59512987-KhnumhotepBeniHasan

Khnumhotpe, prince of Beni Hasan, Biography of Nederhof - English Created on 2006-11-04 by Mark-Jan Nederhof. Last modified 2009-06-08. Transliteration and translation for "The biography of Khnumhotpe, prince of Beni Hasan", following the transcription of De Buck (1948), pp. 67-72, with line numbers following plates 25 and 26 of Newberry (1893) up to line 200, and following plate 11 of Montet (1930-1935) from line 200 onward. The transliteration throughout follows Hannig (1995). For published translations, see Breasted (1906), pp. 279-289, §§ 619-639; Newberry (1893), pp. 57-66. Montet (1930-1935), pp. 131-132, offers a translation of the text from line 199 onward.

Bibliography • J.H. Breasted. Ancient Records of Egypt -- Volume I. The University of Chicago Press, 1906. • A. De Buck. Egyptian Readingbook. Ares Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, 1948. • R.O. Faulkner. A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian. Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1962. • R. Hannig. Grosses Handwörterbuch Ägyptisch-Deutsch: die Sprache der Pharaonen (2800-950 v.Chr.). Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1995. • P. Montet. Les dernières lignes de la grande inscription de Beni Hassan. Kêmi, 3:112-132, 1930-1935. • P.E. Newberry. Beni Hasan -- Part I. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., London, 1893.

i

1

jrj-pat HAtj-a rx-nsw 1

Prince regent, count, acquaintance of the king, 2

mrrw nTr=f jmj-rA

xAswt jAbtt

nHrj sA Xnm-Htp mAa-xrw

2

beloved of his god, leader of the eastern lands, Khnumhotep, son of Neheri, justified, 3

jr.n sAt HAtj-a

nbt-pr bAqt mAa-xrw

3

born of a count's daughter, lady of the house Baqet, justified. 4

5

jr.n=f m mnw=f

sp=f tp m smn x njwt=f

4

He built this as his monument. His foremost deed was adorning his city,

srwD=f rn=f n nHH1 that he might perpetuate his name forever, 1 Read

as  .

6

7

smnx=f sw n Dt m js=f

n Xrt-nTr

6

7

and that he might adorn it for eternity in his tomb of the necropolis. 8

srwD=f rn n qnbt =f

smnx xft jAwt=sn

He perpetuated the name of his cabinet, elevated according to their offices, 9

10

mnxw jmjw nw 9

11

pr=f

Tn.n=f xnt m rt=f

10

the excellent ones and inhabitants of his house, whom he raised over his servants, 12

jAwt nbt xrpt .n=f

13

Hmwt nbt mj xpr =s

rA=f Dd=f

concerning every office that he held and every craft according to its nature. His mouth says: 14

jw rDj.n wj Hm n

Hr Hkn-m-mAat

14

'The majesty of Horus: Who rejoices in truth;

1

15

nbtj

Hkn-m- mAat bjk-nbw mAa-xrw 15

Two Ladies: Who rejoices in truth; Gold Horus, justified; 16

nsw-bjtj nbw-kAw-ra

sA-ra

jmn-m-HAt 16

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Nebukaure; Son of Re: Amenemhet,

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever, appointed me 17

r

18

jrj-pat HAtj-a jmj-ra xAswt jAbtt

smA Hr pAxt

17

18

to be prince regent, count, leader of the eastern lands, priest of Horus and Pakhet, 19

r jwat

20

jt mwt=j

m mn at-xwfw

19

and to the inheritance of the father of my mother in Menat-Khufu. 21

smn.n=f

n=j wD Sma 21

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary marker for me, 22

23

smn x.n=f mHtj mj pt

24

ps S.n=f jtr aA Hr jAt =f

while restoring the northern, like heaven. He divided the great river along its middle, 25

mj jrryt n jt

mwt=j 25

as was done for the father of my mother, 26

m tpt- rA prt m rA n Hm n by the pronouncement that issued from the mouth of the majesty of 27

Hr wHm-mswt

28

nbtj wHm-mswt

bjk-nbw (wHm-)mswt

27

28

Horus: Who repeats birth; Two Ladies: Who repeats birth; Gold Horus: Who repeats birth; 29

nsw-bjtj sHtp-jb-ra

sA-ra

jmn-m-HAt 29

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Sehotepibre; Son of Re: Amenemhet,

2

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever. 30

31

rDjt=f1

sw r jrj-pat HAtj-a

jmj-ra xAswt jAbtt

30

He appointed him to be prince regent, count, leader of the eastern lands, 1 Written fDjt=f. 32

m mnat-xwfw smn.n=f wD Sma 32

in Menat-Khufu.

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary marker,

33

smnx

34

mHtj mj pt

psS.n=f jtr a A Hr jAt=f

33

while restoring the northern, like heaven. He divided the great river along its middle, 35

gs=f jAb

36

n Dwt-Hr

r-mn-m xAst jAb tt

35

its eastern side to the Mountain of Horus reached as far as the eastern land. 37

m jt Hm=f

dr=f js ft

38

xaw m jtm

Ds=f 38

At the coming of His Majesty, he repelled evil, appearing as Atum himself, 39

40

smnx=f gm t.n=f wAs.tj

jTt njwt

m snnwt=s 40

and he restored what he found ruined and what one city had taken from another, 41

Dj=f rx njwt

42

tAS=s r njwt

43

sm nx wDw=sn

mj pt

41

43

while he let city know its boundary with city, restoring their boundary markers like heaven, 44

rx mw=sn r

45

ntt m sS

sjp r

44

ntt m jswt 45

and know their waters according to what was in writing, investigating what was of old, 46

n-aAt-n mrr=f mAat

47

aHa.n rDj.n=f s w r jrj-pat HAtj-a

because he loved justice so much. Then he appointed him to be prince regent and count,

jmA-a Hrj-tp aA n mA-HD esteemed assistant and great chief of Ma-hedi.

3

48

49

50

smn.n=f wDw Sma

m tAS=f r

wnt

48

50

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary markers as his boundary to Unet, 51

mHtj=f r jnpwt

52

psS .n=f jtr aA Hr jAt =f

and his northern to Input. He divided the great river along its middle, 53

mw=f AHwt=f jsr=f S a=f

r-mn-m xAswt jmntt

its water, its fields, its tamarisks and its sand reached as far as the western lands. 54

55

rDj.n=f sA=f smsw=f nxt 54

mAa-xrw nb jmAx 55

He appointed his eldest son Nekht, justified and revered, 56

57

r HqA jw at=f m mnat-xwfw

58

m Hst aAt

nt xr nsw

57

58

to be ruler of his inheritance in Menat-Khufu, as a great favour of the king, 59

m wDt pr t rA n Hm n

Hr anx-mswt

by the command that issued from the mouth of the majesty of Horus: Living of birth; 60

nbtj anx-mswt

bjk-nbw anx-mswt

60

Two Ladies: Living of birth; Gold Horus: Living of birth; 61

nsw-bjtj

xpr-kA-ra sA-ra s-n-wsrt 61

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Kheperkare; Son of Re: Sesostris, 62

Dj anx

63

Dd wAs mj ra Dt

saH=j t p n mswt=j

62

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever. The foremost nobility of my birth was 64

65

wD A mwt=j r jrt-pat

HAtt-a 65

that my mother proceeded to become regentess and countess, 66

m sAt HqA

n mA-HD r Hwt-sHtp-jb-ra 66

as the daughter of the ruler of Ma-hedi, to Hut-Sehotepibre,

4

67

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt 67

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever, 68

r Hmt

69

n jrj-pat HAtj-a

HqA njwwt mAt

68

and to become the wife of the prince regent, count, ruler of the new settlements, 70

mAT.n nsw

jmt n bjtj 70

praised by the king of Upper Egypt, pupil of the king of Lower Egypt, 71

r saH=f n jmj-rA njwt

72

nHrj mAa-xrw nb jmAx jn wj 71

concerning his rank of leader of the city, Nehri, justified and revered.

nsw-bjtj nbw-kAw-ra The king of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebukaure, 73

Dj anx Dd wAs

mj ra Dt 73

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever, brought me 74

m sA HAtj-a r jwat

HqAt jt mwt=j 74

as son of a count into the inheritance of the rule of the father of my mother, 75

76

n-aA t-n mrr=f mAat

jtm pw Ds=f nbw-kAw-ra

because he loved justice so much. He is Atum himself, Nebukaure, 77

Dj anx

Dd wAs

Aw-jb=f mj ra Dt

77

given life, stability, dominion and happiness, like Re forever. 78

79

Dj.n=f w j r HAtj-a m rnpt-sp 19 m

80

mnat-xwfw aHa.n smn x.n=j sj 79

He appointed me to be count in the year 19, in Menat-Khufu. Then I adorned it, 81

aHa=s xpr.w

m jxt nbt

82

srwD .n=j rn n jt=j

81

and it acquired all kinds of things. I perpetuated the name of my father.

5

83

84

smnx.n=j Hwwt- kAw jrjw

Sms.n=j twtw =j r Hwt-nTr

I restored their mortuary chapels. I followed my statues to the temple. 85

86

smAa.n=j n=sn pAt=sn

t Hnqt qbHw jrp snTr

wabt

85

86

I brought to them their offerings of bread, beer, libation, wine, incense and meat-offering, 87

sjp n Hm-kA

88

smnx .n=j sw m AHwt m rt

assigned to the mortuary priest. I endowed him with fields and servants. 89

wD.n =j prt-r-xrw

t Hnqt kA Apdw

I commanded a mortuary offering of bread, beer, oxen and fowl, 90

m Hb nb

n Xrt-nTr

m tpj-rnpt wpt-rnpt

90

at every feast of the necropolis, at New Year's Day, the opening of the year, 91

rnpt-aAt

rnpt-nDst 91

the feast of the great year and the feast of the small year, 92

93

arq rnpt Hb wr

m rkH aA

m rkH nDs 93

the end of the year, the great feast, at the Great Burning and at the Little Burning, 94

m 5-Hrj w-rnpt

m Sdt Sa

at the five epagomenal days, at the taking of the sand1, 1 Reading very uncertain. 95

m Abd 12 smdt 12 95

at the 12 monthly feasts and the 12 mid-monthly feasts, 96

Hb nb n tpj-tA nfr tpj-Dw

97

jr grt Hm-kA rmT nbt 97

every feast of the happy living and of the dead. As for the mortuary priest or any person

6

98

99

Xnn.tj=sn st

n wnn=f n wnn sA=f Hr nst=f

98

who shall disturb them, he shall not be, and his son shall not be in his place. 100

101

wr Hst=j m stp-sA r smr wa tj nb The praise of me in the palace was greater than that of any sole companion. 102

103

Tn.n=f wj x ntw saHw=f

[Dj].kw

104

Xr-HAt wnw

Xr-HAt=j

103

104

He raised me over his nobles. I was [placed] before those who had been before me. 105

106

jab.n qnbt nt aH

107

r Djt Hstj xftw

dhn=j

106

107

The cabinet of the palace assembled to give praise according to my appointment, 108

xftw

109

Hswt xprt

m-bAH

108

109

according to the favour that came to pass in the presence of 110

tpt-rA nt nsw D s=f the pronouncement of the king himself. 111

112

113

n xpr mjtt n bA kw pA.n nb=sn Hst st Never happened the like to servants whom their lords had praised. 114

rx.n=f st-ns=j

nxn qmA=j 114

He knew my eloquence while my appearance was youthful. 115

116

j w=j m jmAxy n xr nsw

117

Hst=j

116

I was honoured

xr Snwt=f 117

with the king, my praise was with his courtiers,

118

119

jm At=j m-bAH

smrw=f 119

and the fondness for me was before his companions. 120

jrj-pat HAtj- a nHrj sA Xnm-Htp

nb jmAx

The prince regent and count Khnumhotep son of Nehri, revered.

7

121

122

kt Hswt jryt n=j

123

Dj.tw sA=j smsw nxt jr .n Xty

121

122

Another favour granted to me: My eldest son Nekhet, born of Kheti, was appointed 124

r HqA jnpwt

125

r jwat jt mwt =f 124

to be ruler of Input, and to the inheritance of the father of his mother, 126

sxpr m smr w atj

127

Djw r HAt nt tA- Smaw

was made sole companion and was appointed to be chief of Upper Egypt. 128

129

Djw n=f Tn w saH jn Hm n

Hr sSmw-tAwj 129

Every dignity was conferred on him by the majesty of Horus: Leader of the Two Lands; 130

nbtj sxaj-mAat

bjk-nbw Htp-nTrw 130

Two Ladies: Who makes truth appear; Gold Horus: Who placates the gods; 131

nsw-bjtj xaj-xpr-ra

sA-ra

s-n-wsrt 131

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Khakheperre; Son of Re: Sesostris, 132

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt

jr =f mnw=f m jnpwt

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever. He built his monuments in Input, 133

134

m smnx gmt.n=f wS(.tj)

jT t.n njwt m snnwtj=s

133

restoring

what he found damaged and what one city had taken from another, 135

rDj rx=f

tAS=f

136

r xdt

sjp

135

r ntt m jswt 136

letting it know its boundary according to the land register, investigating what was of old, 137

138

Dj wD r tAS =f Sma 137

placing a boundary marker at his Upper Egyptian boundary,

8

139

smnx mHtj

140

mj pt

smn Hr sxwt

139

nt xrw 140

and restoring the northern, like heaven, erecting on the fields of the lowland 141

dmD-smA r wD 15 141

a total

of 15 boundary markers, 142

143

smn Hr A Hwt=f mHtj tAS =f r wAbwt establishing on its northern fields its boundary as far as Wabut. 144

psS.n=f

145

jtr aA Hr jAt=f

gs=f jmntj n jnpwt

144

145

He divided the great river along its middle, its western side to Input 146

r-mn-m xAs wt jmntt reaching as far as the western lands, 147

148

xft spr jrj-pat HAtj-a Xnm-Htp sA nxt mAa-xrw nb jmAx r-Dd when the prince regent and count Nakht son of Khnumhotep, justified and revered, 149

n rx mw=j

150

Hswt wrt nt xr nsw 149

petitioned: "My waters do not know the great favour from the king." 151

ky wr

152

m nD m smr watj

153

aA jm n sm rw

151

152

Another prince was appointed as sole companion, greatest of the companions, 154

155

aSA jn w pr-nsw

smr wa

nn wn Hr xw=f 155

numerous in gifts from the palace, sole companion, whose equal has never been, 156

157

sDmw n =f sDmw

rA wa

Htm rAw 157

to whom the authorities listen, only mouth that silences the mouths, 158

jnn Axt

n nb=s

rA-aA xAswt

158

who brings advantage to its possessor, entry of the foreign lands,

9

159

160

n Hrj sA Xnm-Htp sA Xnm-H tp

jr.n nbt-pr Xty

Khnumhotep son of Khnumhotep son of Nehri, born of the lady of the house Kheti. 161

162

163

sanx.n=j rn n jtw =j

gm.n=j wS(.w)

Hr sbAw

161

163

I kept alive the names of my forefathers that I'd found obliterated upon the doorways, 164

165

rx m t jt mtj m Sdt

nn

166

167

Djt ky m ab k y

jsT sA pw mnx

165

legible,

accurately spelled, without confusing one with another. He is an excellent son, 168

srwD rn n t pjw-a who perpetuates the names of the ancestors, 169

170

nHrj sA Xnm-Htp mAa-xrw nb jmAx

saH=j tp m 170

Khnumhotep son of Nehri, justified and revered. My foremost nobility was 171

172

173

smnx .n=j Hrt sn s r jrrt jt =f that I built a tomb, as a man should imitate what his father did. 174

jr.n n=f jt=j Hwt-kA

m mr-nfrt

175

m jnr nfr n anw

174

My father built for himself a mortuary chapel in Mer-neferet, of good limestone, 176

r srwD

177

rn=f n nHH

s mnx=f sw n Dt

176

in order to perpetuate his name forever. He adorned it for eternity, 178

rn=f anx(.w)

m rA n pat 178

so that his name might live in the mouths of the people, 179

180

Dd .w m rA n anxw

Hr js=f n Xrt-nTr 180

and remain in the mouths of the living and on his tomb of the necropolis, 181

m pr=f mnx n nHH

182

st =f nt Dt

in his excellent house of eternity, his place of everlastingness,

10

183

xft Hswt nt xr

184

nsw

mrwt=f m

stp-sA

183

184

according to the favour from the king and the love of him in the palace. 185

HqA.n=f njwt=f m sDt

n fxt=f m TAm 185

He ruled his city when he was an infant before his circumcision. 186

187

jr.n=f jpt nsw

Swtj=f jb A=sn

186

He executed a royal commission and his two plumes danced 188

m xnw

189

n qAbt=f

m rx nsw

st-ns=f

188

189

when he was a child at his mother's breast, for the king knew his eloquence 190

nxn qmA=f

sbk- anx sA nHrj

mAa-xrw nb jmAx

while his appearance was youthful, Nehri son of Sobek-ankh, justified and revered, 191

192

Tn.n=f xnt saHw=f

r HqA njwt=f xprt HAtj-a Xnm-Htp

191

192

whom he raised over his nobles to rule his city. Achievements of count Khnumhotep: 193

194

195

jr.n(=j) mnw m-Xnw n njwt=j qd .n=j wxA gm .n(=j) m AA 193

I built a monument within my city. 196

I rebuilt a colonnaded hall that I found in ruins.

197

saHa.n=j sw m wxAw n-mAt sS m rn=j Ds=j 196

197

I erected it with columns anew, inscribed with my own name. 198

199

200

sanx.n=j rn n jt=j H r=s[n]

[sS].n=j jrt=j Hr m nw nb

198

I kept alive the name of my father upon them. I inscribed what I did upon every monument. 201

jr.n=j aA n mH 7 m

202

aS n ngAw

r sbA tp n js

201

I made a door of seven cubits of cedar from Negau, for the first doorway of the tomb,

11

203

aAwj-rA n mH 5 Ssp 2

r kAr n at Spst 203

and double doors of five cubits and two palms, for the shrine of the august chamber 204

ntt m-Xnw n js pn 204

that is within this tomb. 205

dbHt- Htp prt-r-xrw t Hnqt kA Apd The requisites for a mortuary offering of bread, beer, oxen and fowl, 206

207

Hr mn w nb jr.n=j

sAp.n=j mr

qd sbxt=f 207

were on every monument that I built. I inundated a pond and built its portal 208

DD TAw n w Ax pn that gave air to this colonnaded hall. 209

wr mnw=j m-Xnw n njwt tn r jtw=j My monuments within this city were greater that those of my forefathers, 210

211

sDt njwt tn

mnx mn w smt=s

210

a child of this city,1 and the monuments of its burial place were more excellent

1 Montet reads some verb in place of sDt with the meaning "to bloom" ("épanouir"), leading to something like: "This city bloomed, as the monuments ...". 212

213

r tpjw -a jrrw Xr-HA t=j

jnk saH mnw

than those of the ancestors built before me. I was distinguished in monuments. 214

215

sbA.n=j Hmwt nb wnt tm.tj 214

m-Xnw njwt tn

215

I taught every craft

that had been forgotten within this city,

216

n m rwt mnx rn=j Hr

217

218

mnw nb jr.n=j

grg Hr =j

217

so that my name might be excellent upon every monument that I built, founded on me

12

219

nn mnst jm shA. n=j jmw ky without fault. I made the ship of another descend,1 1 I take

as determinative. Alternatively one could read ky Sps, "another nobleman", as independent phrase.

220

221

jrj-pat HAtj-a nHrj sA Xnm- Htp

jr.n bAqt mAa-xrw nb jmAx

220

prince regent and count Khnumhotep son of Nehri, born of Baqet, justified and revered. 222

xrp js

jmj-rA xtmt bAqt

222

Supervisor of the tomb, treasurer Baqet.'

13