Skip to main content

The Temple of Esna. An Evolving Translation: Esna III

Column 10 (282-297)

Esna 282

Aʿnḫ nṯr nfr
ḫʿ.tw ḥr ns.t=k
mỉ Rʿ sḥḏ tȝ.wy
ỉʿḥ pẖr p.ty=fy
smn=f nt-ʿ m Ỉwny.t

nb ḥb.w
(ỉwtgrtr gysrs)|
(mry) ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t

A Live the good god:
You appear upon your throne,
like Re who illumines the two lands,
and the moon who encircles the heavens,
as he establishes rituals in Iunyt.

Lord of festivals
(Autokrator Caesar)|
(beloved of) Khnum-Re Lord of the Field.

Bʿnḫ nṯr nfr
ṯḥn mỉ Ḥr
m nswy.t= ʿȝ.t
smn(.w) ḥr ns.t n Rʿ
ḥqȝ.n=k tȝ.wy
m mȝʿ-ḫrw

nb-ḫʿ.w
(tmdyns nty-ḫwỉ)|
(mry) ẖmnw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t

B Live the good god,
excellent like Horus
in a long kingship,
established upon the throne of Re,
you having ruled the two lands
in justification.

Lord of appearances
(Domitian Augustus)|
(beloved of) Khnum-Re Lord of Esna.

Esna 283

Cartouches of Heka, with figures of Khnum. Conventional spellings.

Esna 285

14ỉʿb rnp.w
m ỉḫt nb nḏm-sṯỉ
ḏd-mdw

rnp.w nb n kȝ=k
ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
15ḫʿ.w nb nḏm-sṯỉ
m ḥtp wr
r fnḏ=k
bʿḥ=k ỉm=sn

mȝȝ st ḥm=k
ḫntš psḏ.t
ḥr-sȝ ḥtp kȝ=k
m rn=k pf(y)
n nb-sḫ.t

14 Assembling fresh plants,
of all sweet-smelling types.
Words spoken:

These plants are for your Ka,
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna.
15 All sweet-smelling ingredients,
in very great peace,
for your nose,
so you are overwhelmed by them.

You majesty sees them,
and the Ennead rejoices
after your Ka is satisfied,
in this your name
of Lord of the Field.

Esna 286

15ḥnk rnp.w
ḏd-mdw

pr(=ỉ) r šȝ.t
zbỉ=ỉ sš m sḫ.t
ʿq=ỉ r s.t=k tp dwȝw

ww=k wpš(.w) m mfk
16sṯỉ(.w) m ṯḥn

wr sm.w
ʿšȝ n=s rnp.w
sw nn rḫ ṯn=sn
ḥtp.w=s mỉ ȝḫ.t
hrw wȝḏ
šmȝ.w=s nb ḥr wp šn=sn
ȝḫḫ=sn m wbȝ=k rʿ-nb

m.k
twt ḥr-tp ȝḫ.t
ỉr ȝḫ.w

ḥtp ḥr=k nfr
n ḫnty-š mr=k
(tmdyns ḫwỉ)|

17wȝḏ=k n=f šn.w-tȝ nb
ḥr-sȝ tȝ
sṯḥn=f ṯḥn.ty=f
m rnp.w r ḥn.ty

15 Offering fresh plants.
Words spoken:

As I go out to the fen,
so do I ‘roam the marshes’ in the field:
thus do I enter your place early morning.

Your field is bright with turquoise,
16 as it is strewn with faience.190

Great of vegetation,
its fresh plants are numerous,
their number cannot be known;
its plant-offerings are like the field
on a green day;
all its flowers are opening their blossoms,
they flourish in your forecourt, daily.191

Behold, your are chief of the field (ȝḫ.t),
who performs benefactions (ȝḫ.w).

May your face be kind
to the chief of agriculture, whom you love,
(Domitian Augustus)|

17 May you make prosper for him all plants
upon the earth,
and he will make your eyes (ṯḥn.ty) sparkle (sṯḥn)
with fresh plants, forever.

Esna 287

17mzỉ rnp.w
ḏd-mdw

dỉ.n zȝ-Rʿ
(tmdyns ḫwỉ)|
sḫ.t n kȝ=k
ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t

bs=f n=k
ỉmy.w tȝ pn
m ḥr[=k nfr]
[…]
18ȝḫȝḫ=sn
m ḥr=k nfr

ỉḫt nb nfr n kȝ=k
p(ȝ) nbỉ nṯr.w

17 Offering fresh plants.
Words spoken:

The son of Re,
(Domitian Augustus)| has given
the field to your Ka,
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna.

He introduces for you
that which is in this land,
in [your beautiful] face
[…]
18 they are brilliant
in your beautiful face.

All good things for your Ka,
o you who fashioned the gods.

Esna 288

18mzỉ dqr.w nt šȝ.w nb.w
ḏd-mdw

mȝʿ wʿb n kȝ-k
ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
m dqr.w nb bnr
[…]

[…] 19ỉr.n=k
m rn=k pfy
n ỉr wnn.t

18 Offering fruits of all plants.
Words spoken:

A pure offering for your Ka,
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,192
of all sweet fruits
[…]

[…] 19 which you made,
in this your name
of He who Made what Exists.

Esna 289

19mzỉ mz.w
ḏd-mdw

ỉỉ.n zȝ-Rʿ
(tmdyns ḫwỉ)|
ḫr=k
ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t

dỉ=f n=k sḫ.t ḥtp.t
dỉ=f n=k sḫ.t wȝḏ.t
ḥtp=k ỉm
swȝš=k ỉm
wȝḏ=k ỉm
n ḏ.t-ḏ.t
ỉw=w wʿb.w zp-snw

19 Presenting bouquets.
Words spoken:

The son of Re,
(Domitian Augustus)|
has come before you,
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,

So he might give you a pleasant (ḥtp.t) field,
and give you a green (wȝḏ.t) field.
May you be pleased (ḥtp) therein,
be powerful therein,
and thrive (wȝḏ) therein,
for all eternity,
these (offerings) being pure!

Esna 290

19ḥnk mz.w
n ḥrr.wt nb.w 20bnr(.w)
ḏd-mdw

mz.w (r)-ḥȝ.t nṯr pn
m šȝ.w nb bnr
rwḏ.n ḥʿpỉ n kȝ=k
ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t

mn n=k mz n ḥrr.t nb bnr
ỉw=sn ḫr=k
šzp n=k st
ȝḫḫ=sn m ḥr=k nfr
ḫnm st nb-sḫ.t
ḥr ʿ.wy (tmtyns)|
ỉw=w wʿb(.w)

19 Offering bouquets
of all sweet 20 flowers.
Words spoken:

Bouquets are before this god,
of all sweet plants,
which Hapi made grow for your Ka,
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna.

Take this bouquet of all sweet flowers,
they come before you!
Receive them,
they blossom in your beautiful face!
Breathe them, o Lord of the Field,
upon the arms of (Domitian)|
they are pure!

Esna 291

21mzỉ mz.w nw wȝḏ.w
ḥrr.t nb
ḫ.t nb nḏm-sṯỉ ḏd-mdw

hy ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
ṯḥn ḥr=k
m wȝḏ.w n ʿnḫ

dỉ(=ỉ) n=k ỉȝḫ.w
pr(.w) m qȝy.t
rwḏ nb m nfrw=k
qȝʿ tȝ
rnp Nwn
wnwn22=sn m wbn=k

šw.t ṯȝw
ỉr wȝḏ.w n sḫm.t
msḫn.t m ȝḫ-bỉ.t
ỉr=sn zȝ=k
wḥm=sn mk=k
r ḫw(.t) nṯr ỉm=sn

ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
mzỉ.tw n=k ẖȝ.w nb
m ḥr=k nfr

21 Presenting bouquets of papyrus,
all flowers,
and all sweet-scented wood.
Words spoken:

Hail, Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,193
may your face sparkle
from the papyrus stalks of life.

I give to you marsh-reeds
which came forth from the mound,
all that grows through your goodness;
that which the earth spits out,
which Nun rejuvenates:
they 22 all move when you shine.

Protective shade for a chick,
the papyrus of Sakhmet serves
as a birth-place in Chemmis:
they perform your protection,
they repeat your guard,
to shield the god within them.

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna:
one brings all plants to your
in your beautiful face.

Esna 292

22ḥnk wȝḏ
ḏd-mdw

ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-snt
23mn n=k wȝḏ šps
pr m ḥȝ.t
smw wr
swȝḏ tȝ.wy=f
ʿnḫ-wȝs
pr m mw.t-nṯr

ṯḥn ḥr=k
mk=f ḥʿw=k
wn=f m zȝ=k rʿ-nb
nn pw ỉr.n mw.t=f ỉr=f

22 Presenting the papyrus stalk.
Words spoken:

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,
23 receive the august papyrus stalk,
which emerged in the beginning;
the great plant,
which makes verdant its two lands;
ʿnḫ-wȝs-milk
which comes forth from the divine mother.

May your face scintillate,
and may it guard your body,
as it is in your protection, every day:
this is what your mother accomplished!194

wȝḏ=s ỉry m ỉrw=f
ḫpr rn=f pw n wȝḏ

mn=f m ww=k
ḥȝp=f 24ḏ.t=k
m rn=f pfy n mnḥw

swsḫ(=f) s.t=k
ṯȝy.n=f tȝ pn
m rn=f pfy n ṯwf

ỉtḥ.n=f sw
m ỉnb ḥȝ=f
m rn=f pfy n ỉdḥw

ỉḥy pw
nty šd bʿḥ=k
m rn=f pfy [n] ỉ[m]ḥw

She makes it green (wȝḏ), meanwhile, in its form:
thus its name became ‘green papyrus’ (wȝḏ).195

It remains (mn) in your agricultural district,
and it conceals (ḥȝp) 24 your body
in its name of mnḥw-papyrus.196

(It) broadens your territory,
having seized (ṯȝy.n=f) this land,
in this its name of reed (ṯwf).

It has surrounded (ỉtḥ) it (this land)
as a protective wall around it,
in this its name of delta-plant (ỉdḥw).

It is the trapping-net (ỉḥy)
which catches your flood,
in this its name of ỉmḥw-plant.

25ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
mn n=k sḫm.w
pr(.w) m Gbb
msḫn.t nt Šw Tfn.t
ỉr nḫy n zȝ Ỉs.t
wbn=k ỉm=f
ḏȝỉ=k ḥr.t m mȝʿ
rʿ-nb

ḫwỉ tw ḥr.t-tp=k
wn(.w) m ḫfʿ=f
ỉr.t-Rʿ m zȝ=f

ḫwỉ=k zȝ-Rʿ
(tmdyns ḫwỉ)|
26dỉ=k n=f tȝ pn
ẖr ỉmỉ=f
mȝʿ-ḫrw ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
r ḫfty.w=f zp 4

25 Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,197
take these divine powers,
which came forth from Geb;
the birthplace of Shu and Tefnut;
that which makes protection for the Son of Isis;
may you rise from it,
and sail across heaven with a proper wind,
daily.198

May your uraeus guard you,
that which is in his (the king’s) grasp,
the Eye of Re in his protection.

May you guard the Son of Re,
(Domitian Augustus)|
26 May you give him this land,
bearing that which is in it.
Khnum-Re Lord of Esna is justified
over his enemies! (to be said 4 times)

Esna 293

26rȝ n ḥnk rrm.w
ḏd-mdw

ỉnḏ-ḥr=k
bnn šps pr m ḥʿw-nṯr
fd.t-nṯr pr m Ptḥ
ỉn.n Ḏḥwty m ʿ.wy=f
ḥnk=f sw
n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t

27hȝ ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
mn n=k fd.t-nṯr
pr m Ḏḥwty
snsn=k ỉm=s
ȝb=s ỉḥ.t=k
swsḫ šnb.t=k ẖr=s

ỉn=s n=k zȝ-Rʿ
(tmdyns)|
ḫnm fnḏ=k ỉm=f rʿ-nb

mȝȝ m-sȝ=f r
p(ȝ) wḫȝ n mḥty
nty wbȝ

^ Recitation for offering vessels.
Words spoken:

Greetings to you,
august seed that emerged from god’s body,
divine sweat that emerged from Ptah,
which Thoth brought with his hands,
so he might offer it
to Khnum-Re Lord of Esna.

27 O Khnum-Re, Lord of Esna,
take the divine sweat
which emerged from Thoth;
may you breathe it,
your throat desires it:
fill your lungs with it.

The Son of Re brings it to you,
(namely) (Domitian)|,
so your nose might breathe it daily.

(After this, look to
the column to the north,
which is opposite this; cf. Esna 272 ).

Esna 294

The King

3wdpw ḫrp […]

4nṯr nfr
ʿpr wḏȝ.t
mḥ ỉr.t Ḥr
m nfrw=s
srwḏ šȝ[.w…]
n nb […]
(twmtyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

3 The cup-bearer who consecrates […]

4 The good god,
who supplies the wedjat-eye,
and fills the Eye of Horus
with its perfection.
He who makes thrive the vineyard[s…]
for [its] lord […]
(Domitian Augustus)|

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

5ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-[sn.t]
[…]
6[…] ʿȝ šfy.t
[…]
7n […] Rʿ
ỉr šȝ.w
s[…] nṯr.w

5 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of E[sna]
[…]
6 […] great of prestige
[…]
7 of […] Re,
who makes vineyards
and […] the gods.

Nebtu

8ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ww nb.t tȝ-sn.t
Tfn.t zȝ.t Rʿ
9šps.t wsr.t
n nṯr.w nṯr.yt
wr(.t) mrw.t
ḥnw.t ḥmw.wt
10nb(.t) [t]ḫ
mr(.t) hrw-nfr

11dỉ=ỉ ḥsb=k ʿḥʿ
m […]

8 Words spoken by Nebtu, Lady of Esna,
Tefnut, daughter of Re,
9 august and mighty one
of gods and goddesses;
great of love,
Mistress of women,
10 Lady of intoxication,
who loves holiday.

11 I allow you to reckon a lifetime
as/in […]

Behind the Divinities

12nsw.t-bỉty
nb sḫ.t
sḫpr ỉḫt nb.w
ʿȝ šȝ.w
ṯḥn wȝḏwȝḏ
swsḫ tȝš
m s.t-ỉb=f
nb ḏw.w
ḥqȝ nw.w
[šȝʿ?] ȝpd-ỉb
r sḥʿʿ ỉb
n nṯr.w rmṯ.w
ẖnmw nb šȝ.w

12 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Field,
who produces all things;
great of vineyards,
scintillating verdure,
who expands the territory
in all his favorite places.
Lord of the hills,
ruler of waters,
[who started?] ȝpd-ỉb-wine
to rejoice the hearts
of gods and people:
Khnum, Lord of Vineyards.

Esna 295

Formula

1mn n=k ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs
m ty.t=k ḏsr.t
Šw ḥr wnmy=f
tf[n.t] ḥr ỉȝby=f
2wṯz ḥm=k ỉmỉ.tw=sn
ʿnḫ=k m p.t
wȝs=k m tȝ
ḏd ḥm=k m dwȝ.t

1 Take the ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs symbol, in your august image: Shu is on its right, Tef[nut] on its left, 2 your Majesty stands up between them.199 You live (ʿnḫ) in heaven, you have dominion (wȝs) on earth, and your Majesty endures (ḏd) in the netherworld.

The King

3[nsw.t-bỉty]
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtwr kysrs)|
4[zȝ-Rʿ] nb-ḫʿ.w
(twmtyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

5[… r]dỉ ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs
n qmȝ ḏ.t=f

6[…]
ḥr sʿḥʿ ḏd
twȝ wȝs m ʿ.wy=f […]
[…].tw nb sḫ[r.w?…]
(twmtyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

3 [The King of Upper and Lower Egypt]
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 [Son of Re], Lord of Appearances,
(Domitian Augustus)|

5 […who gi]ves ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs
to he who created his body.

Osiris

7ḏd-mdw n Wsỉr
(Wn-nfr mȝʿ-ḫrw)|
nsw.t nṯr.w
8nṯr ʿȝ ḥr-ỉb tȝ-sn.t
smsw n pȝwty
9sr n psḏ.t ʿȝ.t
ḥwnw nsw.t [m?] ḥḏ.t
10ỉty ḥqȝ wȝḏ.ty

11dỉ=ỉ n=k rsy.t mḥy.t
ỉmnt.t ỉȝbt.t
bw nb wbn Rʿ ḥr=sn

7 Words spoken by Osiris
(Wennefer justified)|
King of the gods,
8 great god within Esna.
Eldest (offspring) of the primeval one,
9 Prince of the Great Ennead,
youth, king [in?] the white crown;
10 Sovereign, ruler of the two uraei.

11 I give you the south, north,
west, and east:
all places over which Re shines.

Harsiese

12ḏd-mdw n Ḥr-zȝ-Ỉs.t
zȝ Wsỉr
ỉwʿʿ mnḫ
13n (wn-nfr mȝʿ-ḫrw)|
nṯr ʿȝ ḥry-ỉb tȝ-sn.t
bỉk 14nṯry
ḥqȝ tȝ.wy
ʿn-wšb n ỉt=f

15dỉ=ỉ n=k qn r rsy.t
nḫt r mḥy.t
ḫȝs.wt nb ḫȝb(.w) n […]

12 Words spoken by Harsiese,
son of Osiris,
beneficient heir
13 of (Wennefer justified)|,
great god within Esna,
divine 14 falcon,
ruler of the two lands,
who responds on behalf of his father.

15 I give you might over the south,
strength over the north,
all foreign lands bowed down for […]

Behind the Divinities

16nsw.t-bỉty
tpy n Gbb
smsw n mw.t=f Nw.t
ḥwnw šps n Ỉtm
ỉr.tw n=f nỉw.wt
grg.tw spȝ.wt n kȝ=f

hb Rʿ m tȝ
r mȝȝ=f rʿ-nb
r snḫn ḥʿw=f
m stw.t=f
Wsỉr ḥqȝ ḏ.t

16 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
First born of Geb,
Eldest of his mother, Nut,
august child of Atum;
he for whom cities were made,
and for whose Ka districts were founded.

Re penetrates into the earth
in order to see him, every day,
to rejuvenate his body
with his rays:
Osiris, Ruler of Eternity.

Esna 296

A[…] rr.n Nb.t-ww
nsw.t-bỉty
(ȝwtwkrtr ksrs)|
ʿnḫ.w ḏ.t mỉ-Rʿ

A […] nursed by Nebtu,
King of Upper and Lower Egypt
(Autokrator Caesar)|
living eternally, like Re.

B[…] qn nḫt
ḥr-ỉb Ỉwny.t
nḏ n ỉt=f
mḥ-ỉb n ỉr s(w)
ỉr ʿḏ.t m ḫfty=f

B […] victory and strength
within Iunyt,
protector of his father,
confidant of his maker,
who makes a massacre of his enemy.

Cnṯr nfr
zȝ Wsỉr
šzp-ʿnḫ n nḏ-ỉt=f
zȝ-Rʿ
(tmdyns ḫwỉ)|
ʿnḫ.w ḏ.t mỉ-Rʿ

C The good god, son of Osiris, living image of Protector of his Father,
son of Re,
(Domitian Augustus)|
living eternally, like Re.

D[…] (wn-nfr mȝʿ-ḫrw)|
nsw.t-nṯr.w
ḫy m Wȝs.t
sr m Ỉwnw
ỉty m Ỉnb-ḥḏ
ỉwn m Ỉwny.t
nṯr-nỉwty m spȝ.t nb

D […] (Wennefer justified)|
King of the Gods,
child in Thebes,
prince in Heliopolis,
sovereign in Memphis,
Iun in Iunyt,
City god in every district.200

Esna 297

Minor inscriptions. Cartouches of Domitian, name of Heka.