K.a Kitchen, Two Donation Stelae

Two Donation Stelae in The Brooklyn Museum Author(s): Kenneth A. Kitchen Reviewed work(s): Source: Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Vol. 8 (1969-1970), pp. 59-67 Published by: American Research Center in Egypt Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40000039 . Accessed: 29/01/2013 13:00 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

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Two Donation Stelae in The Brooklyn Museum Kenneth A. Kitchen monly come from the hand of important dignitaries and are usually dated, the historical value of these inscriptions is considerable, over and above their significance for the study of Egyptian cults and religious concepts.

One of the most characteristic groups of monuments of the Libyan dynasties in Egypt is that of the donation stelae, inscriptions which record gifts of land to temples or to their personnel. As the endowments concerned com-

Fig. A Text of Brooklyn Stela 67.118 59

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6o

JARCE8 (1969-1970)

Stela 67.118 I-II (Pis. Figs. 1-3 and A) In 1967, The Brooklyn Museum acquired two such stelae;1 for the opportunity of publishing them, I am indebted to the Museum through the kindness of Bernard V. Bothmer, Curator of Ancient Art. Both stelae belong to the same epoch, and each offers its own points of special interest. Under the winged disk of "Behdet who gives life, who gives . . .," and the symbol of heaven, six well-cut figures occupy the upper half of the stela. Advancing from left to right, we see Osiris in a short kilt and horned Atef-crown, carrying the royal crook and flail. Then comes Ba-neb-djed (the Ram of Mendes), similarly attired, but with solar disks on the front and apex of his crown (worn on a wig), and carrying a ze//s-sceptre.He is followed by the goddess Hat-mehyt with her distinctive fish-symbol upon her head, holding a papyrus-sceptre. Before these three, on a pedestal, stands the figure of an infant prince with hand to mouth and nude but for sidelock and uraeus: unlabelled, but clearly Harpokrates. To the gods, the hieroglyph for "fields" is offered by a man dressed in a short kilt, transparent over-garment and a short wig framed by a "Libyan plume." He is attended by a bald or close-shaven priest in a short kilt and transparent over-kilt, who plays the double pipe. Over them, slovenly hieroglyphs record their name and rank: "Great Chief and Leader, Harnakht, justified; the flautist, Ankh-Horpekhrod." 1 Brooklyn ace. nr. 67.118. Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Limestone. Height, 52.3 cm.; width, 32.3 cm.; depth, ca. 6.5 cm. Provenance, Mendes (internal evidence). Previously mentioned by Yoyotte, Melanges Maspero I part 4 (1961) 125 Document 9, and by Schulman, JARCE 5 (1966) 41 nr. 66 end (confused with the Abemayor stela). Brooklyn ace. nr. 67.119. Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund. Lime stone. Height, 39.3 cm.; width, 18.5 cm.; depth, 12.5 cm. Provenance, formerly the Michaelides collection, and doubtless ultimately from Kom Firin (see below). Previously mentioned and illustrated by Yoyotte, op. cit. 144 § 32 Document D and pl. I, 2; Schulman, op. cit. 41 nr. 64.

The main text (Fig. A; Plates I-II Figs. 1-3) runs: (1) "Regnal Year 22 (of) Pharaoh Shoshenq.2 Donation to Harpokratesresiding in Mendes,by the hand of the Great Chief of the Ma and Leader, Har- (2) nakht, son of the (Great) Chief of the Ma, Nes-khebit ( ?) :3 A field of 10 arouraeto the flautist of Har(po)krates, Ankh-Hor(pe)khrod,(3) son of the Chief Flautist4of the Ram, Lord of Mendes, GemenefHor-bak. They (i.e., the 10 arourae) are confirmed in his possession5for ever (4) and ever. (As for) him who shall seize them from him,