Egyptian Literature Part 34

14 B.-The writing and the clay appear to show that this also came from _Alasiya_. It included twenty-two lines, but is much broken. The following may be read:

"Lo! as a present to thee I have sent five pieces of copper, three (pounds) of good copper, one (?), one (weapon?)-a shipload. Also, my brother, these men of this royal ship ... and as for thee, the ship ...

speedily ... is sent. Thou art my brother. You desire a salutation, and I have given it to thee. This man, the servant of the King my Lord, does not he approach before them? and thou, my brother, send him speedily (under escort?)."

16 B.-The ordinary salutation is much broken, but the writing, and the clay of the tablet, seem to show that the letter came from _Alasiya_. The second paragraph mentions countries called _Umdhi_ ... and _Tim_ ...

possibly Hamath and Damascus. The third paragraph continues:

"And now behold why do you ... your fortress more than my fortress; and who is it that has vexed us? It is the abode of a hundred sons of violence. So now ... my brother, because of this, the city _Khumme_ has meditated evil, and if ... why not gather, and ... to preserve, since it is necessary that they should be protected from what ..."

The remainder, including a note for the King's scribe, is too broken to read.

17 B.-A mere fragment, apparently from _Alasiya_, contains a list of presents, including five wooden thrones (or chairs), objects of silver, a wooden footstool, and a weight of one _manah_ of some other substance.

CUNEIFORM INSCRIPTIONS AND HIERATIC PAPYRI

Translated by Various Egyptologists

The Great Tablet Of Rameses II At Abu-Simbel

Translated by Edouard Naville

In the great temple of Abu-Simbel, between two pillars of the first hall, there is a large tablet, which has been added, evidently, a long time after the completion of the temple. This tablet, which is the object of the present translation, is covered with a text of thirty-seven lines, containing a speech of the G.o.d Ptah Totunen to the King Rameses II, and the answer of the King.

It was very likely considered by the kings of Egypt to be a remarkable piece of literature, as it has been repeated, with slight alterations, on the pylons of the temple of Medinet-Habu, built by Rameses III. The tablet, which is decaying rapidly, has been published three times: first, by Burton, in the "_Excerpta Hieroglyphica_," pl. 60; then from the copies of Champollion, in the "_Monuments de l'Egypte et de la Nubie_," I, pl.

38; and, finally, by Lepsius, "_Denkmaler_," III, pl. 193. The inscription of Medinet-Habu has been copied and published by M. Duemichen, in his "_Historische Inschriften_," I, pl. 7-10, and by M. Jacques de Rouge, in his "_Inscriptions recueillis en Egypte_," II, pl. 131-138.

I am not aware that any complete translation of this long text has been made. The first part has been translated into German by Mr. Duemichen ("_Die Flotte einer aegyptischen Konigin_," _Einleitung_), from the text at Medinet-Habu; a portion of it is also to be found in Brugsch, "_aegyptische Geschichte_," p. 538. The present translation I have made from the tablet, which, being more ancient than the inscription, is very likely to be the original. It contains an interesting allusion to the marriage of Rameses with a daughter of the King of the Kheta. The inscription at Medinet-Habu, which is written more carefully than the tablet, and with less abbreviations, has given me a clue to several obscure pa.s.sages of the ancient text.

The tablet is surmounted by a cornice, with the winged disk. Underneath, the G.o.d Totunen is seen standing, and before him Rameses, who strikes with his mace a group of enemies whom he holds by the hair. Behind the G.o.d are the ovals of six foreign nations, most likely Asiatics: _Auentem_, _Hebuu_, _Tenfu_, _Temuu_, _Hetau_, _Emtebelu_.

The inscription above the G.o.d is as follows:

"Said by PTAH-TOTUNEN, with the high plumes, armed with horns, who generates the G.o.ds every day: (I am) thy father, I have begotten thee like a G.o.d, to be a king in my stead. I have transmitted to thee all the lands which I have created; their chiefs bring thee their tribute, they come bearing their presents because of their great fear; all foreign nations are united under thy feet, they are to thee eternally; thy eye is fixed on their heads forever."

TABLET OF RAMESES II

1 The 35th year, the 13th of the month Tybi, under the reign of Ra-Haremakhu, the strong bull, beloved of truth, the Lord of the Thirty Years, like his father Ptah, Totunen, the Lord of Diadems, the protector of Egypt, the chastiser of foreign lands, Ra, the father of the G.o.ds, who possesses Egypt, the golden hawk, the Master of Years, the most mighty sovereign of Upper and Lower Egypt.

2 Ra-userma-sotep-en-Ra, the son of Ra, the issue of Totunen, the child of the Queen Sekhet, Rameses, beloved of Amen, ever living.

Thus speaks Ptah-Totunen with the high plumes, armed with horns, the father of the G.o.ds, to his son who loves him,

3 the first-born of his loins, the G.o.d who is young again, the prince of the G.o.ds, the master of the thirty years, like Totunen, King Rameses.(433) I am thy father, I have begotten thee like a G.o.d; all thy limbs are divine. I took the form of the ram of

4 Mendes, and I went to thy n.o.ble mother. I have thought of thee, I have fashioned thee to be the joy of my person, I have brought thee forth like the rising sun, I have raised thee among the G.o.ds, King Rameses. Num

5 and Ptah have nourished thy childhood, they leap with joy when they see thee made after my likeness, n.o.ble, great, exalted.(434) The great princesses of the house of Ptah and the Hathors of the temple of Tem are

6 in festival, their hearts are full of gladness, their hands take the drum with joy, when they see thy person beautiful and lovely like my Majesty.

The G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses exalt thy beauties, they celebrate thee

7 when they give to me their praises, saying: "Thou art our father who has caused us to be born; there is a G.o.d like thee, the King Rameses."

I look at thee, and my heart is joyful; I embrace thee with my golden arms, and I surround thee with life, purity, and duration. I provide thee

8 with permanent happiness. I have fixed in thee joy, enjoyment, pleasure, gladness, and delight. I grant thee that thy heart may be young again like mine. I have elected thee, I have chosen thee, I have perfected thee; thy heart is excellent and thy words are exquisite; there is absolutely nothing

9 which thou ignorest, up to this day, since the time of old; thou vivifiest the inhabitants of the earth through thy command, King Rameses.

I have made thee an eternal king, a prince who lasts forever. I have fashioned thy

10 limbs in electrum, thy bones in bra.s.s, and thy arms in iron. I have bestowed on thee the dignity of the divine crown; thou governest the two countries as a legitimate sovereign; I have given thee a high Nile, and it fills Egypt for thee with the abundance of riches and wealth; there is

11 plenty in all places where thou walkest; I have given thee wheat in profusion to enrich the two countries in all times; their corn is like the sand of the sh.o.r.e, the granaries reach the sky, and the heaps are like mountains. Thou rejoicest and thou art praised

12 when thou seest the plentiful fishing, and the ma.s.s of fishes which is before thy feet. All Egypt is thankful toward thee.

I give thee the sky and all that it contains. SEB shows forth for thee what is within him;(435) the birds hasten to thee, the pigeons of Horsekha

13 bring to thee their offerings, which are the first-fruits of those of Ra. Thoth has put them on all sides.

Thou openest thy mouth to strengthen whoever thou wishest, for thou art Num; thy royalty is living in strength and might like Ra, since he governs the two countries.

14 King Rameses, I grant thee to cut the mountains into statues immense, gigantic, everlasting; I grant that foreign lands find for the precious stone to inscribe(?) the monuments with thy name.

15 I give thee to succeed in all the works which thou hast done. (I give thee) all kinds of workmen, all that goes on two and four feet, all that flies and all that has wings. I have put in the heart of all nations to offer thee what they have done; themselves, princes great and small, with one

16 heart seek to please thee, King Rameses.

Thou hast built a great residence to fortify the boundary of the land, the city of Rameses; it is established on the earth like the four pillars

17 of the sky; thou hast constructed within a royal palace, where festivals are celebrated to thee as is done for me within. I have set the crown on thy head with my own hands, when thou appearest in the great hall of the double throne;(436) and men and G.o.ds have praised thy name

18 like mine when my festival is celebrated.

Thou hast carved my statues and built their shrines as I have done in times of old. I have given thee years by periods of thirty;(437) thou reignest in my place on my throne; I fill thy limbs with life and happiness, I am behind thee to protect thee; I give thee health and strength;