman 49
40. Giza, Sphinx-Temple, Jambs of Sethos I 50
41. Giza, near Sphinx, Stela of Official Hatiay 51
42. El-Dibabiya (opposite Gebelen), Stela of Huy 51
43. West Silsila, Rhetorical Stela of Sethos I 51
44. West Silsila, Invocation & Offerings to the Nile (Stelae of Sethos I, Ramesses II,
Merenptah and Ramesses III) 53
vi
Contents
49. Nubian War, Year 8(?): Amarah West & Sai Stelae (Brooklyn Museum 39.424; Sai MAF
1970 F.25.11+) 64
50. Amarah West, Stela Fragment, Khartum Museum 3063 66
vii
Contents
80. Treasuries, Dependencies & Lesser Remains (statue, sealings, etc.) 131
81. Medamud, Statue-base of Ramesses I with Sethos I 133
viii
Contents
ix
Contents
Cross-References 195
x
Contents
xi
Contents
xii
Contents
I · Chief Workmen
162. B.I.1: Baki, Chief Workman (Left Side):
Theban Tomb No. 298 & Minor Remains from Tomb 250–251
xiii
Contents
Stelae: Turin Cat. 1549 (now N.50055); BM 265; Louvre E.16369; Turin Cat. 1543
(now N.50051); Headrest, Cairo JdÉ. 65832, etc.; Cross-References 252–253
163. B.1.2: Pashedu, Chief Workman (Left Side):
Theban Tomb No. 3 253–255
Offering table, Cairo TN 9/6/26/1; Theban Tomb No. 326; Jamb; Stelae (Florence
Inv. 7624; Cairo JdÉ. 27820; Geneva D.55); Offering table fragment; Coffin fragment 255–257
164. B.I.3: Neferhotep the Elder, Chief Workman (Right Side):
Offering table, Deir el-Medina; Cross-References 257
V · Sculptors
168. B.V.1: Piay, Sculptor:
Stelae: Bankes No. 8, Louvre E.14405, etc.; Pyramidion, Louvre D.19; Offering table 270–271
xiv
Contents
Addenda et Corrigenda
175–176. Karnak, Great Hypostyle Hall, Addenda to Architraves 287
177. Karnak, Temple of Khons, Block reused in Pylon 287
xv
A bbreviations & Sigla
I. GENERAL
BM British Museum (accession number)
CGC Catalogue Générale du Musée du Caire, Cairo, with number.
Definitive museum numbers of monuments used in the official
Catalogue volumes
DelM, DM Deir el-Medina
EA British Museum reference number prefix
EEF Egypt Exploration Fund
J., JdÉ. Journal d’Éntrée, accession register and accession numbers for
monuments in Cairo Museum
KV Valley of the Kings (tomb number)
LE Lower Egypt
L·P·H Life, Prosperity and Health!
MMA Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession number)
MS./MSS. Manuscript(s)
O. Ostracon
O. BM Ostracon, British Museum
O. CGC Ostracon, Catalogue Générale du Musée du Caire, Cairo
O. DM Ostracon, Deir el-Medina
PAM Palestine Archaeological Museum, Jerusalem
Pap. Papyrus
Pap. BN Papyrus Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris)
QV Valley of the Queens (tomb number)
Royal Name in Capitals Marks Royal Names, etc., enclosed in cartouches in the original
Egyptian text
rto. Recto
S & N Egypt South & North Egypt
S. I Sethos I
TN. –/–/–/– Cairo Museum, Temporary Register Number of monuments, by
day/month/year/individual number
TT Theban Tomb (number)
UE Upper Egypt
vso. Verso
xvii
Abbreviations
II. TEXTUAL
[……] encloses space for text now lost, or lost text modernly restored
conjecturally
<……> encloses matter mistakenly omitted by the ancient writer
{……} encloses superfluous matter mistakenly included by the ancient
writer; or (when noted) written & deleted by the ancient writer
(……) encloses wording added for the sake of clearer English
˹……˺ indicates signs, reading not fully assured in the original
xviii
Preface
D uring 1968–1990 there appeared in seven volumes (plus an eighth of indexes) a com-
prehensive hieroglyphic edition of most of the principal inscriptions and documents from
Ramesside Egypt (c. 1300–1070 bc in round figures), excluding purely literary, ritual and funerary
texts, namely this writer’s Ramesside Inscriptions, I–VIII, Oxford: Blackwell, 1969–1990 (KRI ). Its
four-and-a-half thousand pages of hieroglyphic texts were intended to serve Egyptologists as a con-
venient handbook. Naturally, they can only be used by people able to read such texts.
During 1974–1976 and 1982–1990 the present writer built up a complete set of draft translations
of all the texts published in KRI, I–VII (some 6,000 pages in manuscript), intending them for use
in the projected Dictionary of these Ramesside Inscriptions (DRI ). But at present, having other
priorities to deal with, this writer has neither the time nor the resources to devote to DRI; therefore,
to speed things up, it has been entrusted to other hands.
However, as the complete translations already exist in manuscript, it seemed useful to begin
publishing these without further delay, and with only the most essential revision. Given the vast
bulk of the material (twice that in Urkunden IV, for example), there can be no question of indulging
in a full-scale and long-winded commentary. Therefore, the annotations are restricted to a simple
threefold scheme: essential bibliography, general notes that explain the text or its significance, and
(when needed) specialised comments on Egyptological or other technicalities. Originally it was
hoped to keep translations and notes together on facing pages throughout — translations on every
left-hand page, relevant annotations on every corresponding right-hand page, in seven volumes to
match KRI, I–VII. However, closer consideration very quickly revealed that this ideal was going
to be totally unworkable: anodyne texts would have had near-empty comment-pages facing their
translations, while the notes to major texts (however concisely framed) would have repeatedly out-
run the translation-pages. From the beginning, it was decided to set out the texts in full, not smoth-
ered in introductions and notes, and to show them in their true literary format and articulation so
far as possible. Therefore, the entire project has been split into two. Seven volumes (of which this is
the first) to contain solely the translations themselves, laid out properly, in extenso, and seven corre-
sponding volumes that are to contain the relevant annotations, these being just as long or short as
may be needed, with no artificial constraint — so, fourteen volumes altogether. The Notes & Com-
ments volumes are the indispensable adjuncts (RITANC, I–VII) to the set of Translation volumes
like this one (RITA, I–VII).
The basic organisation of this volume and its successors is simple. They correspond exactly, vol-
ume by volume, page by page, to the hieroglyphic edition in KRI. All the texts and divisions of top-
ic, reign by reign, are identical here and there. To facilitate rapid crossreference, the corresponding
page-numbers of KRI, and every 5th or 10th line-number of those pages are included in the margins
of this work throughout, including to improved or additional matter in the end-pages of KRI, I,
and in KRI, VII. By this means, the user of this volume can immediately find the corresponding
hieroglyphic text in KRI, I; while the student using KRI, I, can quickly find here an English trans-
lation for any given passage under study.
It but remains to place on record my gratitude to those whose kindness has helped me in produc-
ing this volume inside a twelve-month. Thus, my warmest thanks go to Messrs Blackwell Publishers,
xix
Preface
especially in the person of their Reference Editor, Alyn Shipton, for agreeing to take on publication
of this project, in fitting succession to the great farsightedness of the late Sir Basil Blackwell who
made possible the publication of the original KRI volumes, and to the good-humoured patience of
his daughter, Mrs Corinna Wiltshire who, with her team, saw that project through to its comple-
tion, and played a welcome role in facilitating the new arrangements. Secondly, my grateful thanks
go to the Leave of Absence Committee of the University of Liverpool for granting me a year’s study-
leave for the Session 1991–1992, during which (despite various hazards) the whole of this particular
volume (RITA, I, and most of its twin (RITANC, I) have been prepared for publication from start to
finish. Thirdly, warm gratitude should be expressed to my colleagues for so unselfishly bearing extra
burdens in my absence — to Professor A. F. Shore (who has twice supported my leave-periods, and
this time using his retirement time), to Dr C. J. Eyre in a very busy programme, and to Professor
A. R. Millard, sharing burdens and giving encouragement. It should, in this modern day, be added
that this entire work has been produced personally by use of an Apple Macintosh personal comput-
er (the IIcx) in conjunction with a LaserWriter II NTX; being a mere Egyptologist and orientalist,
I am a babe-in-arms dealing with technology, and remain most grateful to the cheerful, friendly
staff of the Apple Macintosh Centre/Fairhurst, on the University precinct, for their immense help-
fulness in this special sphere.
xx
By Way of Introduction
A lmost all the inscriptions and documents translated in this volume date to the reigns of
Ramesses I, founding father of the Egyptian 19th Dynasty, and his dynamic son and successor
Sethos I, at the beginning of the 13th century bc. As Ramesses I reigned only into his second year,
and the reign of Sethos I lasted between 11 and 15 years, virtually everything here dates within a span
of only 12/17 years at most. Ramesses I was designated as his successor by Haremhab, last sovereign
of the 18th Dynasty; the new kings sought to restore Egypt’s imperial power abroad (particularly in
the Levant), and at home traditional cultural values, especially the worship of the time-honoured
gods, after Akhenaten’s short-lived attempt to depose all of them except the sun-god, and he in a
special form (the many-rayed sun disc, Aten).
The Egyptians of the pharaonic period have left us no connected narrative history — no Gibbons
or Trevelyan (or even a Herodotus), although they were perfectly well conscious of the flow of time
and of human lives and events. Their history has to be built up today from a wide variety of written
sources. Most of these, especially royal inscriptions, are written from the particular perspective of
Egyptian religious presuppositions and the royal theology of the role of the pharaoh — he was the
representative of the gods to the people; he, also, had to please the gods (fine temples, ample offer-
ings, fulfilment of what was right — maat) so that they would bless Egypt with peace and ample
prosperity. Pharaoh was Egypt’s designated defender of the realm on the gods’ behalf against for-
eign foes, their champion whose loyal obedience brought victory as their gift. Thus, the war-scenes
upon the outer walls of the great temples (like those here, of Sethos I at Karnak) use history for
theological purposes: here, the king can show himself as loyal champion, and blazon his consequent
successes in that role. Both the scenes and their often highly-rhetorical inscriptions are vigorous
propaganda to that end. Details of routes travelled, statistics of prisoners taken, spoils gained, etc.,
were usually consigned to the administrative papyrus-scrolls — day-books and lists in the care of
the bureaucracy and now almost all lost; rarely, again for ‘theological’ purposes, such details are to
be found in the ceremonial records.
A favourite mode of communication with the pharaohs was the stela — commonly a monolithic
tall stone bearing a commemorative inscription. Such texts, in the same format, could appear on
temple walls (wall-stelae), and out in the wilds on rock-faces (rock-stelae) — in such cases, left
by mining or quarrying expeditions or on military campaigns. Commonly, the royal stelae have a
scene at the top — the king offers to the gods; they bestow gifts on him (and so, on Egypt), or vic-
tory. The text proper usually contains three elements: (i) the royal titulary (often with a dateline),
(ii) rhetorical praise of the king, (iii) then the specific message of the monument — commemorat-
ing a victory, a new temple, a decree, or whatever. Finally, some have (iv) an exordium, concluding
with more praise of the king (and the gods).
The great temples dedicated by the kings to the gods usually had open forecourts with pillared
colonnades on one or more sides; behind, columned halls (often hypostyle, with raised central aisle)
led the way to the sanctuary-suite. Over the pillars and columns there ran architraves supporting
the roof of hall or colonnade. Along these architraves, the builder-pharaohs would proclaim the
splendour of the building, the greatness of the god, their own high qualities, or theological con-
cepts. Such texts commonly begin with title(s) of the king, then the main message, ending with the
xxi
By Way of Introduction
final titles of the king, so that his royal style encloses the whole, so to speak. Doorways, too, often
bore dedications, and the special names for individual doorways.
On the private level, the king’s subjects were also alive to the value of propaganda, to impress
gods, their human contemporaries and posterity (down to us!) So-called ‘biographical’ inscriptions
tend to be self-presentations in terms of the ideals that the officials themselves wished to be seen
to exemplify. Sometimes they would do so, by using genuinely biographical data to illustrate the
point. On commemorative stelae, either as gifts to the gods, or set up at Abydos to gain the favour
of Osiris in this life and the next, or in the tombchapels for eternity, officials and others would
include their titles, mention of their families, and formulae to secure the blessing of the gods.
Commonest is “An offering which the king gives” to such deity/ies, to give various benefactions
to benefit the person, or (eternally) his spirit. After changes in usage from of old, this reflects the
king’s role as provider for the gods and for his subjects, and consequently of the gods providing for
the wishes of a person (sometimes through the king’s gift). In the commonest, traditional versions,
our Egyptians betray a healthy appetite for good, clean home cooking — bread, beer, oxen and fowl
(roast beef, roast duck!), milk and wine — and refreshing breezes, ointment (the ancient equivalent
of skin-lotions and aftershave!), clothing and alabaster table-services. Could one ask for better?
And, of course, much else besides. From this array of mixed data, one can reconstruct genealogies,
family and social history, the sources of the ruling classes of the Egyptian state, and so on.
When we leave ceremonial and formal monuments for the everyday world of accounts papyri
and ostraca, letters, legal documents and the like, then we see the Egyptians more in their workaday
colours — with the merits and flaws common to all humankind, including ourselves.
xxii
Ramesses I 1:1
Scene
[Deity, Lost, worshipped by] the King.
Deity: [……… O] King, forever and ever.
King: (Long) may exist the King, [the King of S & N Egypt, Men]pehty[re] Image-of-Re, Son of
Re, Ramesses I, given life forever. 1:5
Main Text
1
(Long) live:
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, Flourishing of Kingship;
Nebty-Ruler, Appearing as King like Atum;
Golden Horus, Establishing Truth throughout the Two Lands.
2
Good god, Son of Amun, born of Mut, Lad<y> of Heaven, to be ruler of all that the sun’s disc
(Aten) encircles; he who came forth from the body, victories being (already) decreed for him; 3who
sets in order the Two Lands once again, and who has increased the festivals of the gods.
His father Atum brought him up while he was a 4child, <to> act with loving heart, renewing 1:10
monuments that had gone to ruin, and illuminating the name of 5his mother Hathor, Lad<y> of
Turquoise — one who made a path to her, (something) not in others’ minds. Your mother Hathor
set it in your heart, 6inasmuch as she has granted you (“him” [sic]) eternity as King — O King of
S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menpehtyre, Son of Re, Ramesses I, given life forever.
Scene
[King worships Deity], Amun, and [a goddess] [Texts, lost].
Margins
(i) At Right [… loss …; King of S & N Egypt], Lord who performs the rituals, Menpeh(ty)re, bodily 2:5
Son of Re, beloved of him, Lord of Crowns, Ramesses I, [beloved] of Min Kamutef and given life
[like Re].
At Left [… all lost, except:] beloved of [Amen]-Re, Lord of the Thrones of Both Lands.
Ramesses I
Main Text
1
Year 2, 2nd month of Peret, Day 20. (Long) live:
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, Flourishing of Kingship;
Nebty-Ruler, Appearing as King li[ke Atum;
Golden Horus, Establishing Truth] 2throughout the Two Lands;
King of S & N Egypt, Menpeh(ty)re, Son of Re, Ramesses I, [beloved of ] <Amen-Re, Lord
of the Thrones of Both Lands> and of Min-Son-of-I[sis], 3appearing upon the Horus-throne of the
living like his father Re, every day.
2:10 Now, His Majesty was in the city-quarter of Hatku-[Ptah (in Memphis), doing what pleas]4ed
his father Amen-Re, and Ptah South-of-his-Wall, and all the gods of Nile-land — according as they
grant him [valour and victory, all lands] 5being united in one will in praising his (“your”) spirit (ka),
all plains and every foreign land — the Nine Bows — being slain [under his soles].
6
Now His Majesty, the King of S & N Egypt, Menpeh(ty)re, given life, decreed the establishment
of sacred offerings for his father Min-Amun residing in [Buhen].
[Enumeration(?) of ] 7his [endow]ment in his temple:
Pesen-loaves, 12
Byt-cakes, 100
Beer, jars, 4
Vegetables, bundles, 10
2:15 Likewise, [this temple] was filled [with] prophets and 8priests; and his workshop filled with slaves
male and female, of the captures (made by) His Majesty, the King of S & N Egypt, Menpeh(ty)re,
given life like Re [forever and eternally].
9
Then His Majesty — his mind alert, without him sleeping — sought out beneficient [deeds, to
do them(?) for his father], 10Min-Amun resident in Buhen, making for him a temple like the horizon
of heaven wherein Re [rises]
11
The King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, bodily Son of Re, beloved of him,
Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenptah, given life like Re [forever].
3:5
4. Statue Base in the Louvre
(E.7690)
2
Royal Monuments
Scene
Amun receives offerings from the King
Amun: Words spoken by Amen-Re, Protector of Both Lands, Lord of Food and Provision. 3:15
King: Lord of Both Lands, Menpehtyre, Lord of Crowns, Ra[messes] I, given life.
4:1
Main Text
1
Year 1, 1st month of Shomu, Day 10, under the Majesty of:
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, Flourishing of Kingship;
King of S & N Egypt, Menpeh(ty)re, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, 2[Rames]ses I, given life
forever and eternally.
(On) this day, the Troop-commander and Superintendent of the Fort, Aia, spoke as follows: 3“I
have (hereby) given arable land, 50 arourae, for the sacred offerings of Amen-Re of the Mansion;
and I have (hereby) given arable land, 21 arourae, 4for this (or: “my”) Foundation; and likewise, 3
arourae for the Foundation of Hatiay, 5son [of X, ……… (and?) …]-mut, in order to prevent 6[…… 4:5
Rest of line, lost ……].
Scene
King offers to Osiris
King: Lord of Both Lands, Menpehtyre, Lord of Crowns, Ramesses I.
Deity: Osiris, Chief of the West(erners), Lord of the Sacred Territory.
Main Text
Year 1, [under?] the Good [god], Menpehtyre, […… all else lost, except the following ……] 4:10
[……] made(?) in the district (of ) […… Rest, lost ……].
Side 1
[Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull], Flourishing in Kingship, King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands,
3
Ramesses I · Sethos I
Menpeh(ty)re, Son of Re upon his throne, Protector of Him who is within Heliopolis, making
monu[ments ………, Ramesses I, etc.].
Side 2
[Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull,] Flourishing in Kingship, King of S & N Egypt, Menpeh(ty)re, True
Ruler, whose father Atum has established his (=R. I’s) mighty name as “Flourishing of Kingship”
in the Great Mansion within [Heliopolis ……, Ramesses I, etc.].
Sides 3 & 4 are lost. Texts of Ramesses IX, see Volume VI.
6:1 SETHOS I
Northern Wars
4
Northern Wars
He has extended the boundaries of Egypt to the limits of heaven on every side.
(As for) the hil[ls of the] rebels — none could [get pas]t them, because of the fallen ones of Shasu 7:1
who had attacked [him?]. His Majesty cap[tured th]em totally, so that none escaped.
(ii) Minor Epigraphs. (a) Cartouches. Menmare · Sethos I Merenamun.
(b) Vulture. Nekhbet, White One of Nekhen. (c) Over the Horses. [… lost …].
(iii) Forts and Wells at bottom of Scene.
Fort I. The Stronghold of Menmare, “The …… is his Protection”. 7:5
Below I (at J ). The Fort of Sethos I [Merenptah].
Fort K. Settlement [which] His Majesty [built] a[new].
Water L. The Well Ibseqeb (Ibsob).
Below Fort M. The Well of Sethos I Merenptah.
[At right edge of Scene. […]mat.]
5
Sethos I
like Re. (c) Vulture. Nekhbet, White One of Nekhen — may she give life.
(d) Over the Horses. First Great (Chariot-)Span of His Majesty, “Victory in Thebes”.
8:15 (iii) Fort, Upper left. Settlement of Pa-Canaan.
9:1
(d) Triumphal Return to Egypt
(i) Rhetorical Text over King
Year 1, “Renaissance”, (of ) the King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, given life.
Now, one came to tell His Majesty: “The fallen (foemen) of Shasu are plotting rebellion. Their tribal
chiefs are united in one place, stationed on the mountain ridges of Khurru. They have lapsed into
confusion and quarrelling; each slays his fellow. They disregard the edicts of the Palace”.
9:5 The heart of His Majesty, L·P·H, was pleased at it. Now, as for the Good god, he rejoices at beginning
a fight, he is glad about his attacker, his heart is satisfied at seeing blood — he cuts off the heads
of the dissidents. More than a day of jubilation loves he a moment of trampling (such) down. His
Majesty slays them all at once, he leaves no heirs among them. Who(ever) escapes his hand is (but)
a prisoner brought to Nile-land.
(ii) Minor Epigraphs. (a) Cartouches. King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, Son of
Re, Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenamun, given life like Re.
9:10 (b) Vulture. Nekhbet, the White One of Nekhen; may she give life, stability and dominion like Re.
(c) Over Horses. First Great (Chariot-)Span of His Majesty, L·P·H, “Amun, he gives strength”.
(iii) Prince behind the King. Following the King at his forays in the foreign countries of Syria (Retenu),
by the Hereditary Noble and Count, grandee of who[se nam]e one boasts, true King’s Scribe, beloved
of him, [General??], bodily King’s Son, beloved of him, [Ramesse]s,37 [justified ?].
(iv) Canal, Forts and Wells (from right to left, i.e., west to east)
9:15 Canal (A). The (boundary) Canal. Building before Canal (B ). The Fortress of Sile.
10:1 Fort (D). The Dwelling of the Lion. Middle Fort (E ). The Keep (migdol) of Menmare.
Well (F ). The Well of Hapan/Hatjan (@pn / @Tn). Fort (G ). Udjo of Sethos I Merenptah.
Well (H ). The Well of the District of Imy-aa(?).
10:5 (v) Dignitaries welcoming the King
The prophet<s>, grandees, leaders of the South and North are come to acclaim the Good god on
his return from the land of Retenu (Syria) bringing great and abundant plunder, the like of which
has never been seen since the time of the god.
˹They˺ say in adoring His Majesty, in magnifying his might: “Welcome you are, from the foreign
countries, your attack has succeeded! You are triumphant, your enemies are beneath you. Your
duration as King is like Re in heaven, in slaking your heart <against> the Nine Bows. Re has set
your boundaries, his arms are (magical) protection around you. Your mace was upon the head(s) of
every foreign land, the<ir> chiefs are fallen to your sword!”
37 Replacing an earlier (non-royal) name and epithets: “(X, who traverses] foreign [count]ries [for] his lord”?
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(ii) Cartouches. Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenamun.
[Vulture. Udjo].
(iii)Text over Upper Row of Prisoners
The chiefs of the foreign countries who knew not Egypt, whom His Majesty brought (back) by his 10:15
victory from the land of despised Retenu. They said, in magnifying His Majesty, in praising his
victories: “Hail to you! How great is your name, how powerful your strength! The (foreign) land that 11:1
is loyal to you has joy; who(ever) infringes your boundaries is fettered(?). As your Spirit endures! We
knew not Egypt, and our fathers did not tread it. Grant us the breath of your giving!”
(iv) Text over Lower Row of Prisoners
The spoils which His Majesty brought (back) from the Shasu, whom His Majesty himself vanquished
in Year I, “Renaissance.”
(v) Speech of Amun 11:5
[Words spoken by Am]en-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands: “My bodily S[on], (my)
beloved, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare! I put the fear of you into every foreign land, your mace
is upon the head(s) of their chiefs. They come to you, united as one, with a (tribute) load on their
backs because of your war-cry”.
Scene 11:10
Winged Disc at top. The Behdetite, great god, with dappled plumage, Lord of heaven.
King offers incense & libation to Re-Horakhti
Over King. The Good god, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, given life like Re.
Behind King. All protection and life attend him!
Between King and deity. Performing incense and libation.
Over Deity. Re-Horakhti, great god, Lord of heaven; may he give all life.
Main Text
1
Year 1, 3rd month of Shomu, Day 10. (Long) live: 11:15
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, Appearing in Thebes, Bringing life to Both Lands;
Nebty-Ruler, Renewing birth, 2Powerful of arm, Subduing the Nine Bows;
Golden Horus, Repeating epiphanies, Rich in forces in all lands;
3
King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare Made by Re, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns,
Sethos I Merenptah, beloved of Re-Horakhti, the great god.
4 12:1
The Good god, sturdy in wielding his sword, hero valiant like Montu;
abounding in 5captures(?), knowing his ability, skilled wherever he is;
who speaks with his mouth and acts 6with his arms.
Valiant leader of his army, valiant warrior 7amid the battle,
a Bast who grasps as a warrior, who enters 8into the mass of Asiatics,
who makes them prostrate, 9who tramples down the chiefs of Retenu (Syria),
who vanquishes 10who(ever) transgresses his path.
He causes the chiefs of 11Khurru to go back on all the boasting of their mouth(s); 12:5
every foreign land of the far 12north, their chiefs (say):”Where can we (go)?”
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Sethos I
They spend nights, 13made witness(?) in his name, frantic(?) in their minds.
It is the power of 14his father Amun which decrees for him valour and victory.
On this day, one came to inform His Majesty thus:
15
“The despicable chief who is in the town of Hammath has gathered 16to himself many people,
seizing the town of Beth-Shan, 17and is joined up with those from Pahil (Pella); he is preventing the
chief of 18Rehob from coming out.”
12:10 Then His Majesty sent out the First Division of 19Amun, ‘Rich in Bows’, against the town of
Hammath; the First Division of 20Re, ‘Abounding in Valour’, against the town of BethShan; and
the First 21Division of Sutekh, ‘Strong of Bows’, against the town of Yenoam .
And so, when the span of a day had elapsed, 22they were (all) fallen to the might of His Majesty,
the King of S & N Egypt, Menmare, Son of Re, Sethos I Merenptah, given life.
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Lands, in magnifying his power: “You are seen like your father Re, and one lives by beholding you”.
(iv) Forts. (a) Over the chiefs’ speech. [Town of X, in the land of ?Lebano]n.
(b) Below the Horses. Town of Qader, in the land of Hinuma.
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Sethos I
15:15 Scenes
(lost — King worships deity, either side)
Main Text
16:1 1
[Year x, month/season y, Day z. (Long) live]:
Horus-Falcon, Strong Bull, Appearing in Thebes, [Bringing life to Both Lands];
[Nebty-Ruler, Renewing birth, Powerful of ] arm, 2[Subduing the Nine Bows];
[Golden Horus], Repeating epiphanies, Rich in forces in all lands;
King of S & N Egypt, Lord of Both Lands, Menmare Heir of Re,
3
[Bodily Son of Re, his beloved], Lord of Crowns, [Sethos I Merenptah],
beloved of Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of Both Lands, and given life like Re 4[forever].
[The Good god who achieves with] his arms, an iron rampart on the field on the day of battle,
[who calms(?) the heart] of the people, 5who knows his ability, resolute on behalf of his army on the
day of battle like a young 6bull; powerful lion, falcon of Khepri in the Mansion of the Prince, Son
of Sekhmet, beloved of Bast.
16:5 7
Sphinx-like image amid the foreign countries that infringe his boundary, he has curbed all lands
by reason of the 8dread [of him in the]ir [hearts]. He causes the Asiatics to retreat, who had drawn
their bows — a king to 9[be boasted of ] to the height of heaven, a master to be bragged about forever.
On this day, now, 10[one came to inform His Ma]jesty, L·P·H, thus: “The aApiru of the mountain
of Yarmutu, along with the Tayaru 11[folk, they] are arisen, attacking the Asiatics of Ruhma.”
Then said 12[His Majesty]: “Who [do they] think they are, these despicable Asiatics, in 13[taking
16:10 up] their [arms] for yet more trouble? They shall find out about him whom they did not know —
14
[the Ruler, val]iant like a falcon and a strong bull wide-striding and sharp-horned, 15[spreading his
wings (firm)] as flint, and every limb as iron, to hack up the [entire] land of 16Dja[hy]!”
Then His Majesty, L·P·H, commanded a detachment of men from his ample 17[infantry and
ch]ariotry to turn back against the land of Djahy. When a period of two days had elapsed, 18[they
returned in peace] from the land(?)/mountain(?) of Yarmutu, bringing the impost [?from these
Asiatics?, and] prisoner(s) 19as plunder [wrought by His Majesty?] — it was/by the power of his father
Amen-Re that decreed for him valour and vic[tory [forever?] — (even) the King of S & N Egypt, Lord
16:15 of Both Lands, Menmare Heir of Re, Son of Re, Lord of [Crowns], Sethos I Merenptah, like Re.
17:1 Scene
Amun and Mut receive offerings from the King under the Winged Disc
Under Winged Disc. Menmare (flanked by uraei)
Above King. Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenptah, given life like Re.
17:5 Above Amun. Amen-Re, Lord of heaven, Lord of Both Lands.
Above Mut. Mut the Mighty, Lady of her course(?).
(Main Text is lost)
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11
Sethos I
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(vi) The Other Gods. (a) Mut-Bastet. Mut the Mighty, [Lady] of Asheru; Bast, Mistress of Karnak,
Lady of charm, sweet of love — “I grant you the [thro]ne of Geb, and the lifespan of Re in heaven”.
(b) Khons. Khons in Thebes, Neferhotep, Falcon (or: Horus), Lord of joy.
(c) Maat. Words spoken by Maat, Daughter of Re: “My bodily son, (my) beloved, Lord of Both 20:10
Lands, Lord of the strong arm, Menmare — I grant you an eternity in jubilees like Re”.
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Sethos I
[The Good god who returns, having triumphed over the chiefs of every land; he has trampled down
the rebellious foreign countries] who had transgressed his boundaries. He is like Montu, [he has
taken up the mace, like Horus in his panoply], his bow is with [him] like Bast], his arrow is like (that
of ) the Son of Nut. No foreign land can stand be[fore him, the dread of him is in their hearts, all
22:5 foreign lands have become at pe]ace — he causes them to cease standing on the battlefield, (as) they
forget (even how) to draw the bow, spending the day in the caves, hidden away like foxes. Dread of
His Majesty [is in all lands, per]vading their hearts, [?inasmuch as his father Amun has given him]
valour and victory.
(ii) Text above Lower File of Prisoners. [Chiefs of the foreign lands that knew not Egypt, whom His
Majesty brought off as] prisoner(s) from the ‘foreign land’ of Lib<ya>, by the power of his father
Amun.
22:10 (iii) Minor Epigraphs. (a) Over the Horses. First Great (Chariot-)Span <of> His Majesty, ‘Valiant is
Amun’.
(b) Cartouches. Lord of Both Lands, Menmare, Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenamun, given life.
(c) Vultures. At Right: Nekhbet, White One of Nekhen . At Left: [… lost …].
23:1
(d) Presentation of Prisoners and Spoil to the Theban Triad
(i) Text above the Spoils. Presentation of tribute by His Majesty to his father Amen-Re, (consisting)
of silver and gold, lapis-lazuli and turquoise, and of every noble gemstone — “by the valour which
you give me over every foreign land”.
23:5 (ii) Text before the King. Presentation of tribute by the Good god to his father Amun, from the
rebellious chiefs of the foreign lands ignorant of Egypt, (with) their tribute on their backs, to fill
every workshop with slaves male and female — “by the victories which you gave me over every land”.
(iii) Text above Upper File of Prisoners. His Majesty has returned from the foreign lands, his at[tack]
having succeeded. He has plundered Retenu (Syria), he has slain their chiefs. He has caused the
Asiatics to say: “Who is this? He is like a flame in its shooting forth, unchecked by water!” He causes
all rebels to desist from all boasting with their mouths — he has taken away the (very) breath of
their nostrils.
23:10 (iv) Text above Lower File of Prisoners. Chiefs of the foreign lands of Libya (Tehenu) […].
(v) Minor Epigraphs. (a) Cartouches. King of S & N Egypt, Lord who performs the rituals, Menmare,
Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Sethos I Merenamun, given life like Re.
(b) Vultures. At Left: May she give life, stability and dominion like Re. At Right: Nekhbet, White
One of Nekhen; may she give all valour.
(vi) Speech of Amun.
23:15 Words spoken by Amen-Re, Lord of the Thrones of Both Lands: “(My) bodily son whom I love,
Lord of Both Lands, Menmare! My heart is glad through love for you, and I rejoice at the sight of
your beauty. I set the war-cry of Your Majesty upon every foreign land. [Your mace] is upon the
head(s) of their chiefs — [they] come to you in unison, to Nile-land, carrying all their goods loaded
24:1 on their backs”.
(vii) Mut. Mut, Lady of Asheru, Lady of heaven, Mistress of all the Gods: “[I grant to you] eternity
as King of the Two Lands, you having appeared like Re”.
(viii) Khons-Thoth. Khons in Thebes, Neferhotep, Horus, Lord of joy; Thoth, Lord of Karnak: “I
give to you valour against the South and victory over the North” — may all protection, life, stability
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[(o) Scene hidden behind 22nd Dynasty Wall — not properly accessible.]
Scene
Amun (with Seth, Montu, Hathor) adored by the King
(i) King. The Good god, Menmare · Sethos I Merenptah.
(ii) The Gods. Amen-Re, lord of heaven. Seth, Great of power. Montu, Lord of Thebes. [Hathor, ……].
15