The second story of Khamuas:
Ancient Egyptian texts: The second
story of Khamuas
( Mirror Page )
Printout
  For best results save the whole
webpage (pictures included) onto
your hard disk, open the page with
Word 97 or higher, edit if necessary
and print.
  Printing using the browser's print
function is not recommended.
  
Prince Khamuas and Si-
Osiri
Khamuas:
    //////// she dreamed (a) dream of
Khaemwase,
herself , they were speaking to her son of Ramses
[saying: "Are] you Meh-wesekht [the II and Isis-
wife] of Setme, who lies [in vain nefert. He died
seeking (?)] to receive in the 55th year
of the reign of
healing? //////// [when the morning of his father. He
tomorrow has] come, go to the was sem-priest
entrance [of the rooms (?) of of Ptah and
urinating (?) of Setme you[r chief artificer.
hus]band. Behold! you shall (?) find Setme: also
a vine of melon (?) [that] grows Setne - sem, the
title of
there. ///////// wound (?) it with its Khaemwase
gourds (?), and you shall put it back from his
(?), [and you shall make it (?)] into semen: in a
medicine, and you shall cause liquid of
(?) ////////// [you will conceive from conception]
his semen] in [the night] named." from him
(Griffith)
    Meh-wesekht awoke [from] the her [time:
dream, (and) these were (?) the The time of her
things that she had seen. She acted monthly period.
Si-Osiri:
according to [everything that she had
meaning Son of
been told (?) in (her) dream: she lay Osiris
down by] the side of [Setme], her
husband, (and) she conceived from
his semen. There came her [time,
behold! she showed] the signs [of
women who are pregnant. Setme
made (the) announcement of it before
Pharaoh]. His heart [was]
exceedingly [glad] because of [it].
He bound on her an amulet, he read
to her writing. Setme laid [himself]
down one night [and dreamed a
dream, (in which) they (?) spoke] to
him, saying: "Me-wesekht, your wife,
has conceived in the night (?)]. The
child that will be born [shall be
named] Si-Osiri. Numerous are the
marvels that he shall do in the land
of Egypt."
    Setme awoke] from the [dream], lived
(and) these were (?) the things that through [her
he had seen. [His heart was] months (?) of]
pregnancy:
exceedingly [glad]. [She (?)] lived made [her
through [her months (?) of] months (?) of]
pregnancy, she divided (?) /////////// pregnancy
[came her time of giving birth], she (Griffith)
bore a [ma]le child. They let Setme heart:
know about it. [He named him] Si- bosom
(Griffith)
Osiri, according with what had been
said in [the] dream that [he kept (?)]
in (his) heart (?).
    ////////// of pregnancy (?), [they]
nurtured him. It happened that
(when) the child [Si-Osiri was one
year old, people] might have (?) said
he was two years old. (When) he was
two [years] (old), they might have (?)
said he was three years (of age).
////////// [Setme never passed an hour]
without looking at the child Si-Osiri.
The love [that he had for him] was
very great. He grew big and strong,
and was sent to school (?).
////////// he rivalled the scribe who learn magic:
had been appointed to give him say writings
instruction. The ch[ild Si-Osiri] grew (Griffith)
//// [made]
(and) [he] began (?) to learn magic
wonder [of] the
(?) with the scribes of the House of world at him:
Life in the temple of Ptah (?)] //// Lichtheim: All
[made] wonder [of] the world at him, who heard him
and Setme loved (the fact) [that thought him]
Pharaoh should order] him to be the wonder of
the land.
taken to the εορτη before Pharaoh εορτη:
and that /////////// and that he should Lichtheim:
be presented to them, all. [And on a banquet
certain day it happened that] Setme be
(was) purified for εορτη according to presented:
(?) ///////// his dwellings. ////////// the make for
child Si-[Osiri was going to the] himself face (?)
Then: At a
εορτη before [him as well.
time] that
    Then] Setme heard the voice of a which
wailing //////// looked ///////// of his happened,
dwellings //////// [a rich man] whom behold!
they were carrying out (to ?) the (Griffith)
desert, the wailing was verily Amenti" the
netherworld.
loud] ///////// much being [the] glory
[in which he was compared to that in
which (?)] he himself [was].
    He gazed [again], he [looked (?)]
at his feet (?). Behold! he saw [a
poor man being carried out from
Memphis to the cemetery] ///// he was
wrapped [in] a mat, there was ///// no
[man (?) on earth w]as walking
[after him. Said] Setme: "By [Ptah,
the great God, how much better it
shall be in Amenti for the great men
(?)] w[hom they glorify (?)] with
loud [wailing (?)] compared (?) to
poor men (?) whom they take to the
desert [without the glory of a funeral
(?)]."
    But Si-Osiri said: "You shall be Amenti: the
treated in Amenti like this poor man netherworld
will be treated in Amenti. [That some men
which shall be done to this rich man that were
scattered and
in Amenti shall not be done to separated (?),
you] ////////// you shall [go (?)] into and great at
Amenti eating besides
    ///////// the heart [of Set]me was (?), there]:
much grieved [on account of] Lichtheim:
people who
it //////////// hear (?) the were [plaiting
voice ///////////// said the child ////////// ropes, while
Si-Osiri ////////// to his ///////// wailing donkeys were
(?), asked [Setme] ////////// after these chewing them
things ////////// find ////////// went Setme up].
These
[to] a place ///////// in them ///////////// punishments
you [see (?)] ////////// his are reminiscent
nobles //////////////////// that is upon the of the fates of
[desert (?) //////////////// life ////////////// Tantalus who
his ////////// in them (?) ////////////// they was condemned
to eternal
did ///////////.
hunger, and of
    [They entered the fourth Sisyphus
hall ////////// Setme saw some men that labouring
were scattered and separated (?), endlessly to no
and great at eating besides (?), avail.
there] were some others,
their /////////////
    There were some others, their
provision, water and bread, was
hung over them. They were running
to take it down, (but) some others
were digging pits at their feet to
prevent them from reaching it.
    They entered the fifth hall and Cf. The
behold! Setme saw the noble spirits, Judgment of the
Dead
standing in their positions, (and ?)  
those who were accused of violence, positions:
were standing at the entrance places (?) of
praying. The bolt (?) of the door of standing
the fifth hall was being fixed in the (Griffith)
right eye of a man, who was praying were
and uttering loud lamentation. accused: had
complaints
    They went into the sixth hall, and (Griffith)
Setme saw the gods of the [council] Atef: The
of the inhabitants of Amenti standing double-
in their order of standing, the feathered crown
attendants (?) of Amenti were of Osiris
standing, making a proclamation.
    They went into the seventh hall,
and Setme saw the figure of the great
god Osiris. He (was) seated upon his
throne of good gold, crowned with
the Atef, the great god Anubis was on
his left, the great god Thoth on his
right, the gods of the council (of
the ?) inhabitants of Amenti (were)
standing to the left and right of him.
The balance was set in the middle
before them. They (were) weighing
the evil deeds against the good
deeds. The great god Thoth (was)
writing, Anubis (was) giving the
word to his colleague.
    (The law) was that he who was (The law)
found to have done more evil deeds was: It being
than good ones was thrown (?) to (Griffith)
Ama:
Ama of the Lord of Amenti, (who)
Ammit, the
destroyed his soul (and) his body and devourer of
did not allow him to breathe ever hearts
again.
    (The law) was that he who was
found to have committed more
numerous good deeds than evil deeds
was taken to the gods of the council
of the Lord of Amenti, and his soul
went to heaven with the noble spirits.
    (The law) was that he who was
found to have committed as many
good deeds as evil deeds, was taken
amongst the excellent (?) spirits that
serve Sokari-Osiris.
    And Setme saw a great man elevated:
clothed in raiment of byssus who was exceedingly
near the place where Osiris was. His great (Griffith)
marvelled:
position was elevated. Setme
made wonder of
marvelled at the things that he saw in the world
Amenti. Tê: the
    Si-Osiri walked out in front of (?) underworld
him (and) said to him: "My father good deeds:
Setme, don't you see this great man, evil deeds (sic)
who is clothed in garment of byssus (Griffith)
and is near the place where Osiris determined:
is? That poor man whom you saw wrote down for
him
being carried out from Memphis and  
not a man walking after him, was according to
wrapped in a mat. They brought him the measure of
to the Tê, they weighed his good his greatness of
deeds that he had done upon earth. eye (sic):
They found his good deeds had been another
translation:
more numerous than his evil deeds, according to
according to the measure (?) of his his luck
term of life that Thoth determined  
(should) be allotted (?) to him, with the bolt
according to the measure of his (?) of the gate
greatness of eye (sic) upon earth. It of Amenti being
fixed on his
was commanded before Osiris that
right eye. They
the burial outfit of that rich man were shutting
whom you saw being carried out and opening
from Memphis, the praise that was out on his eye:
made of him being great, be given to another
translation:
this poor man named, and that they
with the pivot
should take him amongst the noble of the door of
spirits as a man of God who follows the netherworld
Sokaris Osiris, he being near to the fixed in his
place in which is Osiris. right eye, so
    That great man whom you saw, that it opens
and shuts on
they took him to the Tê, they weighed his eye
his evil deeds against his good deeds.
They found that his evil deeds were
more numerous than the good deeds
that he did upon earth. It was
commanded to imprison (?) him in
Amenti. He is that man that [you
saw] with the bolt (?) of the gate of
Amenti being fixed on his right eye.
They were shutting and opening out
on his eye, his mouth was open in
loud lamentation. By the great god
Osiris, Lord of Amenti, behold! I say
to you upon earth: 'There shall be
done] to you just as is being done to
this poor man, there shall not be
done to you according to which is
being done to that great man,' and I
know what will become of him."
    Said Setme: "My son Si-Osiri, In the course
many are the marvels that I have of time: After a
seen in Amenti. In the course of time time
tell me what has happened to these
men who are scattered (?) apart (?)
who are great at eating in addition,
some others whose provision, water,
and bread was hung above them,
were running to bring them down,
(while) some others were digging pits
at their feet to prevent them reaching
them."
    Said Si-Osiris: "It is a just word,
my father Setme, these men whom
you saw who were scattered (?) and
apart (?), who were great at eating in
addition (?). They are like the men
who are on earth , who are under the
curse of the god. They work night
and day for their livelihood, their
women rob (?) them in addition (?),
they find no bread to eat. They came
to Amenti again. They found their
evil deeds to be more numerous than
their good deeds. They found that
what had become of them on earth,
they became in Amenti.
    Concerning those other men
whom you saw, whose food, water
and bread is hung over them, and
who are running to bring them down,
while some others are digging a pit
at their feet to prevent them from
reaching them: the kind of men that
are on earth, whose life is before
them, the god is digging a pit at their
feet to prevent their finding it. They
came to Amenti. They allowed (sic)
that which had become of them on
the earth to become of them again (?)
[in Amenti]. Behold! They received
their soul in the Tê.
    Find it in your heart, my father
Setme, namely, that he who is good
upon the earth, they are good to him
in Amenti, [while] he who is evil,
they are evil to him.
    These matters are established (?), place down
[they shall not be changed] ever. The there (where
things that you see in the Tê in we are) going:
place of going
Memphis happen in those 42 nomes down there
in [which are the assessors (?)] of (Griffith)
the great god Osiris. ///////// Abydos,
the place of the oracle (?) the
dwelling of princes ///////// and in
Philae (?)."
    (Si)-Osiri ended these words
spoken before his father. He went
upon the desert of Mem[phis, his
father Setme em]bracing him, his
hand was in his hand. Setme asked
[saying: "My] son Si-Osiri, separate
is the place down there (where we
are) going, separate is the place from
which we have come up.
    Si-[Osiri did] not answer Setme even with
even with one word. Setme marvelled one word: by a
(?) at the words that he had heard, word on earth.
(Griffith)
saying: "He will (?) be able to that he had
become (?) like the noble spirits as a heard: that he
man of God. was in
    [I was walking] with him, saying: (Griffith)
'This is my son.' Setme pronounced registering
[writing of /////// from the] book of pledges:
exorcising demons. He marvelled at writing of
taking pledge
[the things] he had seen in Amenti
which weighed upon him heavily
since he was not able to reveal
(them) to [any man on earth.
    Behold! The b]oy Si-Osiri passed
twelve years and there was no [good
scribe or learned man (?)] who
rivalled (?) him in Memphis in
reading (or) registering pledges.
rank at
    Afterwards one day Pharaoh court: style (?)
Osir[mare went] to the court (?) of of standing in
the court.
Pharaoh's house in Memphis. [The ate: Griffith:
council], the princes, the generals, from the
the great men of Egypt [were determinative
standing] according to their rank at may mean
court. Came (?) //////// [saying (?)]: 'foreigner' or
"This is a communication that an ate 'negro', unless it
be an
of Ethiopia made [a sealed (?)] letter expression for
(carried) on my body." sorcerer or an
    The announcement of it was made abusive term.
before Pharaoh. He was brought to [a sealed
the court and prayed: "Is there (?)] letter
someone who reads his letter which I (carried) on my
body: [who is
have brought (?) to Egypt before sealed (?)] on
Pharaoh without spoiling its seal (?), his body with a
who will read the writing in it letter
without opening it. Should there be prayed: he
[no good scribe and learned man in] made prayer (?)
Egypt who is able to read it without [saying
(Griffith).
opening it, I will take the humiliation address oneself
of Egypt to the land of Nehes, my to a god
country." Nehes:
Ethiopia
    When Pharaoh heard these words When
[with his princes who did not know Pharaoh heard
the place on] earth where they were, these words :
The time of
they said: "By [the great god (?)] hearing the
Ptah, [is there (?)] the strength in the words that
hand of a good scribe and learned Pharaoh did
man to read writings of which he (Griffith)
shall see their country, or is it did not know
possible (?) to read a letter [without the place on]
earth where
opening it?" they were:
    Said] Pharaoh: "Let there be seemingly
summoned Setme [Kham]wesy my meaning they
son." were at a
    They ran and brought him at that complete loss.
instant. He bowed to the ground. He
saluted [Pharaoh]. He [raised]
himself, stood on his feet, making the
blessings of the salutation of
Pharaoh.
    Pharaoh said to him: "My [son]
Setme, have you heard the words that
this ate [of Ethiopia] has said before
me: 'Is there a good scribe or
learned man in Egypt who shall be
able to read this letter that is in my
hand without breaking its seal, and
shall know what is written in it
without opening it?' "
    When Setme heard these words he reported in:
did not know the place on earth taken to
where he was and he said: "My great (Griffith)
lord, who is he that shall be able to
read writing without opening it?
Give me ten days of delay (?) that I
may see what I shall be able to do, to
prevent the humiliation of Egypt
being reported in the land of Nehes,
the country of eaters of gum."
    Said Pharaoh: "They are for my
son Setme."
    Apartments were given (to Setme)
of turning (?) the face to the
Ethiopian, there was made for him
wickedness (?) like an Ethiopian.
Pharaoh rose from court, his heart
was heavy with grief. He lay down
without drinking and eating. Setme
went to his apartments without
knowing the place in the world he
was going to. He covered himself
with his clothes from head to foot,
not knowing the place on earth in
which he was.
    His wife Meh-wesekht was brother:
informed of it. She came to the place often used for
where Setme was. She reached inside beloved.
Do not
his clothes and did not find any
bother me:
warmth. He lay quiet (?) in his Cease from me
clothes. She said to him: 'My brother (Griffith)
Setme, there is no warmth in your my sister:
lap, sheby (?) in the flesh, illness, like 'brother'
(and) sadness of heart." often used as a
    He said to her: "Do not bother term of
me, my sister Me-wesekht, the matter endearment
on account of which my heart is
grieved is not a things that it is right
to reveal to a woman."
    The child Si-Osiri came in. He
stood over Setme his father and said
to him: "My father Setme, what are
you lying here for with a sad heart?
Tell me the things that are enclosed
in your heart that I may make them
cease."
    He said: "Don't bother me my son you are not
Si-Osiri, about the things in my grown yet, look
heart. You are young of age, you are after yourself:
thou art not
not grown yet, look after yourself." great (?), take
    Si-Osiris said: "Tell me so I may heed (?) to
lighten your heart." thyself.
    Setme said: "My son Si-Osiri, an (Griffith)
ate of Ethiopia has come to Egypt,
carrying a sealed letter on his body
and he says: 'Is there somebody who
will (?) read it without opening it?
And if there is no good scribe and
learned man in Egypt who is able to
read it, I will carry the news of the
humiliation of Egypt to the land of
Nehes, my country.'
Behold! I lay down, my heart
saddened because of this, my son Si-
Osiri."
    When Si-Osiri heard these words apartments
he laughed for a long time. Setme on the ground
said to him: "Why are you floor:
apartments of
laughing?" the ground of
    He answered: "I am laughing thy apartments
because you are lying, telling me that (Griffin)
your heart is sad because of small every book
matter like this one. Get up, my which you take
father Setme, I shall be able to read out of the case:
Every book that
the letter that was brought to Egypt thou bringest
without opening it and to know what from the case
is written in it without breaking its (Griffin)
seal."
    When Setme heard these words he
got up at once and said: "What is
your pledge that you are speaking the
truth, my son Si-Osiri?"
    He said to him: "My father Setme,
go to the apartments on the ground
floor. (With) every book you take out
of the case I will tell you what book it
is, (and) I will read it without seeing
it, standing above you in your
apartments on the ground floor."
    Setme got up and stood on his Si-Osiri: in
feet. He did everything that Si-Osiri the text
had said to him. Si-Osiri read every mistakenly:
Setme
book that Setme his father lifted up, his joy was
without opening them. Setme came boundless: he
up from the apartments on the being in
ground floor and his joy was gladness of the
boundless. earth (Griffith)
    He hurried to the place where made merry:
Pharaoh was. He related before him they made a
good day
everything that the child Si-Osiri had (Griffith)
said to him. His heart was very glad Amen, his
because of it. god: The Amen
    Pharaoh washed himself for worship had
feasting with Setme. He ordered Si- taken root in
Osiri to be brought to the feast Kush
come up to
before him. They drank and made
Egypt:
merry. topographically
    The morning of the next day came. Egypt was
Pharaoh came forth to the court lower than
between his great men. Pharaoh Kush.
ordered the ate of Ethiopia to be (Similarly in
Hebrew: la'alot
fetched. He was brought to the court,
- to ascend, is
the sealed (?) letter on his body. He used meaning
stood in the middle of the court. The for Jews to
child Si-Osiri advanced to the centre immigrate to
(and) stood near the ate of Ethiopia. Israel.)
He spoke against him: "Woe! Wicked
one of Ethiopia, may Amen, his god,
smite him! You have come up to
Egypt, the beautiful garden of Osiris,
the footstool of Ra-Harakht, the
beautiful horizon of the Spirit,
saying: 'I will report [its] humiliation
to the land of Nehes.'
    The inspiration (?) of your god
Amen is cast on thee. The words that
I shall narrate are written in this
latter. Do not utter falsehoods
concerning them before Pharaoh,
your sovereign!"
    When the ate of Ethiopia looked at When the ate
the child Si-Osiri standing in the of Ethiopia
court, he put his head to the ground. looked at the
child Si-Osiri:
He said: "I will not speak falsehood The time of
concerning any word that you will seeing that
say." made the ate of
    Si-Osiri began relating before Ethiopia at the
Pharaoh and his nobles and the child Si-Osiri
(Griffith).
people of Egypt paid close attention ate
to what he said: "What is written in Lichteim:
the letter of the ate of Ethiopia who is chieftain
standing in our midst is as follows: Kwr:
Once upon a time in the days of Lichtheim:
Pharaoh Menkh-pa-Ra Si-Amon ruler
ruled as the beneficent king of the Nehes:
whole land, Egypt was overflowing Lichtheim:
Nubia
with everything in his time, he was up to Egypt:
abundant in giving expenditure, work see above
in the great temples of Egypt. There kiki (?):
happened a day, the Kwr (?) of the Seemingly the
land of Nehes making ///////// in the burning oil
fields /////////// of the land of Amen, from the castor
behold! he heard the voice of three oil plant
(ricinus
ate of Ethiopia [in the (?)
communis) used
draughthouse (?), one of them said in in lamps.
a loud voice: 'That Amen may not Lichtheim has:
find for me evil nor the Kwr of (?) only darkness
Egypt cause [abomination be done to
me], I would (?) cast my magic up to
Egypt that I might cause the people
of Egypt to pass three days (and)
three nights without seeing light
except the kiki (?).'
Said the other of them after saying: When the
'Let (?) Amen not find for me viceroy heard
misfortune nor the Kwr of Egypt what the three
men of Ethiopia
cause abomination to be done to me: had said: The
I would (?) cast my magic up to time of hearing
Egypt that I might cause the Pharaoh the word that
of Egypt to be brought to the land of the Viceroy did,
Nehes, and cause him to be beaten from the voice
of the three
with a scourging, 500 blows of the men of Ethiopia
stick (?) in the midst before the (Griffith)
Viceroy, and cause him to be brought
back up to Egypt in six (?) hours
precisely.'
When the viceroy heard what the
three men of Ethiopia had said, he
ordered them to be brought before
him. He said to them: 'Who of you is
he that said, "I will cast my magic up
to Egypt, I will not allow them to see
light in three days (and) three nights"
?'
They said: 'It is Hor, the son of the
Sow.'
Said he: 'Who is he that said, "I will
cast my magic up to Egypt, I will
bring Pharaoh to the land of Nehes, I
will cause him to be beaten with a
scourging, 500 blows of the stick (?)
in the midst of the Viceroy, I will
cause him to be taken back to Egypt
in six (?) hours precisely" ?'
They said: "It is Hor, the son of the
Negress.'
He said: 'Who is he that said, "I will
cast my magic up in Egypt. I will not
allow the land to be fertile until three
years" ?'
They said: 'It is Hor, the son of the
Princess (?).'
The Viceroy said (to Hor, the son of Meroe:
the Negress): 'Do your feat of magic Capital city of
in writing. By the life of Amen, the the kingdom of
Kush (4th
bull of Meroe my god, if your hand century BCE to
will satisfy me, I will shower you with 4th century
an abundance of good things.' CE).
Hor, the son of the Negress, made of The Bull of
wax a group of four runners (?), he Meroe: Amen-
read some writing to them, he gave Re
made of wax
them the breath of life, he made them
a group of four
come alive. He commanded them: runners: made
'Go up to Egypt and bring Pharaoh a litter of wax
of Egypt to the place where the of four runners
Viceroy is. He shall be beaten with a (Griffith)
scourging, 500 blows of the stick wax: wax
before the Viceroy, and (then) you was often used
in magic for
 forming
will take him back up to Egypt in six figurines, which
(?) hours.' could then be
They said: 'Certainly. We will not let destroyed. (cf.
anything go amiss.' Ancient
The sorceries of the Ethiopian Egyptian
Magic)
proceeded up to Egypt by night, they
breath of
overpowered Pharaoh Menkh-pa-Ra
life: breath of
Si-Amon, they took him to the land of respiration
Nehes, to the place where the (Griffith)
Viceroy was. He was beaten with We will not
scourging, 500 blows of the stick, let anything go
before the Viceroy, (then) they amiss: We will
not allow a
returned him up to Egypt in six hours
thing to pass
precisely." away (Griffith)
    Si-Osiri finished narrating the the words I
story before Pharaoh and his have
princes, and the people of Egypt recounted: the
words of which
heard his voice. He said: "The I am master (?)
inspiration of your god Amen is cast (Griffith)
on you. Are the words I have Continue
recounted those that are written in reading!: Read
the letter which is in your hand?" after thy
    The ate of Ethiopia said: readings
(Griffith)
"Continue reading! Every word you What has
have said is true." happened in
    Si-Osiri said to Pharaoh: "After Egypt when I
these things had happened, they (was made to ?)
returned Pharaoh Si-Amon up to depart from it?:
Egypt, his hinder parts beaten with What is it that
hath found
many lashes. He lay down in the Egypt until I
shrine of Per-Hor (?) his hinder (be made to ?)
parts hurting from the cruel beating. depart from [it]
The morning of the next day arrived. (Griffith)
Pharaoh said to his courtiers: 'What Pharaoh has
has happened in Egypt when I (was lost his mind:
the word of the
made to ?) depart from it?'
heart of
Shame on (?) the words of the Pharaoh has
courtiers who said: 'Probably gone away
Pharaoh has lost his mind.' (Griffith)
They said: 'You are well, you are
well, O Pharaoh, our great lord. The
great goddess Isis will stop ////// your
troubles (?). What is the meaning of
the words that you have said before
[us, O Pharaoh], our great lord? You
were lying down [in] the shrine [of
Pi-]Hor, the gods protect you.'
Pharaoh got up, showed his courtiers
his back which had been beaten
exceedingly and he said: 'By the life
of the (great) god Ptah someone (?)
took me to the land of Nehes in the
night, someone beat me with 500
blows of the stick before the Viceroy,
and they returned me up to Egypt in
six hours.'
When they saw the hinder parts of spells:
Pharaoh which had been beaten writings
cruelly, they made a great noise. (Griffith)
Khmun:
Menkh-pa-Ra Si-Amen had a
Hermopolis
librarian (?) who was called Hor, Magna in
son of Pa-neshe, who was a highly Middle Egypt,
[learned] man. He came to the cult centre of
palace where Pharaoh was and he Thoth.
exclaimed: 'My [great lord], these Look upon
were the sorceries of the Ethiopians. me favourably:
Give thy face to
By the life of your //////// I will order me (Griffith)
them to be thrown into your house of
torment (?) and execution (?).'
[The pharaoh] said to him: 'Come
quickly to me! Don't let me be taken
to the land of Nehes another night.'
The librarian (?) Hor, son of Pa-
neshe, came at once. He took his
books and amulets [to the place]
where [Pharaoh] was. He read spells
to him and fastened an amulet on him
to prevent the sorceries of the
Ethiopians from getting power over
him.
He left Pharaoh, taking his offerings
and libations, and went on board a
boat and sailed to Khmun without
delay. He went into the temple of
Khmun, [he made his] offerings
(and) libations before Thoth the
great great great great great [great
great great], the lord of Khmun, the
great god. He said a prayer before
him: 'Look upon me favourably, my
lord Thoth. Let not the Ethiopians
report the humiliation of Egypt to the
land of Nehes. It is you who /////////
magic in writing, you suspended the
heaven, established the earth, the
underworld, and placed the gods
among the stars (?). Let me know
how to save Pharaoh [from the
sorceries of the] Ethiopians.'
Hor, son of Pa-neshe (?), lay down in that shrine:
the temple. He dreamed a dream that the shrine
night in which the great god Thoth named
(Griffith)
spoke to him: "Are you Hor, son of It was in the
Pa-neshe (?), the librarian of hand of the
Pharaoh Menkh-pa-Ra Si-Amen? god: he found
When the morning of tomorrow the event that it
comes, go to the library of the temple was matter (?)
of Khmun. You shall find a shrine of god
(Griffith)
(which is) closed and sealed. Open it.
You shall find a box in that shrine.
There is a roll of papyrus (?) in it,
which I wrote with my own hand.
Bring it up, make a copy of it, and
return it to its place. Its name is 'The
Book of Magic'. It protected me from
the impious, it shall protect Pharaoh,
that he may be saved from the
sorceries of the Ethiopians.'
Hor, son of Pa-neshe, awoke from
the dream, he remembered what he
had seen. It was in the hand of the
god. He did everything according to
what he had been told in his dream.
He hurried to the place where
Pharaoh was. He made for him an
amulet against sorceries in writing
(?). The next day arrived.
The sorceries of Hor, the son of the
Negress, returned to Egypt by night,
to the place where Pharaoh was.
They returned to the place where the
Viceroy was at that time. They could
not get power over Pharaoh because
of the amulets with the spells that the
librarian Hor, son of Pa-neshe, had
bound (?) upon him. The morning of
the next day arrived.
Pharaoh told the librarian Hor, son breath of
of Pa-neshe, about everything that he life: breath of
had seen by night, and how the respiration
(Griffith)
sorceries of the Ethiopians had
turned away, unable to get power
over him. Horus, son of Pa-neshe,
ordered pure and abundant wax
brought to him. He made a group
[of] four bearers. He pronounced
spells over them. He gave them the
breath of life. He made them come
alive. He commanded them: 'Go to
the land of Nehes tonight. Bring the
Viceroy up to Egypt, to the place
where Pharaoh is. After he has been
beaten with 500 blows of the stick
before Pharaoh, you shall return him
to the land of Nehes in six hours.'
They said: 'Certainly, we will not let
anything go amiss.'
The sorceries of Hor, son of Pa-
neshe, travelled under (?) the clouds
of heaven, they hurried to the land of
Nehes by night. They overpowered
the Viceroy. They brought him up to
Egypt, he was beaten with 500 blows
of the stick before Pharaoh. They
returned him to the land of Nehes in
six hours, all the way."
    Si-Osiri narrated this story before Continue
Pharaoh and his nobles, the people reading!: Read
of Egypt heard his voice, saying: after thy
readings
"The power of your god Amen is cast (Griffith)
upon you, O wicked one from
Ethiopia. The words I have spoken,
are they written in this letter?"
The Ethiopian, his head turned to the
ground, said: "Continue reading!
Every word you have spoken is
written in this letter."
Si-Osiri said: "After all these events
had happened, after they had brought
back the Viceroy to the land of Nehes
in six hours, they put him in his
place, he lay down.
He rose in the morning, badly beaten
by the blows that had been given him
above in Egypt.
'(They) beat me with 500 blows of the
stick before Pharaoh of Egypt. They
returned (me) to the land of Nehes.'
He turned his back towards the
princes, they uttered loud
lamentations. The Viceroy ordered
them to go after Hor, son of the
Negress. He said: 'May Amen curse
you, the bull of Meroe, my god! You
went to the men of Egypt, consider
and let me see the method with which
you will save me from the hand of
Hor, son of Pa-neshe.'
He made his sorceries and bound skill: hand
them on the Viceroy to save him from (Griffith)
the sorceries of Hor, son of Pa-
neshe. The night of the next day
came.
The sorceries of Hor, son of Pa-
neshe, travelled to the land of Nehes.
They carried the Viceroy up to Egypt.
He was beaten with 500 blows of the
stick before Pharaoh. He was taken
back to the land of Nehes in six hours
all told.
This happened to the Viceroy for
three days, the sorceries of the
Ethiopians were not able to save the
Viceroy from the hand of Hor, son of
Pa-neshe.
The Viceroy was in deepest anguish.
He ordered Hor, the son pf the
Negress, to be brought to him. He
said to him: 'Woe, you enemy from
Ethiopia, you have caused me to be
humiliated by hand of the men of
Egypt. You could not save me from
their hands. By the life of Amen, the
bull of Meroe my god, should it be
that you should not be able to save
me from the aerial cars of the men of
Egypt,I will order them to put you to
an evil death.'
He said: 'My master, the Viceroy,
sent me up to Egypt that I may meet
him who does magic among them,
that I may strive against him, that I
may let him see the scorn that is (?)
in my heart (?) for his skill.'
Hor, the son of the Negress, was sent
away from before the Viceroy. He
came to the place where his mother
the Negress was.
'You are going up to Egypt to do
sorcery there, beware of the men of
Egypt. You will not be able to
contend with them. Don't let yourself
be caught by their hands, so that you
will not return to the land of Nehes
forever.'
He said: 'There is nothing to what
you are saying. I shall not be able to
avoid going up to Egypt in order to
cast my magic on it.'
The Negress his mother said to him:
'Should it happen that you do go to
Egypt, let us agree on some signs
between me and you: Should you fail
I will come to you in order to see
whether I be able to save you.'
He said to her: 'Should I be
overcome (?) then should you be
drinking [or eating flesh (?)], the
water before you will turn the colour
of blood, the food that are before you
will turn the colour of flesh, the sky
shall turn the colour of blood before
your eyes.'
Hor, the son of the Negress, having
set the signs between (?) himself and
his mother, went up to Egypt,
crammed (?) with magic. He
traversed from that which Amen
made //////// as far as Memphis, to the
place where Pharaoh was, hunting
after him who was doing magic in
Egypt.
He came to the court, (stood) before
Pharaoh and spoke in a loud voice:
'Ho! you who do magic against me in
the court of Pharaoh, the people of
Egypt looking at him, you two scribes
of the House of Life (or) you, scribe
of the House of Life, who casts magic
spells on the Viceroy, bringing him
up to Egypt in spite of me.'
As he was speaking these words, On:
Hor, son of Pa-neshe was standing in Heliopolis
the court before Pharaoh. He said:
'Ho! Enemy from Ethiopia, are you
not Hor, son of the Negress, whom I
saved (?) in the reeds of Re, (with)
your companion from Ethiopia who
accompanied you, you were
drowning (?) in the water, you were
cast (?) down from the hill on the
east of On? Did you not repent the
freeing (?) of Pharaoh, your
sovereign, after you had caused his
hinder parts to be beaten in the place
where the Viceroy was? You have
come up to Egypt, asking: "Is he who
does magic against me, here?" By the
life of Atum, lord of On, the gods of
Egypt have brought you to requite
you in their country.'
When Hor, son of the Negress, heard
the words spoken by Hor, son of Pa-
neshe, he answered him: 'Is it he to
whom I taught jackal-language (?)
who does sorcery against me?'
The man of Ethiopia made an effort
to cast a written spell: he caused fire
to come out in the court. Pharaoh
with the princes of Egypt uttered a
loud cry: 'Hasten to our side,
librarian Hor, son of Pa-neshe!'
Hor, son of Pa-neshe, cast a written
spell. He caused the sky to open up
with southern rain over the flame. It
was extinguished in an instant.
The Ethiopian made another effort of spell:
magic in writing. He created a great writing
covering (?) over the court. No one (Griffith)
It cleared
(could) see his brother or his
from the evil
companion. Hor, son of Pa-neshe, wind: it being
read a spell to the sky. He caused it clear from the
to cease. It cleared from the evil evil wind in
wind. which it was
(Griffith)
Hor, the son of the Negress, made 200 cubits in
another effort of written magic. He length by (?) 50
caused a great vault of stone, 200 cubits of width:
cubits in length by (?) 50 cubits of about 100
width, to appear above Pharaoh and metres by 25
his princes, with the intention to metres
leave Egypt without a king, the world
(?) deficient of a sovereign. Pharaoh
looked at the sky, he saw the vault of
stone above him. He opened his
mouth and uttered a loud cry,
together with the people that were in
court. Hor, son of Pa-neshe,
pronounced a magic formula: He
caused an air-boat of papyrus to
appear, which proceeded with the
vault of stone. Behold! It flew with it
forward to the Mighty Pool, the great
water of Egypt.
The man of Ethiopia knew that he Egyptian: in
was not able to contend with [the the text
Egyptian]. He made an effort to cast mistakenly:
Ethiopian
a written spell to prevent his seeing
him in court, with the intent of
translating himself to the land of
Nehes, his city. Hor, son of Pa-neshe,
pronounced a spell causing the
sorceries of the Ethiopian to be
revealed, causing Pharaoh to see
him, with the people of Egypt that
were standing in the court. He was
(in the ) form of a bad fox-gander
and was about to depart. Hor, son of
Pa-neshe, pronounced a spell
causing him to turn back, and there
was a fowler standing over him, his
piercing knife in his hand. He was
going to do to it an abomination.
After all these things had happened,
the signs which Hor, son of the
Negress, had set between himself and
his mother, they all happened in front
of her (eyes). She immediately went
up to Egypt, taking on the form of a
fox-goose. She stood over the palace
of Pharaoh bewailing (?) her son
with her voice, while he was in the
form of an evil fox-gander and the
fowler was standing over him.
Hor, son of Pa-neshe, looked at the her to be
sky, He saw the Negress in the guise turned on her
in which she was. He knew that it back: the back
to be turned for
was the Ethiopian Negress. He her (Griffith)
pronounced a spell causing her to be
turned on her back with a fowler
standing over her about to kill her
with his knife.
She changed from the form in which
she was, she took on the guise of an
Ethiopian woman, praying: 'Do not
make an end (?) to us, Hor, son of
Pa-neshe, let go for us this occasion
of failure (?). Should you give us an
aerial boat, we will not return to
Egypt ever.'
Horus, son of Pa-neshe, swore an written
oath by Pharaoh and the gods of spell: feat of
Egypt, saying: 'I will not remove my writing
(Griffith)
spell, until you have sworn an oath to
me not to return up to Egypt for any
kind (?) of purpose (?).'
The Negress raised her hand (and
swore) not to come up to Egypt for
all eternity. Hor, the son of the
Negress, swore an oath, saying: 'I
will not come up to Egypt for 1500
years.'
Hor, son of Pa-neshe withdrew his
hand from his written spell. He gave
an aerial boat to Hor, the son of the
Negress, and the Negress, his
mother. They proceeded to the land
of Nehes, their city."
    Si-Osiri made this narration it: Egypt
before Pharaoh, the people of Egypt
heard his voice. Setme, his father,
saw everything. The head of the man
from Ethiopia was facing the ground.
Si-Osiri said: "By the life of your
face, my great lord, this man who is
standing before you, is Hor, the son
of the Negress. This man, whose
words I am relating, who has not
repented of those things that he did
long ago, has come up to Egypt at
the end of 1500 years to cast the
sorceries here.
By the life of Osiris, great good lord
of Amenti, before (?) whom I rest (?),
I am Hor, son of Pa-neshe, this man
who stands before Pharaoh, found
this out, that the wicked one of
Ethiopia would cast his sorceries up
into it and there would be no good
scribe and learned man in Egypt at
the time able to contend with him.
I prayed before Osiris in Amenti to
let me come forth to the world again,
to prevent reporting the humiliation
of Egypt to the land of Nehes. Osiris
commanded to bring me out into the
world. I awoke. I flew to the crown of
the head to find Setme, the son of
Pharaoh, upon the gebel of On (or)
the gebel of Memphis. I grew as this
vine with the intent of returning to
the body again, that I might be born
to the world to do magic against this
enemy from Ethiopia who stands in
court."
    Hor, son of Pa-neshe, in the shape
of Si-Osiri, cast a written spell on the
man of Ethiopia. He caused the fire
to surround him, it consumed him in
the middle of the court. Pharaoh saw
him together with the nobles and the
people of Egypt.
    Si-Osiri passed away as (?) a
shadow from the company of
Pharaoh and Setme, his father. They
did not see him. Pharaoh marvelled
with his great men at the things they
had seen in the court and they said:
"There is no good scribe and learned
man like Hor, son of Pa-neshe. There
will not be his like ever."
     Setme opened his mouth and before Setme
shouted loudly when Si-Osiri had to lodge him: ?
passed away as a shadow, and he did not
had not seen him. Pharaoh rose cease to make
offerings and
(from) court, anger in his heart at the libations: did
things that he had seen. He started not make
preparations to be made before intermission of
Setme to lodge him because of Si- those that make
Osiri, his son, to refresh his heart. offerings and
libations
    When evening fell Setme went to (Griffith)
his apartments, his heart exceedingly
sad. Meh-wesekht lay at his side. She
conceived from him that night. She
did not delay (and) gave birth to a
male child, who was given the name
of Wesy-Ment-Hor (?).
    Setme did not cease to make
offerings and libations before the
genius of Hor, son of Pa-neshe, at
every occasion.
    This is the end of this book,
written /////////////
 
Source: Griffith, F. Ll, Stories of the High Priests of
Memphis; The Sethon of Herodotus and The Demotic Tales
of Khamuas [1]
Minor alterations were made by me.
 

    Index of Texts    

      This is a mirror of a page by André Dollinger on the   reshafim.org.il   website