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The Temple of Esna. An Evolving Translation: Esna VI

South and West Interior Walls

Esna 473

Cartouches of Severus before Khnum-Re Lord of Esna and Khnum Lord of the Field.

Esna 474

Ỉwny.t
s.t-ʿn.t n ỉrỉ-tȝ
r’-ḥn.t
n tmȝ.t ḥnʿ ḏt
rhn=sn ỉs m-ḫnt=s

ẖnm[=f sy m ršw]
m rn=f n ẖnmw-R

mn=s ḥȝ=f
m rn=s n Mnḥy.t

wpš.n=s m wp.t=f
m rn=s n Nb.t-ww

Iunyt:
it is the stronghold of Irita,
the Mouth of the Canal (r’-ḥn.t)
of the mother together with the ḏ-serpent,
they rested (rhn) themselves within it.

[He] unites (ẖnm) [with her in delight],
in his name of Khnum-Re (ẖnmw).

She stays (mn) behind (ḥȝ) him,
in her name of Menhyt (Mnḥy.t).

She shone (wpš) upon his brow (wp.t),
in her name of Nebtu (Nb.t-ww).

nṯr.w wr.w pȝwty tpy
ỉỉ=sn ḫr=f
ms.w tȝ-ṯnn
m 7 ḏȝỉs.w wr.w
nw Mḥ.t-wr.t

ỉmỉ-ỉb=sn ḥnʿ=sn
r sšm sḫr.w Nwn
r nw=f
r ṯz tȝ m pr.t=sn

kȝ.n=f tȝ
ḫr ẖnmw.w wr.w
ms.n=f nṯr
ỉr kȝ.t nn ȝb

ỉw ȝy spr Rʿ
ḥnʿ ms.wy=f

The great gods of the first primeval time,
they come before him,
(namely) the children of Tatenen,
being the Seven Djaisu
of Mehet-weret.

They conferred with one another to regulate the condition of Nun
at his time,
and to bind the earth with their seed.

He planned the earth,
before the Great Khnums,
who birthed the god,
(to) do work, without cease.

Now Re arrived
together with his two children.

Esna 475

Title

dỉ(=ỉ) n=k snṯr
ỉỉ.n=f r=k mnwr
bs ḫnty tȝ-nṯr
sṯy snṯr
2(ḥr) psḏ(?) m ḥr=k
ỉr(.t)-Ḥr wr.t
nḏm sṯy=s
(r) r’-ʿ nḥḥ
(ḥr) ẖnm ẖnm.ty=k rʿ-nb

1 I give to you incense! To you have come aromatics
which came forth from God’s Land;
the scent of incense
2 radiates(?) in your face;
the great Eye of Horus:
its scent is sweet
until the end of eternity,
joining your nostrils every day.

The King

3nsw.t bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtỉ[kr]twr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ nb ḫʿ.w
([gʿt] nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
pẖr tȝ-nṯr
mȝfd Kpn
ḫrp ỉrty.w
ṯhm ḫbsty.w
ḥtr(.w) ḥr bȝk[=sn]

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

5 The good god,
who runs around God’s Land,
and hurries to Byblos,
who conducts the Irtyu-people,
and compels the Puntites,
being yoked with [their] tribute.

Khnum-Re Lord of the Field

6ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t
nsw.t nṯr.w
ḫnty ḥw.t-ỉt
nṯr ʿȝ ʿnḫ
<ḥry> nṯr.w nb.w

7ỉty pn nfr m gb.t
ḫsf pḏty.w
ḫbs ḫfty.w m ḥn.ty=f
nn ʿḥʿ <m> ḥzw=f

8ỉỉ m <ḥ>t<p>
ḫʿỉ ḥr ns.t
ỉṯ wrr.t tȝ.wy
(m) wpy=f ʿȝ

6 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of the Field,
King of the Gods,
foremost of Temple of the Father.
Great living god,
<chief> of all the gods.1

7 This good sovereign in heaven,
who repels the archers,
and stabs the enemies with his horns:
nobody can stand up <to> confront him.

8 He who arrives in <p>ea<ce>,
and appears upon the throne,
who seizes the double crown and the two lands,
(in) his great wpy-festival.

Nebtu

9ḏd-mdw n Nb(.t)-ww
nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
nṯr.t ʿȝ(.t) ḫnt.t sḫ.t

10Tfn.t [zȝ.t Rʿ] ỉr.t-Rʿ
wbḏ(.t) sbỉ n ỉt=s
mḥ-ỉb n sn=s
11m ỉỉ=f m nb qn

nb(.t) wȝḏwȝḏ
snfr(.t) rnp.w

12dỉ(=ỉ) n=k mnwr
m-ʿ n ỉr.t-Ḥr wr.t

9 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Lady of Esna,
the great goddess, foremost of the Field.

10 Tefnut, [daughter of Re], Eye of Re,
who scorches the rebel of her father,
trusted companion of her brother
11 when he arrives as Lord of Victory.

Lady of vegetation,
who makes fresh plants beautiful.

12 I give to you aromatics,
along with the great Eye of Horus.

Behind the Divinities

13nsw.t-bỉty
bȝ ʿȝ ḫprw
ḏsr šfy.t
Ḫprỉ m ḏ.t=f
Ỉtm m ẖ.t=f
nb šzp
ḫrs kkw
ẖnmw-Šw ṯmȝ-ʿ

13 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the Ba, great of manifestations,
sacred of prestige;
Khepri in the morning,
Atum in the evening,
Lord of illumination,
who repels darkness:
Khnum-Shu, valiant of arm.

Esna 476

Formula

1dỉ(=ỉ) n=ṯ šps.t
ẖr qbḥw
sqbb 2ỉb=t
m s.t=ṯ m tȝ-rsy.t
ʿḥ=t m tȝ-mḥw

1 I give to you the libation vase
bearing cool waters;
may your heart 2 become cool
in your throne in Upper Egypt,
in your palace in Lower Egypt.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉw(t)wkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(sỉwry(s) nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
rdỉ tb-ʿb[w]
sʿšȝ twr=sn

ỉnỉ pr m Nwn
ḥȝ.t pr m Ỉtm
m rn=s n nms.t

nb swʿb
(sỉw(r)y(s) nty(-ḫwỉ))|

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

5 The Good God,
who gives cleanliness,
and multiplies its purity.

He who brings what comes from Nun,
the first that emerged from Atum,
in its name of nms.t.2

The lord of purification:
(Seve(rus) Aug(ustus))|

Isis of Temple of the Bas

6ḏd-mdw n Ỉs.t wr.t
mw.t-nṯr nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
7ḥr(.t)-ỉb ḥw.t-bȝ.w

nṯr.t ʿȝ.t ḫnt sḫ.t
ȝḫ.t mnḫ.t 8n Pr-nṯr

nb(.t) tḫ
mr(.t) hrw nfr
nb(.t) ỉbȝ
bnr mr.wt
9šȝʿ.tw zbỉ-tḫ
n 10kȝ=s

6 Words spoken by Isis the great,
Mother of God, Lady of Esna,
7 within Temple of the Bas.

The Great goddess foremost of the Field,
radiant and excellent 8 in Per-netjer.

Lady of inebriation,
who loves holidays,
lady of dancing,
sweet of love:
9 for whose Ka
10 one created drinking festivals.

Harsiese

11ḏd-mdw n Ḥr-zȝ-Ỉs.t
zȝ Wsỉr ỉwʿʿ mnḫ
12n (Wnn-nfr mȝʿ-ḫrw)|
nṯr ʿȝ ḥry-ỉb tȝ-sn.t

bỉk 13nṯry
ḥqȝ tȝ.wy
ʿn wšb n ỉt=f

14dỉ=ỉ n=k nww
ẖr pr nb ỉm=f

11 Words spoken by Harsiese,
son of Osiris, beneficent heir
12 of (Wennefer justified)|
Great god within Esna.

Divine 13 falcon,
ruler of the two lands,
who avenges his father.

14 I give you the nww-water
bearing all that comes forth from it.

Behind the divinities

15nsw.t-bỉty
snhp(.t) Ḥʿpỉ m ṯpḥ.t=f
swr nwn
r dd ỉb=s
dỉ.n=s ỉm
m ʿ.wy=s ḏs=s
rdỉ(.t) n nṯr nb

Ỉs.t wr.t
mw.t(-nṯr)
nb(.t) ʿbȝ

15 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
who makes Hapi surge from his grotto,
who makes Nun grow
as her heart dictates;
she gave from it
with her very own hands,
she who gives to every god:

Isis the great,
Mother of (god),
Lady of Aba.

Esna 477

Title

1ḥnk sḫ.t
ḏd-mdw

swsḫ(?)=ỉ tȝš
n kȝ=k
r 2s.t mry ỉb=k

rsy=k ỉwn
mḥy=k wȝḏ-wr

1 Offering the field.
Words spoken:

I expand(?) the boundary3
for your Ka,
to 2 the place your heart desires:

Your south is the wind,
your north the Great Green sea.

The King

3nsw.t bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ nb ḫʿ.w
(sʿwry nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
ḥqȝ r’-ww
nw ḏr ỉȝḫw

ḥnk n ỉt=f
m s.t-ỉb=f
bʿḥ pr=f
m kȝw nw sḫ.t=f
ḥnb(.t)=f Rʿ
ḏr hȝw p.t

nb ḫȝ-n-tȝ
(sʿwry nty-ḫwỉ)|

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

5 The good god,
Lord of the agricultural areas,
from as far away as the shining sun.

He who offers to his father,
with his favorite thing;
who inundates his domain
with food from his field;
his portioned land is that of Re,
for as long as the sky exists.

Lord of the thousand-field,
(Sever(us) Augustus)|

Khnum-Re Lord of the Field

6ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t
Šw ṯmȝ-ʿ
ḫnty Pr-nṯr
7nḏty n ỉt=f
dr bṯn.w=f
nb nrw
sḫm šfy.t
8wsr pḥty
ṯȝy nṯr.w
ḫbỉ rnp.wt ỉzfty.w

6 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of the Field,
Shu, Valiant of arm,
foremost of Per-netjer;
7 avenger of his father,
who drives away his rebels;
Lord of fear,
powerful of prestige,
8 mighty of strength,
most macho of the gods,
who ends the years of the evil-doers.

Nebtu

9ḏd-mdw n Nb(.t)-ww
nb.t sḫ.t
mȝʿ.t wr.t
10r-gs ẖnmw

ḫʿỉ r ḥȝ
tp hrw 10 nb
ḥr 11sfsf ȝw
n sn=s

12dỉ=ỉ ỉwr n=k ȝḫ.t
r dmḏy.t=s

9 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Lady of the Field,
Great Maat
10 beside Khnum.

She who appears in procession
every 10 days,
laying down 11 mortuary offerings
to her brother (Osiris).

12 I cause the field to conceive for you
at its appointed time.

Behind the Divinities

13nsw.t-bỉty
nb sḫ.t
ḥqȝ ww
ỉwn srwḏ sm.w
ỉȝḫw
ȝḫȝḫ šȝ.w ỉm=f
nb ʿnḫ
sʿnḫ qmȝ.n=f
ỉw r nw-f
šm r tr=f
bʿḥ tȝ pn
m ḫʿỉ=f
ḏsr s.t=f ḫnty sḫ.t

13 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Field,
Ruler of the agricultural domain,
pillar of air who makes vegetables grow,
the radiant one,
from whom plants thrive;
Lord of life,
who enlivens what he created:
he who comes at his moment,
and leaves at his season,
who inundates this earth
through his appearance,
his place is sacred within the Field.

Esna 478

Formula

1ḥnk wtṯ
ḏd-mdw

wṯz=ỉ ḥȝ.t n Sḫm.t
r ḥr.t
qȝ=t m
2tkn ỉm=f
ʿ.wy Ḏḥwty
m zȝ ḥȝ=f
ḥnk.tw n=t wtṯ

1 Offering the wtṯ-symbol.
Words spoken:

I lift up the head of Sakhmet
to the sky,
may you be against(?)
2 whomever approaches it.4
The arms of Thoth are in protection
around it:
thus the wtṯ is offered to you.

3nsw.t bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉtwkrtr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnns nty-ḫwỉ)|
5snw n Šw
3.nw n tfn.t

6wnn nsw.t bỉty
(ʿntnnns nty-ḫwỉ)|
(ḥr?) wtṯ rmn n wnšb
sḥtp=f kȝ(=t) m ḏḥḏḥ

ṯḥn ḥr=t
dỉ(.w) r tȝ bw nb
(ḥr) dwȝ hṯt n ḥr=t

3 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re, Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|
5 The second of Shu,
the third of Tefnut.

6 As the King of Upper and Lower Egypt
(Antoninus Augustus)|
(is?) making the carrier of the wnšb-symbol,
so he pacifies (your) Ka as the baboon.

May your face scintillate!
All people have been put to the ground,
praising and chattering5 to your face.

Menhyt

7ḏd-mdw ỉn Mnḥy.t wr.t
nb(.t) ḫnt-tȝ
sḫm.t 8ʿȝ.t
mr(.t) Ptḥ
[ʿȝ] sḫr.w m p.t tȝ

mḥn.t 9ḥr.t-tp
n nṯr nb
nn nṯr mḥn=f s(w)
ḥr 10tp=s
m rn(=s) n Mnḥy.t

Rʿy.t
sḥḏ(.t) 11tȝ.wy
mḥ.t ʿḥ 12m nfrw=s

7 Words spoken by Menhyt the great,
Lady of Khent-ta,
Sekhmet 8 the great,
beloved of Ptah,
[great of] authority in heaven and earth.

The coiled uraeus 9 upon the head
of every god;
there is not god who might coil himself
upon 10 her head!
in her name of Menhyt.

Rayet,
who illumines 11 the two lands,
and fills the palace 12 with her splendor.

Nebtu

13ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ww
nb(.t) Ỉwny.t
ȝḫ.t mnḫ.t
n pr-ẖnmw
14ʿȝ.t m p.t
wsr.t m tȝ
ḥqȝ.t 15m šnw n ỉtn
wrr.t
ḥnw.t (??) 16wr.t
ḫʿỉ nb
ẖr s.t-r’=s

13 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Lady of Iunyt,
excellent and beneficent one
in Per-Khnum.
14 Great one in heaven,
mighty on earth,
ruler 15 in the circuit of the sun disk.
She of the white crown,
mistress of the great 16 (???)6;
the Lord appears in glory
under her authority.

Behind the Goddesses

17nsw.t bỉty
ỉỉ=k ẖr wtṯ
ȝw ỉb=ỉ
(ḥr) mȝȝ wnšb
mfk ḥr=ỉ
hr ỉb=ỉ

dỉ(=ỉ) n=k wnny.w
(ḥr) hṯt n kȝ=k

17 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt:
you arrive bearing the wtṯ-symbol.
My heart is joyful
from seeing the wnšb-object;
my face is turquoise with joy,
and my heart is delighted.

I give to you all who exist
chattering for your Ka.

Esna 479

Formula

1rwḏ šȝ nb
n bw nb mr=k
ḥʿʿ 2bʿḥ(.w) ỉm=f
mḥ=ỉ (n)=k ỉr.t-Ḥr
m ỉrp ỉw=w wʿb(.w)

1 Every vineyard thrives,
in all places your love!
Joy floods 2 within it.7
I fill (for) you the Eye of Horus,
namely wine which is pure.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtr kysrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnynz nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
ʿpr wḏȝ.t
mḥ ỉr.t-Ḥr
m nfrw=s
srwḏ šȝ.w

wnf-ỉb ʿn-ḥr
ẖr ỉnm.t
sʿr ȝpd-ỉb šmʿ
ỉrp mḥw n nb=sn
nb tḫ (pr-ʿȝ)|

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

5 The good god,
who equips the wedjat-eye,
who fills the Eye of Horus
with its goodness;
who makes the vineyards flourish.

Joyful of heart, pleasant of face
while carrying the ỉnm.t-wine,
who raises the ȝpd-ỉb-wine of Upper Egypt
and the wine of Lower Egypt to their lord:
Lord of Inebriation, (Pharaoh)|.

Khnum the Good Protector

6ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw p(ȝ) nḫy nfr
7n nṯr.w rmṯ.w
nḏty n tȝ nb.w 8r-ȝw=f
nfy 9ỉqr
ỉry-ḥm.t nfr
sqd 10Rʿ m wỉȝ=f

6 Words spoken by Khnum the Good Protector
7 of gods and humans,
protector of the entirety of 8 the lands;
the excellent 9 wind,
the good oarsman,
who sails 10 Re in his bark.

Nebtu

11ḏd-mdw n Nb(.t)-ww
ỉr.t Rʿ ḥr(.t) s.t wr.t
12šps.t nfr.t
ḥnw.t nṯr.w 13nṯr.yt
nb(.t) mr(w.t)
ḥnw.t ḥm.wt
mḥ(.t) ʿḥ m nfrw=s

14dỉ=ỉ n=k tḫ m ẖr.t-hrw
pḫȝ-ỉb nn ȝb

11 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Eye of Re upon the great throne.
13 The august and beautiful,
mistress of gods 13 and goddesses;
Lady of love,
mistress of women,
who fills the palace with her goodness.

14 I give you daily inebriation
and never-ending ecstasy.

Behind the Divinities

15nsw.t-bỉty
nḫy nfr n nṯr.w
nfy ỉqr
ỉry-ḥm.t n Rʿ

ḥʿʿ ỉb=k
m ỉr.t-Ḥr wȝḏ=k
ḫntš ỉb=k
m ḫnm.ty
ẖnmw pȝ nḫy nfr

15 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
good protector of the gods,
excellent wind,
the oarsman of Re.

May your heart rejoice
from your fresh Eye-of-Horus wine,
may your heart delight
from your wine jars:
Khnum the8 good protector.

Esna 480

Title

1sqr t-ḥḏ
n nb ps.w
bʿḥ ḫȝw.t
n nb snm.w
ḥtp.w ḏfȝ.w
m kȝ(.t)-3-ʿ.wy=f
ỉḫt nb nfr
ỉw=w wʿb.w

1 Offering white bread
to the Lord of loaves;
flooding the altars
of the Lord of sustenance;
offerings and provisions
through his 3 actions,
all good things,
they being pure.

The King

4nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtr kysrs)|
5zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|
6pr.n ȝgb wr
bȝ ʿnḫ […]

7wnn zȝ Rʿ
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|
m wr ḥtp.w
sšm nṯr.w r wḏḥw
sw m nb ȝḫ.wt
ḥms=sn m wḥʿ
m kȝ(.t)-ʿ.wy=f

4 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
5 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|
6 Ageb-wer had come forth,
the living Ba […]

7 As long as the Son of Re,
(Antoninus Augustus)|
is as Great of Offerings,
who conducts gods to the offering table,
he is as the Lord of ȝḫt-bread:
they (the gods) sit down to feast
through his actions.

Khnum-Shu

8ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Šw
zȝ Rʿ
9šȝʿ ḫp(r) m ḥȝ.t
ỉr p.t tȝ dwȝ.t
mw.w ḏw.w

ʿȝ šfy.t
wš(ȝ) 11wr
kȝ.w m-ḫt=f
ḏfȝ.w 12tp-ʿ.wy=f
ỉr ẖr.wt n ḥr.w 13nb.w

8 Words spoken by Khnum-Shu,
Son of Re,
9 he who started creation in the beginning:
who made heaven, earth, the Duat,
waters and mountains.

Great of prestige,
the Great 11 Fattener(?),9
food is behind him,
and provisions 12 are in his hands;
he who makes sustenance for everybody.

Nebet-Hetepet

14ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ḥtp.t
nb(.t) tȝ.wy
wnm.tw ỉr(.t).n ḥm=s
15šps.t wsr.t
ḥr(.t) 16kȝ.w

Rnn.t wȝḏ.t
17nb(.t) nfrw
ʿȝ mrw.t
ḥnw.t ḥmw.wt

18dỉ=ỉ n=k wnn(.t) nb
qmȝ m tȝ

14 Words spoken by Nebet-Hetepet,
Lady of the Two Lands,
one eats what Her Majesty has made.10
15 The august and mighty one,
chief of 16 food.

Verdant Renenutet,
16 Lady of goodness,
great of love,
Mistress of women.

18 I give you all that exists,
which is created in the earth.

Behind the Divinities

19nsw.t bỉty
bȝ wr-šfy.t
nfr-ḥr
ʿȝ ỉrw
drp wr.w
m ỉḫt nb nfr
sḏfȝ wḏḥw
n Psḏ.t

19 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the Ba, great of prestige,11
good of face,
great of visible form,
who feeds the elders,
with all good things,
and provisions the offering table
of the Ennead.

Esna 481

Formula

1mn n=tn ỉḫt
nḥḥ (r) snḫn ȝḫȝḫ.w
ḏbȝ.n t(n) ḏbȝ (n) Rnnwt.t

1 Receive the offerings:
olive oil to rejuvenate the bones,
the linens (of) Renenutet have clothed you.12

The King

2nsw.t bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtr kysrs)|
3(zȝ) Rʿ nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnnys nty-ḫwỉ)|

4nṯr nfr
snw n Šsmw
3.nw n Tȝy.t ḥnw.t
smnḫ ḥʿw
n nb.w nḥḥ
sẖkr ḏ.t
n nb.w ḏ.t
nb ȝḫw (pr-ʿȝ)|

2 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands
(Autokrator Caesar)|
3 (Son) of Re Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|

4 The good god,
second of Shesemu,
third of Tayet the mistress;
he who makes excellent the bodies
of the Lords of nḥḥ-eternity,
who adorns the bodies
of the Lords of ḏ.t-eternity.
The lord of excellence, (Pharaoh)|.

Neith

5ḏd-mdw n N.t wr.t
mw.t-nṯr nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
nb(.t) Zȝw
6ḫnt.t N.t
ỉt ỉt.w mw.t mw.wt
wr.t wsr(.t)
7nn ḥr ḫy=s

ḥqȝ.t n šnw ỉtn
wbn(.t) m 8p.t
sḥḏ(.t) tȝ.wy
tmȝ.t wr.t
ḫp(r.t) ẖr-ḥȝ.t
9mw.t ḥnʿ ỉt
m 10šȝʿ
ṯz(.t) pr.t nṯr.w rmṯ.w

5 Words spoken by Neith the great,
Mother of God, Lady of Esna,
Lady of Sais,
6 foremost of the Neith nome.
Father of fathers, mother of mothers,
great and mighty,
7 without anybody like her.

Ruler of the circuit of the sun disk,
who rises in 8 heaven
and illumines the two lands.
The great primeval mother,
who came about in the beginning,
9 mother along with the father
at 10 the start,
who binds the seed of gods and humans.

The Djaisu of Mehet-weret

11ḏd-mdw n nṯr.w ḥtpty.w
Ḏȝỉs.w ʿȝ.w 12wr.w
nw Mḥ.t-wr.t
nṯr.w pȝwty.w
ḫpr(.w) 13m ḥȝ.t
pr(.w) ỉm=s ḥry-ỉb Nwn

15ḥtp kȝ=n
ḥr ỉr.n=k
dỉ=n ẖnmw=k nḥḥ
m ȝw(.t)-ỉb

11 Words spoken by the blessed gods,
the very 12 great Djaisu
of Mehet-weret;13
the primeval gods
who came about 13 in the beginning,
and came forth from her within Nun.

15 Our Kas are satisfied
because of what you have done;
we allow you to receive eternity
in happiness.

Esna 482

Formula

1ḫrp.n=ỉ wsḫ
m [ḥr]=k nfr
m ṯnw n mnw wr

pr=k 2m ỉḥ.ty
wbn=k m bnbn
m ḥw.t-bnbn
m Ỉwnw

1 I offer to you the broad collar,
in your beautiful face,
consisting of leaves from the great trees.

You come forth 2 from the thighs14 (of Nut),
and you arise (wbn) as the obelisk (bnbn)
in the Temple of the Benben (ḥw.t-bnbn)
in Heliopolis.15

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwk(r)twr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(sʿwry nty-ḫwỉ)|

5ḫwỉ=ỉ ỉwf=k r ḏw nb
mỉ dnḫ(nḫ)=k
ḥr Šw ḥnʿ Tfn.t

6mn n(=k) wsḫ n Ỉtm
r ḫḫ=k
mȝḥ n Ḫprỉ
r šnb.t=k
ʿšȝ ḥb.w=k
m mȝȝ=s(n)
nb zḫn (pr-ʿȝ)|

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

5 I protect your body from all evil,
as you protect over16
Shu and Tefnut.

6 Receive the broad collar of Atum
to your neck,
the floral collar of Khepri
to your chest:
your festivals are numerous
from seeing them.17
The Lord of Union18 (Pharaoh)|.

Khnum the Good Protector

7ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw p(ȝ) nḫy nfr
n nṯr.w rmṯ.w
8nḏty n tȝ nb.w r-ȝw=f
nfy 9ỉqr
ỉry-ḥm.t nfr
sqd Rʿ m wỉȝ=f

7 Words spoken by Khnum the Good Protector
of gods and humans,
8 protector of the entirety of the lands;
the excellent 9 wind,
the good oarsman,
who sails Re in his bark.

Nebtu

10ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ww
ỉr.t Rʿ ḥr(.t) s.t wr.t
11Tfn.t wr.t
ḥr.t-tp n Rʿ
mḥ(.t) p.t 12tȝ
m nfrw=s

13dỉ=ỉ stp-zȝ
ḥr ỉr(.t) ḫʿỉ[=k]
[ʿ]rry.t=k rwḏ.t(w)
(m) nfrw=k

10 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Eye of Re upon the great throne;
11 Tefnut the great,
uraeus of Re,
who fills heaven 12 and earth
with her goodness.

13 I set the palace
performing [your] coronation,19
and your great [por]tal thrives
(with) your goodness.

Behind the Divinities

14šzp.n(=ỉ) wȝḥ=k
r ḫḫ-ỉ
r mk ỉnm=ỉ
ỉr.n=ỉ zȝ=ỉ
m ty.t n rw.ty
zḫn ḥm=t(sic) r nfr

14 I have received your floral collar
to my neck,
to protect my skin;
I have performed my protective amulet
in the form of the two lions (Shu and Tefnut):
may your Majesty unite (with them) for the best.

Esna 483

Title

1ḥnk ỉrp
ḏd-mdw

rwḏ šȝ nb mr=ṯ
ḥʿʿ 2bʿḥ(.w) ỉm=ṯ

ȝwỉ=ỉ n=ṯ ỉr.t-Ḥr
m ỉrp ỉw=w wʿb(.w)

1 Offering wine.
Words spoken:

Every vineyard you love thrives,
joy 2 inundates within you!20

I extend21 to you the Eye of Horus,
as wine which is pure.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿtnys nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
ʿpr wḏȝ.t
mḥ ỉr.t-Ḥr
m nfrw=k
sḥtp ỉb ḥnw.t=f
m ỉr.t-Ḥr wȝḏ
ṯtf […]
[n] mr(.t) hrw nfr
nb(.t) tḫ

3 King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(A(n)toni(n)us Augustus)|

5 The good god,
who supplies the wedjat-eye,
who fills the Eye of Horus
with your (sic) perfection;
who pacifies his Mistress
with the fresh Eye of Horus;
who pours out […]
[for] she who loves holiday,
the Lady of Inebriation.

Menhyt

6ḏd-mdw n Mnḥy.t wr.t
nb(.t) ḫnt-tȝ
7Tfn.t wr.t
ḥr.t-tp n Rʿ
mḥn(.t) 8wr.t
ḥr tp n nṯr nb
nn nṯr
mḥn ḥr tp=s

9Sḫm.t ʿȝ.t
nb.t tȝ.wy
ỉr.t-Rʿ nb.t p.t
ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb.w

6 Words spoken by Menhyt the great,
Lady of Khent-ta,
7 great Tefnut,
uraeus of Re,
the great 8 coiled serpent
upon the head of every god,
there is no god
who might coil upon her head.

9 Great Sekhmet,
Lady of the Two Lands,
Eye of Re, lady of heaven,
Mistress of all the Gods.

Heka

10ḏd-mdw n ḥkȝ p(ȝ) ẖrd
ʿȝ wr (tpy n) ẖnmw
11wr-ḥkȝw zȝ Sḫm.t
ḥȝ.t n nṯr.w
wpy=f ḥr nb ʿnḫ

10 Words spoken by Heka the Child,22
the very great (first born of) Khnum,
11 Eldest magician, son of Sekhmet,
beginning of the gods,
his wpy-festival is upon all the living.23

Behind the Divinities

12nsw.t bỉty
wn ʿȝ.wy p.t
znỉ ʿȝ.wy tȝ
ỉn.n[=f] ỉb=s
m pr ỉm=s

nb(.t) tḫ
ʿšȝ ḥb.w
nb(.t) wrh
bwt=s ḥqr ỉbw

Mnḥy.t nb.t ḫnt-tȝ

12 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt:
the doors of heaven open,
the doors of the earth are unlocked;
[he] has captured her heart,
with that which came from her (viz. wine).

The Lady of inebriation,
numerous of festivals,
Lady of dancing,
her abominations are hunger and thirst.

Menhyt, Lady of Khent-ta.

Esna 484

Formula

1mn n=t ỉwn.t
mds=t šsr
ỉr ỉḏr.w zȝ=t
2r ḫfty.w=f
pḥty n=f
mỉ šps.t wsr.t
ḫwỉ m pḏ.t
ỉr m ḏbʿ=f
nn wh m šsr=f

1 Take the bow,
and sharpen the arrow;
set the boundaries of your son
2 against his enemies;
4 unto him is strength,
like the August and Mighty one (Neith),
he who protects with the bow,
and acts with his fingers,
his arrow never misses.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿ(n)tny(n)s nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
snw n Rʿ
r zȝ-Ỉs.t
sgrḥ tȝ
dr bṯn.w=f
ḥqȝ ṯ(n)r
nḫt m tȝ.wy ḫȝs.wt

ṯȝy pḏ.t
ỉtḥ šsr n mw.t=f
N.t nb.t [šs]r
ỉr sbỉ m tm-wn

nb nḫt
(ʿntny(n)s nty-ḫwỉ)|

3 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances
(A(n)toni(n)us Augustus)|

5 The Good God,
Second of Re
(even) more than the Son of Isis;
who quiets the land,
and repels its rebels;
powerful ruler,
victorious in flat and hilly lands.

He who seizes the bow,
and draws the arrow of his mother,
Neith, Lady of [Arr]ows;
who makes the rebel non-existent.

Lord of victory,
(Antoni(n)us Augustus)|

Neith

6ḏd-mdw n N.t wr.t
mw.t-nṯr nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
tmȝ.t ḥr.t-tp
7ḫp(r.t) m ḥȝ.t
wbn(.t) m Nwn
sḥḏ(.t) tȝ m ḥȝy=s

8nb(.t) ỉwn.t
ḥnw.t šsr
swḏȝ(.t) zȝ.w-n=sn
m wḏ=s

6 Words spoken by Neith the great,
Mother of God, Lady of Esna,
Mother and uraeus,
7 who came about in the beginning,
who arose from Nun,
and illumined the earth with her radiance.

8 Lady of the bow,
Mistress of the arrow:
who keeps safe the Guardian Deities
through her decree.

Shemanefer

9ḏd-mdw n šmʿ-nfr
sbk-Rʿ
sḫm šps
pr 10m N.t
ḫfḫf nḫt
bẖ.n s(w) ỉh.t
11wbn m Nwn ḥnʿ mw.t=f
Rʿ ḥr-ỉb 12wp.t
n Mḥ.t-wr.t
nṯr wr m tȝ-š
ḥr-ỉb tȝ-sn.t

13dỉ=ỉ n=k qn nḫt
pḏ.wt 9.t ẖr ṯb.ty=k

9 Words spoken by Shemanefer,
Sobek-Re,
august image
who emerged 10 from Neith;
mighty crocodile,
whom the Ihet-cow birthed,
11 who arose from Nun with his mother;
Re within 12 the horns
of Mehet-weret;
great god in the Lake
within Esna.

13 I give to you might, victory,
and the Nine Bows beneath your sandals.

Behind the Divinities

14nsw.t-bỉty
mw.t-mw.wt
nn ḥr-ḫw=s
wʿ.t nn snw=s
nh(.t) zȝ=s
dr(.t) bṯn.w=f
sḥr(.t) sbỉ.w ḥr=f ḥr mw

wn=s m zȝ=f rʿ-nb
N.t ḥȝ.t ỉr(.t) nḥḥ

14 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Mother of mothers,
all by herself;
the unique one, without her second;
she who protects her son,
and repels his enemies,
and drives away his rebels onto the water.

She is in his protection, every day:
Neith, the beginning who made eternity.

Esna 485

Title

1ḥnk ỉrp
ḏd-mdw

rwḏ šȝ(.t) nb
m bw nb mr=k
2Mnw nsw.t-nṯr.w

ḥʿʿ bʿḥ ỉm=f
mḥ n=k 3zȝ Rʿ (pr-ʿȝ)|
ỉr.t-Ḥr
m ỉrp=s wʿb

4sḫm=f ỉm=sn
sʿ(m)=f 5ỉm=sn
ỉw=w wʿb(.w)
hrw pw(?)

1 Presenting wine.
Words spoken:

Every vineyard is thriving,
in all places you desire,
2 Min, King of the Gods!

Rejoice, and be inundated with it!
The Son of Re, (Pharaoh)|, has filled
the Eye of Horus for you
with its pure wine.

4 May he consume it,
may he 5 swallow it,
it being pure,
on this(?) day.

The King

6nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉtwkrtr ksrs)|
7zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnnns nty-ḫwỉ)|

8wnn nsw.t-bỉty
(ʿntnns (nty)-ḫwỉ)|

šzp.n=ỉ ỉnm.ty
ṯtf.tw n kȝ=k
sḫm=k ỉm=sn
ỉw=w wʿb(.w)
pr m (tȝ)-nṯr
ḫp(r) m Dsds
Šfy.t Bȝ.t

6 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
7 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|.

8 Thus the King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(Antoninus Augustus)|:

That I have picked up the two wine jars,
overflowing for your Ka,
is so you might consume them,
being pure.
That which comes forth from God’s (Land),
which originated in Bahariya,
Dakhla(?) and Kharga Oases.

Min Lord of Akhmim

9ḏd-mdw n Mnw nsw.t
Ḥr nḫt
nb Ỉpw
Mnw p(ȝ) 10wrš
ḫr.tw m rn=f
kȝ-mw.t=f
11Šw ṯmȝ-ʿ
ḥry-ỉb tȝ-sny

ḥzȝ-šnʿ 12ḫnty nṯr.w
ʿb.tw m nḫt(=f)
ʿšȝ.tw 13nfrw=f

9 Words spoken by Min the King,
the Mighty Horus,
Lord of Akhmim,
Min the 10 Guardian,
so he is called by name;
Kamutef,
11 Shu, Valiant of Arm
within Esna;

Terrifying one 12 among the gods,
one vaunts of his ‘power’,
and his ‘goodness’ is plentiful.24

Triphis of Atripe

14ḏd-mdw n Rpʿ.t ʿȝ.t wr.t
Ḥr.t ʿpr.t-s.t 15rn=s
Sḫm.t ḥnw.t šps.wt
16Tfn.t zȝ.t-Rʿ
ỉr.t-Rʿ nb.t p.t
17ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb.w
nṯr.t ʿȝ.t nb(.t) Ỉpw

18dỉ=ỉ n=k nswy.t ʿȝ.t
mn.tw r nḥḥ

14 Words spoken by Triphis the very great,
Horit, Aperet-Iset 15 her name,
Sakhmet, Mistress of august spirits,
16 Tefnut, daughter of Re,
Eye of Re, Lady of Heaven,
17 Mistress of all the Gods,
Great goddess, Lady of Akhmim.

18 I give you a great kingship,
enduring forever.

Behind the Divinities

19nsw.t-bỉty
kȝ-mw.t=f
ḫnty sḫ.t=f
ṯȝy nṯr.w
fȝỉ-ʿ
ʿb.tw m nfrw=f
kȝ-psỉ
kȝp.tw m psḏntw
bs m p.t Hry-tp ȝbdw
Mnw-Ỉmn nsw.t-nṯr.w

19 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Kamutef,
foremost of his field,
Most masculine of the gods,
elevated of arm,
who is vaunted for his ‘goodness’;
Blazing bull,
who is hidden during the New Moon,25
and emerges in the sky at the Lunar festival:
Min-Amun, King of the Gods.

Esna 486

Formula

1mn n=k t-ḥḏ
fȝỉ=ỉ m ḥr=k
ỉr.n kȝ=k ỉḫt ỉm
ỉw=w 2wʿb(.w)
ḏfȝw tp-ʿ.wy=ỉ

1 Receive the white bread,
which I elevate before you,
your Ka has made a meal thereof,
they being 2 pure!
The provisions are in my hands.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtr kysrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

5fȝỉ ḥtp.w
sšm nṯr.w
m dbḥ(w) wḏḥ=k

6nṯr nfr
nsw.t šmʿ
bỉty mḥw
nb ḥḥ.w
šps ḥfn.w
wr ỉḫt ʿšȝ
drp ỉr.t-Ḫr

ḥtp=k ḥr=sn
ḫnty kȝ=k r-gs Ỉtm
mỉ ḫnty sḫm.w
ḫnty ẖ.t psḏ.t
ʿȝ ḥtp-dỉ-nsw.t
ḫȝ m s.t=k nb

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

5 He who elevates offerings,
who ushers in the gods,
with the food of your altar.

6 The good god,
nsw.t-king of Upper Egypt,
bỉty-king of Lower Egypt,
Lord of millions,
who endows myriads,
great of plentiful food,
who offers the Eye of Horus.

‘May you be satisified with them,
and may your Ka be foremost beside Atum,
like Foremost of the Powers,
Foremost of the corporation of the Ennead,
great of royal offerings,
thousands (of food) in all your thrones.’

Shemanefer

7ḏd-mdw n Šmʿ-nfr
Sbk zȝ N.t
nṯr ʿȝ ḥry-ỉb ḥw.t-ṯȝ.wy
8ʿḫm wr ḫpr ḫnt
ḫprw ʿȝ n nṯr nb
9snn ʿnḫ n Nb-sḫ.t
ỉty 1wḏ-mdw n psḏ.t
ʿḫm wr m tȝ-š
ḥry-ỉb tȝ-sn.t

7 Words spoken by Shemanefer,
Sobek, son of Neith,
great god within Temple of the Chicks,
8 great crocodile who came about before,
great manifestation of every god,
9 living replica of Lord of the Field (Khnum),
Sovereign 10 who commands the Ennead,
great crocodile-god in the Lake (lit. Fayyum)26
within Esna.

Tutu

11ḏd-mdw n Twtw wr
zȝ N.t
pȝ 12ḥry-tp n ḫȝty.w n sḫm.t

wnn(?) n=k ḥḥ.w
ḫpr n=k 13ḥfn.w
ḫp(r) snḏ n=k
m ỉb.w m grḥ
ḫm sbỉ-n-wḏȝ.t(?)
nty rʿ-nb

14dỉ=ỉ n=k ḥtp.w ḏfȝ.w
dỉ(.w) p.t qmȝ(.w) tȝ

11 Words spoken by great Tutu,
son of Neith,
the 12 Chief of the Demons of Sakhmet.

‘To you shall be millions,
and myriads shall come about 13 for you,
fear of your shall exist
in hearts during the night,
the Enemy of the wedjat-eye shall be powerless (?)
every day.’

14 I give you offerings and provisions,
which the sky gives and the earth creates.

Behind the Divinities

15nsw.t-bỉty
ḫprw štȝ ʿȝ ỉȝḫw
Nwn ʿȝ

mȝỉ qn ḫpš.wy=f
msḥ ʿȝ pḥty
smȝ ẖȝk.w-ỉb.w
kȝ pw ḥry kȝ.w
dỉ ḥtp.w ẖr.wt
rdỉ ḏfȝ.w n šm ḥr mw
Šmʿ-nfr nb tȝ-sn.t

15 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the mysterious manifestation, great of radiance,
great Nun;

the lion, mighty of his arms,
the crocodile, great of strength,
who slays the disaffected ones;
he is the Ka, chief of the Kas,
who gives offerings and sustenance,
who gives provisions whomever is loyal:
Shemanefer, Lord of Esna.

Esna 487

Title

1ḥnk mȝʿ.t
ḏd-mdw

ỉỉ.n(=ỉ) ḫ(r)=k
ỉnk Ḏhwtỉ
ʿwy=ỉ r sḥtp mȝʿ.t

2ỉnḏ-ḥr=k
nṯr pn šps
Ỉmn-Rʿ nb ns.(w)t
tȝ.wy
nb nḥḥ
ẖnm.tỉ ḥr.t 3ḫʿỉ=f m ỉtn
ḥr-tp dwȝw
ỉmn(?).tw ḥḥ.tw

nn ḥr=s r-ḫf(t)-ḥr=k
rʿ-nb

1 Offering Maat.
Words spoken:

I have come before you!
I am Thoth,
and my arms will pacify Maat.

2 Greetings,
o this august god,
Amun-Re Lord of the Throne(s)
of the Two Lands
Lord of eternity,
having united with heaven,
appearing as the solar disk each morning,
being hidden(?) and remote.

She (Maat) never leaves your presence,
every day.

The King

4nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtwr (k)ysrs)|
5zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

6dỉ(=ỉ) n=k r’ nb
ʿpr(.w) ẖr mȝʿ.t

7mn n=k mȝʿ.t wr.tw
mrỉ ỉb=k
sʿr(=ỉ) ḏ.t=k
r ḫf(t)-ḥr=k
mr.t=k tfy
ʿnḫ=k m mȝȝ=s
ẖr.wt ḥm=k ỉm=s
rʿ-nb

(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

4 King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
5 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|

6 I give to you all mouths
equipped with Maat.

7 Receive Maat, being great,
whom your heart desires.
I elevate your body
before your presence,
this your throat,
from whose sight you live;
your Majesty’s sustenance is from her
every day.

(Antoninus Augustus)|

Amun-Re of Karnak

8ḏd-mdw n Ỉmn-Rʿ
nsw.t nṯr.w
nb ns.wt tȝ.wy
9ḫnty Ỉp.t-s.wt
nṯr ʿȝ
ḫpr n ḏr-ʿ
10ỉr p.t tȝ dwȝ.t
11mw.w ḏw.w

wbn m šww
ḥy m Ḥʿpỉ
ỉw Nwn m fd.t ḥʿw(=f)

sḫȝ.tw 13kȝ=f(?)
m pr=f

8 Words spoken by Amun-Re
King of the Gods,
Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands,
9 foremost of Karnak.
Great god,
who came about in the 10 beginning,
who made heaven, earth, Duat,
11 waters and mountains.

He who shines as the sun,
who surges as the Inundation,
while Nun is the sweat of (his) body.27

One invokes his(?) Ka
in his domain.

Mut of the Isheru

14ḏd-mdw n Mw.t wr.t
nb(.t) Ỉšrw
nṯr.t ʿȝ.t
15ḥr(.t)-tp Ỉp.t-s.wt
mḥn.t wr.t
ḥr(.t)-tp nṯr nb
16nn nṯr
(mḥ)n=f s(w) ḥr-tp=s

wbn(.t) m p.t
sḥḏ(.t) tȝ.wy
mḥ(.t) ʿḥ 17m nfrw

ỉr.t Rʿ nb.t p.t
ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb.w

18dỉ=ỉ n=k mȝʿ.t
ḏd(.tw) m ỉb=k
r ỉr(.t) nsw.t m nṯr.w

14 Words spoken by Mut the great,
Lady of the Isheru.
Great goddess,
15 chief of Karnak.
Great uraeus serpent,
atop the head of all gods:
16 there is not god
who might (coi)l atop her head!

Whe who rises in the sky,
illumines the two lands,
and fills the palace with goodness.

The Eye of Re, Lady of heaven,
mistress of all the gods.

18 I give to you Maat,
enduring in your heart,
to serve as King among the gods.

Behind the Divinities

19nsw.t bỉty
ʿq ẖr mȝʿ.t

sḥtp(=ỉ) ỉb=k m ḥr=k
ẖnm.tw ḥnʿ kȝ=k
mr.tw=k
ḥʿʿ=k ỉm=s
nỉ ḥr=s r ḫf(t)-ḥr=k
snḏm=s ḥnʿ=k
Ỉmn-Rʿ nsw.t-nṯr.w

19 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
he who enters bearing Maat:

I satisfy you in your eyes,
she (Maat) being united with your Ka,
she who loves you,
you rejoice in her,
and she never leaves your presence,
but dwells with you,
Amun-Re King of the Gods.

Esna 488

Formula

1dỉ(=ỉ) n=k tȝ-nṯr
ẖr ỉm[=f]
Pwn.t ẖr 2ḫȝ.w nb nḏm
bnr snṯr ḥr ḥʿw=k
r tȝ(.w) 3nb.w

ḫȝ.w nb nḏm
kȝp snṯr
ḥr swʿb ḥr=k

1 I give you God’s Land,
with what is in [it];
and Pun with 2 all sweet ingredients.
Incense upon your body is the sweetest
of all 3 the lands.

All sweet ingredients,
kyphi and incense,
are purifying your face.

The King

4nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
([ỉwtkrtwr] kysrys)|
5zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
([phywlyps] nty-ḫwỉ)|

6nṯr nfr
wʿb ʿ.wy=f
ḥr ỉr(.t) snṯr n ỉt=f
Rʿ-Ḥr-ȝḫty
kȝp m ẖms.w
pr(.w) m ỉr.t-Wr wȝḏ
mn.tw m s.t tn

4 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
([Autokrator] Caesar)|
5 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
([Philip] Augustus)|28

6 The good god,
his arms are pure
while making incense for his father,
Re-Harakhty.

Kyphi with aromatics
derived from the green Eye of Horus.
May you endure (mn.ṯw) in this place!29

Montu-Re Lord of Armant

7ḏd-mdw n Mnṯw-Rʿ
8nb Ỉwnw-šmʿ
nṯr ʿȝ
ḫp(r) n ḏr-ʿ
sḫm 9šps
ḥry nṯr.w nb

sḥḏ wr
10sḥḏ tȝ m mȝwy
11ʿnḫ ḥr.w nb.w
n mȝȝ=f

nṯr nṯry
ḥqȝ psḏ.t
12sḫr ḫfty
n ỉt=f Rʿ

7 Words spoken by Montu-Re,
8 Lord of Armant (Ỉwnw-šmʿ),
great god,
who came about in the beginning;
august 8 power,
chief of all the gods.

The great illuminator,
10 who illumines the earth with rays,
11 all faces live
from seeing him.

The divine god,
ruler of the Ennead,
12 who strikes down the enemy
of his father, Re.

Tjenenet

13ḏd-mdw n Ṯnn.t
zȝ.t Rʿ
ỉr.t Rʿ
nb(.t) p.t
14ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb.w

tmȝ.t ḥr.t-tp
15ḫp(r.t) m ḥȝ.t
wr kȝ.w=s r nṯr.w

16dỉ=ỉ nḏm-ỉb=k
m ẖr.t hrw

13 Words spoken by Tjenenet,
daughter of Re,
Eye of Re,
Lady of heaven,
14 mistress of all the gods.

The primeval mother uraeus,
15 who came about in the beginning,
her Ka is greatest of the gods.

16 I cause you to be happy
in the course of every day.

Behind the Divinities

17nsw.t-bỉty
mn.tw ḥnʿ tpy.w-ʿ
ḥr nỉs […]

[…] n ʿnḫ
ʿḫ.n(=ỉ) p.t
ṯnỉ[…]
p.ty tȝ(.w) ḫȝs.wt
ḥr fȝỉ n=k ỉḫt

17 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt.
May you remain (mn.ṯw) with the ancestors,
calling out […]

[…] of life.
As I raised up the sky,
so did [I] distinguish […]
The heavens, lands, and foreign countries
elevate their offerings to you.

Esna 489

Formula

1mn n=k Ḥḥ
ty.t n ḏ.t=k
ẖnm=tw ḥnʿ kȝ=k
m ȝw(.t)-ỉb
2ʿȝ bȝw=(k)
ḥr rmn zȝ.t=k
bs=k štȝ
ḥr wṯz gb.t

1 Take the Heh-figure,
the image of your body,
united with your Ka
in happiness.
2 Great of power
while supporting your daughter,30
your mysterious image
elevates the firmament.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(gʿt nty-ḫwỉ)|

5nṯr nfr
ỉỉ m ʿbw
ʿ.wy=f ẖr Ḥḥ ḥfn.w
ẖnm=tw m nswy.t ʿȝ.t
ḥnk n ỉt=f
m pr ỉm=f
ẖnm n=f ḏd šps
m ỉrw=f
rnp.wt=f mỉ zȝ-Ỉs.t

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

5 The good god,
who arrives in a state of purity,
his arms carrying myriads of Hehs,
united with a great kingship;
who offers to his father,
of that which came forth from him;
having united with the august Djed-pillar,
in his visible form.
His years are like the Son of Isis.

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

6ḏd-mdw ỉn ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
Ptḥ Nwn wr
7ỉt nṯr.w
šȝʿ ḫpr
nỉ ḫpr ḫprw
pr
nn sỉȝ ỉrw=f
qdỉ rmṯ.w 8ỉr nṯr.w
ẖnm ḥr.w-nb.w ḥr nḥp=f

6 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,
Ptah, great Nun,
7 Father of the gods,
who began existence,
before existence had happened;
who emerged,
without his form being perceived;
he who builds humans, 8 makes gods,
and fashions everybody on his potter’s wheel.

Menhyt

9ḏd-mdw ỉn Mnḥy.t wr.t
nb.t ḫnt-tȝ
10Sḫm.t ʿȝ.t mr.t Ptḥ
nb.t mrw.t ḫnt(.t) nṯr.w
mḥn.t ḥr tp
n nṯr nb
11nn nṯr
mḥn=f s(w) ḥr tp=s

ḥȝy.t 12Rʿy.t
sḥḏ(.t) tȝ.wy
m mȝwy=s

13dỉ=ỉ n=k ḥfn.w m rnp.wt
m ḥtp
nswy.t tȝ.wy
m mȝʿ-ḫrw

9 Words spoken by great Menhyt,
Lady of Khent-ta,
10 Great Sakhmet, beloved of Ptah,
Lady of love among the gods;
coiled uraeus on the head
of every god,
11 there is no god
who might coil upon her head.

Shining one, 12 Rayet,
who illumines the two lands
with her rays.

13 I give you myriads of years
in peace,
Kingship of the two lands
in justification.

Behind the Divinities

14nsw.t-bỉty
Ḥḥ wṯz Nw.t
smn štȝ.t
m r’-ʿ.wy=f
wr ḥzw.t m-m nṯr.w
ʿȝ ỉrw ḫnty psḏ.t
p.t ḥr tp=f
tȝ ẖr rd.wy=f
swḏȝ ỉmy.w dwȝ.t
m nfy=f
ẖnmw ỉr p.t
ḥnʿ ỉmy.w=s

14 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Heh who lifts up Nut,
who stabilizes the sky
with his actions;
great of praise among the gods,
large of form31 within the Ennead:
the sky is over his head,
the earth is beneath his feet,
he who preserves those within the Duat
with his breath:
Khnum, who made the sky
along with those in it.

Esna 490

Title

1ỉmn ḏ.t=f
m kȝ.t rḥ.ty

1 Hiding his body,
with the work of the weavers.

The King

2nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
3zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(sʿwry nty-ḫwỉ)|
4ỉmn ḏ.t=f
m kȝ.t rḥ.ty

5mn n=ṯ mnḫ.t
m ʿ.wy zȝ=ṯ
m pr
m rsn.t mḥn.t
dỉ=sn n psḏ.t mr.t=s
nfr ḥʿw=sn
m pr ỉm=t

2 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
3 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Severu(s) Augustus)|.
4 He who hides his body,
with the work of the weavers.

5 Take the linen
from the arms of your son,
being that which came forth
from the Rs-n.t and Mḥ-n.t chapels,
they give the Ennead what they love,32
and their bodies are perfect
from that which came forth from you.

Neith Lady of Esna

6ḏd-mdw n N.t wr.t
mw.t nṯr
nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
7nṯr.t ʿȝ.t
(ḫnt.t) N.t
ḏd.tw ḏ.t r 8ḫprw=s

ỉr(.t) wnn.t nb.w
ḥr-sȝ=s
9nỉ ḫp(r) p.t tȝ dwȝ.t
10mw.w ḏw.w
ẖr-ḥȝ.t=s

6 Words spoken by Neith the great,
Mother of God,
Lady of Esna,
7 Great goddess,
(foremost of) the Neith-nome,
one calls her manifestation 8 ‘ḏ.t-eternity’.

She who made all that exists
after herself;
9 Heaven, earth, Duat,
waters, and mountains did not exist
before her.

Tutu

11ḏd-mdw n Twtw wr
zȝ N.t
ḥry-tp 12n ḫȝty.w n Sḫm.t
13šmȝy.w n Bȝst.t

14dỉ=ỉ n=k ḫȝs.(w)t nb(.w)
ẖr ỉnw=sn

11 Words spoken by Tutu the great,
son of Neith,
Chief 12 of the killer-demons of Sakhmet,
13 and the wandering-demons of Bastet.

14 I give you all foreign lands
bearing their tribute.

Behind the Divinities

15šzp.n=n mnḫ.t
m ỉwʿʿ Ḥḏ-ḥtp
rr n Tȝy.t
tp nwd.t=f
rdỉ nṯry
n mw.t=f wsr.t

15 We have received linen
from the heir of Hedjhetep,33
nurtured by Tayet
upon his swaddling clothes,
he who gives nṯry-cloth
to his mighty mother.

Esna 491

Title

1ḫrp qbḥw
n ỉt=f ẖnmw
m qbḥw pr.w
m 2ȝbw
qbb ỉb=k ỉm=s
m rn=s wy n qbḥw

1 Offering cool water
to his father, Khnum,
with cool waters which came forth
from Elephantine:
May your heart be cooled (qbb) from this,
in its name of cool waters (qbḥw).

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtkrtwr ksrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(gʿt nty-ḫwỉ)|

5wʿb ỉỉ
r swʿb ḥw.t-nṯr n ỉt=f

6nṯr nfr
ḥnk ḥz n ỉt=f
bʿḥ(.w) m mw
m ỉgb pr m Ỉwnw
r bʿḥ tȝ.wy nb
m nfrw=f
r sḏfȝ ḫȝ.wt
n nṯr.w nṯry.t
m ỉḫt=f
(gʿt nty-ḫwỉ)|

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

5 The wʿb-priest who comes,34
to purify the temple of his father.

6 The good god,
who offers the ewer to his father,
filled with water
from the flood
which comes forth from Heliopolis,35
in order to inundate all lands,
to provision the altars
of gods and goddesses
with his products:
(Geta Augustus)|

Khnum of Elephantine

7ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw ʿȝ
nb ȝbw
nṯr ʿȝ nb Qbḥw
ḫnty ḥȝ.t-ḫȝs.wt
8sḫm šps ḥry nṯr.w nb(.w)
ỉt ỉt.w
n nṯr.w nṯry.t

9ḥḥ n ḥḥ(.w)
ḫpr ḏs=f
ỉr p.t tȝ dwȝ.t
mw.w ḏw.w

7 Words spoken by Khnum the great,
Lord of Elephantine,
great god, Lord of the First Cataract.
8 Foremost of Beginning of the foreign lands.
August image, chief of all the gods,
father of fathers
of gods and goddesses.

9 Heh of Heh(s),
who came about by himself,36
who made heaven, earth, the Duat,
all waters and mountains.

Satet

10ḏd-mdw n Spd.t ʿȝ.t
nb(.t) ȝbw
nṯr.t ʿȝ.t
ḥnw.t Snmw.t
11wr(.t) wsr.t
nn (k)y ḥr-ḫw=s
12ỉr.t Rʿ
nb(.t) p.t
ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb

13dỉ=ỉ ỉw n=k Nwn wr
r tr=f
r swʿb ỉb=k
m mw n rnp

10 Words spoken by Satet the great,
Lady of Elephantine,
great goddess,
Mistress of Bigeh;
11 Great and mighty one,
without (an)other like her;
12 Eye of Re,
Lady of Heaven,
Mistress of all the gods.

13 I cause Great Nun to come to you
at his season,
to purify your heart
with rejuvenating waters.

Behind the Divinities

14nfr ḥr=k
ỉw=k ẖr qbḥw
ỉn=k s(w) m nfrw
ẖr mw n rnp
r bʿḥ nỉw.t(?)
r tr=s

ḥȝy Ḥʿpỉ (m)-ḫt=f
ṯz ṯb.ty=f
r swr Nwn

14 Your face is beautiful,
when you carry the cool waters!
May you bring it in goodness
bearing rejuvenating waters,
to inundate the city(?)
at its season.

Hapi surges after him,
he who raises his sandals
to magnify Nun.

Esna 492

  • Location: South wall, second register
  • Date: Geta and Caracalla
  • Hieroglyphic Text
  • Bibliography: el-Sayed 1982, II, p. 631, Doc. 1019; Tempeltexte 2.0.
  • Photograph
  • Parallels: Esna VII, 562; 615 (partial); Edfou I, 384; Edfou VI, 280; Dendara IV, 69.

Title

1ỉsḫ ỉt bd.t
ḏd-mdw
hȝ(=ỉ) r sḫ.t

1 Harvesting grain and emmer.
Words spoken:
‘I go do to the field…’

The King

2nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉtwkrtr ksrs)|
3zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnnns nty-ḫwỉ)|
4sʿnḫ ẖdb

5wnn zȝ-Rʿ
(ʿntnnns nty-ḫwỉ)|
ỉỉ(.w) hrw n mšd
ḥw=f n=t(?) šmʿ.w
m […]
mḥ.n=f šnw.t
r […] m šnʿ=t
m ḥnw n rwh(ȝ)

2 King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
3 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|
4 He who keeps sustains and destroys.

5 The Son of Re,
(Antoninus Augustus)|
has come on the day of the scythe,
he cuts Upper Egyptian wheat for you
with […];
he filed the granary,
in order to […] from the temple kitchen
during the evening service.

Neith-Amunet

6ḏd-mdw n N.t-Ỉmn.t ʿȝ.t wr.t
7nb.t tȝ-sn.t
ỉh.t wr.t ms(.t) Rʿ
ṯz(.t) pr.t nṯr.w 8rmṯ.w
mw.t n(.t) Rʿ
qmȝ(.t) Ỉtm
ḫp(r.t) 9nn ḫpr
qmȝ(.t) nty
m-ḫt ḫp(r)=s
10ḏsr s.t ḫnt ḥw.t-Mw.t
ḥnw.t ḫnt ḥw.t-Ỉt

6 Words spoken by Neith-Amunet the very great,
7 Lady of Esna,
great cow who gave birth to Re,
and bound the seed of gods and 8 humans,
Mother of Re,
who created Atum,
who came about 9 before existence,
who created what is
after she came into existence,
10 sacred of place within Temple of the Mother,
Mistress within Temple of the Father.

Nekhbet

11ḏd-mdw n Nḫb.t ḥd.t Nḫn
ȝw(.t)-ʿ nb(.t) Fʿg.t
ỉwrr.t 12ʿnḫ.t n Rʿ
ỉt ỉt.w
mw.t mw.wt
ḫp(r.t) […]
13qmȝ(.t) wnn.t
pȝwt.t ỉr(.t) pȝwty[.w…]
[…] 14wr.t
štȝ.t wr(.t) ḫnt ḥw.t-Mw.t

11 Words spoken by Nekhbet, the White of Nekhen,
outstretched of arm, Lady of Fag,
living 12 uraeus of Re,
father of fathers,
mother of mothers,
who came about […]
13 who created what exists,
Primeval one who made the primeval [ones…]
[…] 14 the great,
great mysterious-vulture within Temple of the Mother.

Behind the Divinities

15nsw.t-bỉty
tmȝ.t ḥr.t-tp
ḫpr.t m […]
wbn(.t) m Nwn […]
[…] n nty
N.t […]nb(.t)
štȝ.t nb.t […]

15 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the primeval mother-uraeus,
who came about in […]
who arose from Nun […]
[…] of what is,
Neith the Lady(?),
Mysterious one, Lady of […].

Esna 493

Title

1mn n=k mȝʿ.t
zȝ.t=k wr.t
ḥtp.tw m ḥr=k
ẖnm.tw ḥnʿ kȝ=k
mr 2ỉb=k
n mȝȝ=s
nỉ ḥr=s r ḫf(t)-ḥr=k
snḏm=s ḥnʿ=k rʿ-nb

1 Take to yourself Maat,
your great daughter,
who is pleased before you,
and united with your Ka;
she 2 whom your heart loves
to see:
she never leaves your presence,
(but) dwells with your every day.

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtkrtr kysrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|
5dỉ(=ỉ) n=k r’.w nb.w
ʿpr(.w) ẖr mȝʿ.t

6nṯr nfr
ʿq ẖr mȝʿ.t
sḥtp […]
[…] ỉb ỉm=f
ỉr.n=k nfrw=s

ṯpḥ.t-wḏ.t-kȝ.w
ẖr s.t-ḥr=f
sʿr ḏ.t
n nb Ḫmnw
swȝḏ nfrw
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

3 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|.
5 I cause that all mouths
are equipped with Maat.

6 The good god,
who enters bearing Maat,
who pacifies […]
[…] the heart from it,
may her goodness act for you(?).

The gullet (Maat)
is under his command;
he who raises the body
to the Lord of Hermopolis,
who confers goodness:
(Antoninus Augustus)|.

Thoth Lord of Hermopolis

7ḏd-mdw n Ḏḥwty
ʿȝ ʿȝ ʿȝ
wr nb Ḫmnw
8ỉb n Rʿ
nb mȝʿ.t
ʿnḫ=f ỉm=s

ntf 9wʿ n 3
sšm sn.wy=f

ntk mtr n 2
wp nb.wy

10pȝ sr nb
ḥry-tp n psḏ.t
nb sš.w
ḥsb ʿḥʿ r mr=f

11spẖr=ỉ ḥb.w-sd.w ʿšȝ wr.w
n nswy.t ḥr rn=k
m ȝw n nḥḥ ḏ.t

7 Words spoken by Thoth,
trismegistos,
the great, Lord of Hermopolis,
8 the heart of Re,
Lord of Maat,
he lives by means of it.

He is one of the three,37
who guides his siblings.

You are the judge of the two,
who decides between the two lords.

10 The prince and lord,38
chief of the Ennead,
Lord of writing,
who reckons lifetimes as he desires.

11 I inscribe many great Sed-Festivals
of kingship in your name,
for the extent of all eternity.

Horus-Senedjemib of Akhmim

12ḏd-mdw n Ḥr-snḏm-ỉb
zȝ ʿpr.t(-s.t)
nb Ỉpw
13ẖrd šps
ḥry-tp Mnw
14ḥwnw nfr
mr wnm
sfy(?) 15šps
wḥm msḫʿ.w mỉ rʿ-nb

12 Words spoken by Horus-Senedjemib,
son of ’Aperet(-Set) (Repyt),
Lord of Akhmim,
13 august child,
chief of the Panopolite nome,
14 good youth,
who loves to eat,
august 15 child(?),39
who repeats luminous births daily.

Behind the Divinities

16nsw.t-bỉty
ỉb n Rʿ
nfr mȝʿ.t
nṯr ʿȝ wr
pr m Nwn

ḥȝ.t nṯr.w
pḥ.t psḏ.t
n ỉr(.t)=f
grg tȝ m kȝ.t=f
swr mȝʿ.t m-ʿ nṯr.w

Ḏḥwty
nfr mȝʿ.t
mry mȝʿ.t

16 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the heart of Re,
good of Maat,
the very great god
who emerged from Nun.

Beginning of the gods,
end of the Ennead,
because of what he did:
populating the earth with his work,
and magnifying Maat among the gods.

Thoth,
good of Maat,
who loves Maat.

Esna 494

Formula

1mn n=k ʿnḫ
ḥm n Rʿ
r fnḏ n nb tmm.w
ʿḥʿ ʿȝ n Ỉmn-Rʿ
[m] zȝ=k […]

1 Take the symbol of life,
the Majesty(?) of Re
is at the nose of the Lord of Humanity,
the great lifetime of Amun-Re
[is in] your protection […].

The King

2nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝwtwkrtrs kysrs)|
3zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

4nṯr nfr
dwn ʿ.wy
ẖr ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs nb
sḥtp ỉb n ỉt=f
ḥkn kȝ=f
n pr ỉm=f

ʿnḫ.tw dd.tw wsr.tw
mỉ Rʿ
nb nḥḥ
(ʿntnny(n)s nty-ḫwỉ)|

2 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
3 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|.

4 The good god,
who extends his arms
bearing all ankh-djed-was,
who appeases his father,
his Ka rejoices
over that which came forth from him.

May you live, endure, and be mighty
like Re:
the Lord of Eternity,
(Antoni(n)us Augustus)|

Osiris Lord of Aba

5ḏd-mdw n Wsỉr nb ʿbȝ
nṯr ʿȝ
ḫnty Pr-nṯr
nb 6šmʿ-mḥw
ḥqȝ ḫȝs.wt
nsw.t m p.t
bỉty m tȝ
7ỉty ʿȝ m nb-ʿnḫ

Nwn 8wr
ỉwḥ ȝḫ.t
m rn=f 9pfy n Wsỉr
šȝʿ.n=f ṯȝw
nn ṯny=f
10r nṯr.w nṯry.t
m rn=f pfy n Ṯnn
ʿnḫ-ỉrw tp-rnp.t

11dỉ(=ỉ) n=k rnp.wt n Šw
ḥr ns.t Rʿ
ẖnm=k ḥḥ.w
m ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs nb

5 Words spoken by Osiris Lord of Aba,
great god,
Foremost of Per-netjer,
Lord 6 of Upper and Lower Egypt,
ruler of foreign lands;
nsw-king in heaven,
bity-king on earth,
7 great sovereign in Neb-ankh;

Great 8 Nun,
who irrigates the excellent-field,
in this 9 his name of Osiris;40
he created the air,
but he doesn’t distinguish
10 among gods and goddesses,
in this his name of Tatenen,41
living of visible form every year.

11 I give you the years of Shu
upon the throne of Re,
may you receive millions
of all ankh-djed-was.

Isis within Temple of the Bas

12ḏd-mdw n Ỉs.t wr.t
mw.t-nṯr
ḥr(.t)-ỉb ḥw.t-bȝw
nb(.t) 13tȝ-sn.t
nṯr.t ʿȝ.t
ḫnt.t ḥw.t-ṯȝ.wy
ḥqȝ.t n nṯr.w tȝ
14nb.t-(r)-ḏr n nṯr.w dwȝ.t

15dỉ=ỉ n=k ḥḥ(.w)
m ʿnḫ-ḏd-wȝs nb
m šnw n ỉtn
ḥqȝ n Šw
r nḥḥ

12 Words spoken by great Isis,
Mother of God,
within Temple of the Bas,
Lady 13 of Esna,
great goddess,
Foremost of Temple of the Chicks;
Ruler of the gods of the earth,
14 All-Lady of the gods of the Duat.

15 I give you million(s)
of all ankh-djed-was
in the circuit of the sundisk,
the rule of Shu
for all eternity.

Behind the Divinities

16nsw.t-bỉty
ỉwʿʿ n Šw
sʿnḫ ms(ȝ)ḏ.ty=f
m mḥw
wsr.tw nn ḫfty
ḏsr.tw ḏ.t=f
m ḥw.t-bȝw
Wsỉr nb (?)
ỉwn nṯr.w

16 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the heir of Shu,
who enlivens (sʿnḫ) his nostrils (msḏḏ)
with the floral collar;42
he is mighty (wsr/wȝs) without enemies;
and his body (ḏ.t/ḏd) is made sacred
in the Temple of the Bas:
Osiris Lord (of ?),
pillar of the gods.

Esna 495

Title

1mn n=k wsḫ Ỉtm
r ḫḫ=k
mḥw n Ḫprỉ
2[r šnb.t=k

mỉ n=k
sḫn ḥm=k
r tȝ nb.w nfr

3smsw zȝ Rʿ
nb Pr-sȝḥw-Rʿ

1 Take the collar of Atum
to your throat,
the floral garland of Khepri
2 [to your chest].

Do come!
May your majesty unite
with every good land.

3 Eldest son of Re,
Lord of Per-sahure.

The King

4nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtkrtr kysrs)|
5zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(Pšyr[…] nty-ḫwỉ)|

6nṯr nfr
ỉšš n Rʿ
smsw n Ỉtm
srnp ḥʿw
n qmȝ ḏ.t=f
wḏ ʿnḫ (n) srq-ḥty.t

ʿšȝ.n=f ḥb.w=k
m mȝȝ=k s(n)
nb sḫn
(tkỉws nty-ḫwỉ)|

4 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
5 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Philli[p?…] Augustus)|.

6 The good god,
spitting image of Re,
eldest of Atum,
who rejuvenates the flesh
of He who created his body,
who decrees life for mortals;

He made your festivals numerous
from your seeing them(?):43
the Lord of Union,
(Decius Augustus)|

Shu Lord of Iunyt

7ḏd-mdw n Šw
zȝ Rʿ nb Ỉwny.t
8nṯr ʿȝ
ḫnty ỉȝ.t-ṯȝ.wy
nb Pr-sȝḥw-Rʿ
9smsw n Ỉtm
10ỉšš.n Rʿ
m zp tpy

11Šw nṯr wr
m nṯr.w
bʿḥ 12tȝ.wy n Ỉtm
(m) pr(.w) m ḥʿw=f

13nṯr wr
ḫp(r) m zp tpy
ḫpr nty nb ỉm=f

7 Words spoken by Shu,
Son of Re, Lord of Iunyt,
8 great god,
Foremost of Mound of the Chicks,
Lord of Per-sahure,
9 eldest of Atum,
10 spat out by Re
in the first moment.

11 Shu, great god
among the gods,
who floods 12 the lands of Atum
(with) what emerged from his body.

13 Great god,
who came about in the first moment;
all that is comes forth from him.

Tefnut

14ḏd-mdw n Tfn.t wr.t
ḥr.t-ỉb n Rʿ
15mḥn.t(?)
r-gs sn=s Šw
šps.t 16wsr.t
ḥnw.t Pr-nṯr
ỉr.t 17Rʿ
nb(.t) p.t
ḥnw.t nṯr.w nb

18dỉ(=ỉ) n=k stp-zȝ
ḥr zȝ ʿ.wt=k nb.w

14 Words spoken by great Tefnut,
primeval uraeus of Re,
15 coiled serpent(?),44
beside her brother, Shu;
August and mighty one,
Mistress of Per-netjer,
Eye 17 of Re,
Lady of Heaven,
Mistress of all the gods.

18 I give you the palace,
protecting all your limbs.

Behind the Divinities

19nsw.t-bỉty
Ṯnn wtṯ nṯr.w rmṯ.w
qmȝ wnn.t
wr.wy
šȝʿ ḫp(r) [nỉ] ḫpr
ḫp(r) ḫp(r.w) nb.w
m-ḫt ḫp(r)=f
ʿšȝ ḥb.w ḫnty tȝ-sn.t

19 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Tatenen, who begets gods and humans,
who creates what exists;
truly great one,
who began creation, [before] creation,
all beings came into existence
after he came into existence,
numerous of festivals within Esna.

Esna 496

  • Location: South Wall, bottom register
  • Date: Septimius Severus
  • Hieroglyphic Text
  • Bibliography: Sauneron 1952 (description); see also Tempeltexte 2.0
  • Photograph
  • Parallels: Esna III, 235, 12-13 (epithets of Nebtu). For Khnum giving the king Sed Festivals, compare Esna VII, 528

NB: One of the most famed reliefs from Esna, this scene depicts the entire royal family of Septimius Severus, including the Empress Julia Domna, and the two sons Caracalla and Geta, whose cartouches also appear in various scenes. Remarkably, the entire figure of the younger Geta was erased, apparently as part of a general damnatio memoriae begun by Caracalla, and detectable in other cartouches of Geta at Esna. The presence of Julia Domna is also noteworthy, since unlike Ptolemaic queens, Roman empresses appear exceedingly rarely on Egyptian temple walls.

Severus and his entire family actually visited Egypt in 199-200 CE, and journeyed as far south as Philae, but it is uncertain whether they stopped at Esna. This scene is often compared to a painting of the same family, possibly from the Fayum, and now in Berlin. For the imperial visual program of the Severan family in Egypt, see Vaneerdewegh 2020.

Septimius Severus

1nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtỉr ksr[s])|
2zȝ-Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
([sʿ]ry nty-ḫwỉ)|
3[…]
[nsw.t] ḥr s.t Rʿ [ḏ.t]
[m bỉty ḥr s.t Ḥr]

1 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
2 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
([Seve]rus Augustus)|
3 […]
[the nsw.t-king] on the throne of Re, forever,
[as the bỉty-king on the throne of Horus].

Julia Domna

4ḥqȝ.t ḥm.t-nsw.t
nb(.t) tȝ.wy
(yʿ[ryȝ …])|

5dỉ(=ỉ) n=k tȝ.wy ḫȝs.wt nb.w
pḏ.t (9.t) dmḏ(.w) ẖr ṯb.ty=k

4 The Ruler and Royal Wife,
Lady of the Two Lands,
(Ju[lia Domna])|

5 I give you all flat and hilly lands,
the (Nine) Bows united under your sandals.

Caracalla

6nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
7zȝ-Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
([ʿ]ntny(n)s nty-ḫwỉ)|

8dỉ[=ỉ n=k] nswy.t ʿȝ.t
ẖr ršw

6 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
7 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
([A]ntoni(n)us Augustus)|

8 [I] give [to you] a great kingship
in happiness.

Geta

9nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
10zȝ-Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(Gʿts nty-ḫwỉ)|
11snn n Ḥr
šzp-ʿnḫ n zȝ-Ỉs.t

9 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
10 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Geta Augustus)|
11 Replica of Horus,
living image of the Son of Isis.

Behind the Family

12nsw.t-bỉty
ỉty ḥqȝ ʿȝ n Km.t
wȝḏḏ nfr n Bȝq.t
qȝ […] m tȝ.wy Fnḫ.w
bʿḥ tȝ-mry
m nfrw=f

ỉwʿʿ n ẖnmw
stp n Ptḥ ḫnt ḥḥ.w
r ỉr(.t) [nb]
[n] šnw [nb n ỉtn]
ḥr ḫbỉ ỉnw [m tȝ r-ḏr=f]
[…] (pr-ʿȝ)|

12 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Sovereign, great ruler of Egypt,
agathos-daimon serpent of Baqet,
high of […] in the Phonecian lands,
who floods the Beloved Land
with his goodness.

Heir of Khnum,
chosen by Ptah among millions
to act [as lord]
[of the entire] circuit [of the sun disk],
collecting tribute [from the entire earth],
[…] (Pharaoh)|

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

13ḏd-mdw n [ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t]
[…]

14[dỉ=ỉ] n=k ḥb.w-sd.w
m ḥḥ [n rnp.wt]

13 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of the Field45
[…]

14 [I give] your Sed Festivals
for millions [of years].

Nebtu

15ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ww
nb(.t) tȝ-sn.t
ḥnw.t (sḫ.t)
nḏm-sṯy
16mr.t sʿn [ḥr.w nb].w
ḫnmw=s m nḫb
sṯỉ=s m ỉdḥ.w
17dgs=s nb.w
wȝḏwȝḏ(.w)

18[dỉ=ỉ n=k …]
rsy.t ỉȝbt.t(?)
r mḥy.t [ỉmnt.t]
[ḫrp.w m wȝḥ-tp]

15 Words spoken by Nebtu,
Lady of Esna,
the Mistress (of the Field),46
Sweet of aroma,
16 who loves to beautify [everybody],
her scent is of the lotus,
her aroma of the Delta marshes,
17 all that she treads
turns green.

18 [I cause that…]
the south and east(?)
to the north and [west]
[are compelled to bow down for you].

Heka the Child

19ḏd-mdw n Ḥkȝ p(ȝ) ẖrd
ʿȝ wr tpy n ẖnmw
20sḏ(ty) n mw.t=f
mr s(w)
nṯr ʿȝ ḥry-ỉb Ỉwny.t

19 Words spoken by Heka the Child,
the very great, first-born of Khnum,
20 child of his mother,
who adores him,
great god within Iunyt.

Behind the Divinities

19nsw.t-bỉty
Ṯnn wtṯ nṯr.w
rdỉ tȝ
qmȝ wnn.t
wr ỉrw
šȝʿ ḫp[r]
ḫpr ḫp(r) nb.w
m-ḫt ḫp(r)=f
ʿšȝ ḥb(.w) ḫnty tȝ-sn.t

19 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Tatenen who begat the gods,
and gave the earth,
and created what exists,
great of activity,
who began ex[istence],
all things came into existence
after he came into existence,
numerous of festivals within Esna.

Esna 497

Title

1fȝỉ ḏb.wt
[r tȝ] s.t-ʿȝ.t

ỉw Ỉwny.t m ȝḫ.t n.t p.t
2qȝ.tw r Nw.t
ḏsr.tw r nỉw.wt spȝ.wt
qd.tw m […]

1 Elevating bricks
[for the] Great Place.47

Iunyt is as the Akhet of heaven,
2 higher than Nut,
most sacred of cities and nomes,
built as […]

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtkrtwr ksr[s])|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(sʿwy nty-[ḫwỉ])|

5wnn […]
([…ks]rs)|
m mḥ-ỉb ẖnmw
(ḥr) fȝỉ [tȝ ḥr] psḏ=f
(ḥr) ỉr(.t) kȝ.t (??)
(ḥr) snṯ pr-ẖnmw
(ḥr) [s]ʿḥȝ […] ỉȝ.t
[…]
ḥr qdỉ r[mṯ.w]
[…]

3 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Seve(r)us Augus[tus])|

5 While [the king …]
[(…Caes]ar)|
is the trusted agent of Khnum,
carrying [upon] his back,
performing works (??),
making the foundation for the Per-Khnum,
[el]evating […] the mounds,
[…he is as …]
building hu[mans],48
[…]

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

6ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ [nb] tȝ-sn.t
[…]
7twȝ Nw.t
[…]
[wn?] 8ỉr.ty
sš ʿnḫ.wy
ṯz.n=f ḫ.t-n-ʿnḫ
n nṯr.w nṯr.yt

šȝʿ ʿnḫ n Km.t ḏs=f
qdỉ mḥ gm-w[š]

9dỉ=ỉ n=k pr=k
s.t=f ns.t=k
ỉw ḫȝs.wt nb(.w)
ẖr ṯb.ty[=k]

6 Words spoken by Khnum-Re [Lord] of Esna,
[…]
7 who supports the sky (Nut),
[…]
[…who opens?] 8 eyes,
and opens ears,49
having bound the ‘wood of life’
for gods and goddesses.

He who began life for Kemet himself,
the builder, who restores what is found mis[sing].

9 I give you your domain,
your seat, your throne;
all foreign lands
are beneath [your] sandals.

Menhyt

10ḏd-mdw n Mnḥy.t wr.t
nb(.t) ḫnt-tȝ
Tfn.t [ḥr.t-tp n.t] Rʿ
nb(.t) tḫ
ʿšȝ ḥb.w […]
12wȝḏ(.t) ʿnḫ
n mr=s
mḥ(.t) p.t tȝ
m nfrw=s
13[R]ʿ.t ḥnw.t tȝ.wy ḫȝs.wt
[ȝ]s[b].t [n.t Rʿ?]

14dỉ=ỉ n=k Pwn.t
[ẖr ỉm=f]
tȝ nb
ḥr fȝỉ n=k ỉḫt=sn

10 Words spoken by great Menhyt,
Lady of Khent-ta,
Tefnut, [uraeus of] Re,
Lady of inebriation,
numerous of festivals […]
12 who bestows life
to whomever she desires;
who fills heaven and earth
with her goodness
13 [R]ayet, mistress of all lands,
[fi]ery ser[pe]nt [of Re?].50

14 I give your Punt,
[bearing what is in it],
and all lands
elevate their offerings to you.

Behind the Divinities

15Nḥp qd m šȝ[ʿ]
[…]
[mḥ gm-w]š
m ʿ.t n nṯr
sʿḥʿ snṯ.t nṯry […]

15 The potter, who fashioned in the beginn[ing],
[…]
[who fills what is found mi]ssing
in the sacred rooms,
who erects the divine foundation […]

Esna 498

Title

1ḥnk sḫ.t n [nb=f]
[ḏd-mdw]

ỉỉ[.n=ỉ] ḫr-k
ẖnmw nb ww
ȝḫ.t 2ṯḥn.tw
tp-ʿ.wy=[ỉ]
wbg.tw ẖr […]
šȝ.w [rwḏ] ẖr np(r)ỉ
[…] ẖr […]
[…] mȝ.w 4ẖr s[…]
[…ḫȝ]-n-tȝ
1 Offering the field [to his lord].
[Words spoken:]

[I have] come before you,
Khnum, Lord of the agricultural district!51
The excellent field 2 scintillates
upon [my] hands,
it blossoms with […];
every field [sprouts] with grain,
[…] with […]
[…] plants 4 with […]
[…of the thousand] field.52

The King

5nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉtwkrtr ksrs)|
6zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnn gʿt nty-ḫwỉ)|

7wnn nsw.t-bỉty
(ʿn[tn]n nty-ḫwỉ)|
(ḥr) dwȝ ỉmy-r’ ȝḥ.t
nfr […]
[ʿšȝ/nb] wȝḥy.t
(ḥr) swsḫ tȝš n kȝ=k
r sʿȝ ḥtp-nṯr=k
ṯnw 9[8000]
[nb ḫnt]š

5 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)
6 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Geta Augustus)|

7 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(An[ton]inus Augustus)|
is praising the Overseer of the Field,53
good […],
[numerous/lord of] grain,
expanding the bounday for your Ka,
to magnify your divine offerings,
to the number of 9[8,000]:
[the Lord of territ]ory.

Khnum-Re Lord of the Field

8ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t
9nṯr ʿȝ
(ḥry) s.t=f wr.t
bȝ ʿȝ
pḏ nmt.t ḫnty sḫ.t[=f]

10Šw wr
ḥry-ỉdb n tȝ r-ḏr=f
wp 11tȝš n p[sḏ.t]
[…]
12[…]

13dỉ(=ỉ) n=k ww n ỉȝḫw
šnw n tȝ r-ȝw=f

8 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of the Field,
9 the great god
(upon) his great throne;
the great Ba-ram,
wide of steps within [his] field.

10 Shu the great,
Chief of Agriculture for the whole earth,
who separates 11 territories for the E[nnead]
[…]
12 […]

13 I give you the field of the luminous one,
the circuit of the entire earth.

Nebtu

14[ḏd-mdw n Nb.t-ww]
[nb.t] sḫ.t
ḥnw.t Ỉwny.t
15[…]
[…s]ḫp(r.t) ỉḫt nb
wpy […]

14 [Words spoken by Nebtu]
[Lady of] the Field,
Mistress of Iunyt,
15 […]
[…who pro]duces all things,
who opens/celebrates […]

Above the Divinities

16nsw.t-bỉty
nb sḫ.t
ḥqȝ ww
ḥry ỉdb […]
[…] n nṯr.w nb n=f
mtr ḥnb.t
n zȝ.w-n.s=n
spẖr […]
[…] Nb.t-ww
n […]

16 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Field,
Ruler of the Agricultural District,
Chief of Agriculture […]
[…] of all gods belongs to him,
he who regulates the plots of land
for the Guardian deities,
who inscribes […]
[…] Nebtu
of […].

Esna 499

NB: In the original edition, Sauneron deemed this scene the most difficult of all to copy, and he included an epigraphic copy which differs occasionally from the typeset hieroglyph transcription. The following translation is a first attempt.

Title and Formula

1s[ȝ]wy ʿrq(.w) m-ḥr(?)
ḫp(r)-ẖr-ḥȝ.t
ḏd(-mdw)

m.k ṯsm=ỉ s.wt=k
qd=ỉ bsȝ
mk(=ỉ) gs-[pr=k?]
2[bȝ nb] hȝy.ty
Ptḥ pw
ḫp(r) ḫp(r.w)

wȝb.w nw ḥw.t-nṯr=k
r-ʿ mw
ṯsm ḥr=s
(ḥr) tkn r ḥr.t
ʿpr(.w) m rp.wt=s

3zȝ rsy-ỉnb[=f]
[…]

1 The w[all] is complete before(?)
He who Came About in the Beginning (Ptah).
Words spoken:

Behold, as I have erected your places,
so I have built your protection,
and I guard [your] tem[ple?],
2 [o Ba Lord of] the Two Firmaments,
that means Ptah,
who manifested manifestations.

The foundations (lit. roots) of your temple
(extend) down to the water table,54
the wall around (lit. upon) it
approaches the sky,
equipped with its divine images.

3 The Son of Resy-inebef (Ptah)
[…]

The King

4nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtwkrtwr ksrs)|
5zȝ-Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿntnyns nty-ḫwỉ)|

6wnn nsw.t-bỉty
(pr-ʿȝ)|
m ḥqȝ n tȝ-mry
ḥr šzp ḫʿy m-ʿ=f
[…]
nn thỉ ỉm
nn pẖr ḥr s.t mȝʿ.t

ỉw=f (m ?) nty ḫnty-nḏm-ʿnḫ
mw nṯry
n ḫp(r)-m-ḥȝ.t
ḏd=f ḏbʿ.w=f ḥr ỉb
n ḫnty-pr-ʿnḫ
[…]
[šm?] ỉỉ r(?) s.t ḏsr.t
nb p.t tȝ
r-ȝw n [ḏ.t?]

4 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)|
5 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Antoninus Augustus)|

6 While the King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(Pharaoh)|
is as Ruler of the Beloved Land,
grasping the foundation-tool in his hand55
[…]
there is no transgression there,
and no wandering away56 from the true place;

he is (as the ??) of Foremost of Nedjem-ankh,
the divine seed,
of Foremost of Per-ankh57
[…]
who comes [and goes?] to the sacred place,
Lord of heaven and earth
for the extend of [eternity?…]

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

7ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
Ptḥ ỉmy-r’ ḥmw.w
nfr ḥʿw
8mnḫ(?) ḏbʿ.w
ỉqr ʿ.wy
sḫp(r) wnn.t
grg tȝ m nfrw=f

ỉt 9nṯr.w
ḫnty nỉw.wt spȝ.wt
ḫwsỉ ḫm.w n sḫm.w
twȝ=f p.t
m s.t Rʿ
(ḥr) ẖnm m ỉtn

9adỉ=ỉ n=k sbḫ.t [tȝ pn]
[…]=s n=k ḥb.w-sd.w ḏbʿ.w
ḫȝ.w n rnp.wt […]

7 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,
Ptah, Overseer of artisans,
good of body,
8 effective(?) of fingers,
excellent of hands,
who creates what exists,
and populates the earth with his goodness.

Father 9 of the gods,
foremost of cities and nomes,
who constructs shrines for the divine images,
he lifts up the sky,
as the Throne of Re,
(while) uniting with the sun disk.

9a I give you the portal [of this land]
[…] she […] to you 10,000 Sed-festivals,
and thousands of years of […]

Menhyt

10ḏd-mdw n Mnḥy.t wr.t
nb(.t) ḫnt-tȝ
sḫm.t ʿȝ.t
mr.t Ptḥ
11ʿȝ sḫr.w m p.t tȝ
mḥn.t m [ḥȝ].t
ḥr tp 12nṯr nb
nn nṯr mḥn=f s(w)
ḥr tp=s
12ḥȝy.t Rʿ.t
sḥḏ(.t) tȝ.wy
mḥ(.t) ʿḥ m nfrw=s

14dỉ=ỉ n=k […]
ẖr […]
tp.w-rd.w=f
m ḥn.ty nḥḥ

10 Words spoken by great Menhyt,
Lady of Khent-ta,
great Sakhmet,
beloved of Ptah,
11 great of plans in heaven and earth,
the coiled-serpent in [the beg]inning,
upon the head 12 of every god,
without a god who might coil himself
upon her head;
12 the Shining one, Rayet,
who illumines the two lands,
and fills the palace with her goodness.

14 I give you […]
with […],
its regulations [endure?]
for the limits of eternity.

Behind the Divinities

15šzp.n=n qdỉ
qs.n=k n ḥm(.w)=n
rwḏ qs.w[=ỉ]
r’=ỉ (ḥr) tfnn
m-ʿb mȝʿ(.t)
m […]
ḫntš ỉb[=ỉ…]
msḫȝ m-hȝw ḥr=ỉ
sḫp(r)=ỉ ỉmy=s
[…] zbỉ […]

15 We have received the construction
which you have built for our Majesties,
[my] bones are strong,
my mouth rejoices
together with Maa(t),
as […]
[my] heart exults […]
joy all around my face;
I create what is inside it
[…] offering […]

Esna 500

Formula

1nṯr.w (ḥr) ỉȝw
nṯr.wt ḥr nỉnỉ(?)
[…]
[…] ʿnḫ m ȝw[…]
2[…]=k
šsr nfr.w
n pȝwty(?)
[…]

1 Gods make praise,
goddesses make nỉnỉ-praise(?),58
[…]
[…] living in the extent[…]
2 your […]
which pronounces good things
for the primeval one(?)
[…]

The King

3nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ȝ[w]tkrtr kysrs)|
4zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(ʿn[tnyns nty]-ḫwỉ)|

5wʿb-ỉḥy
ȝḫ tp-r’
ḥtp ỉt-nṯr.w
m mdw=f

6nṯr nfr
ḥn[…]
[…]
m ȝbw.t
sqȝ […]
[mʿr(?)] zp.w
(ʿntnn[s nty-ḫwỉ])

3 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(A[u]tokrator Caesar)|
4 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(An[toninus Augus]tus)|

5 The wʿb-ỉḥy-priest,59
excellent of utterance,
through whose words
the King of the Gods is pleased.

6 The Good God,
who supplies(?)[…]
[…]
with (his) desire(?),
who elevates […]
[successful(?)] of occasions:
(Antonin[us Augustus])|

Khnum-Re Lord of the Field

7ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb sḫ.t
Šw zȝ Rʿ
nṯr ʿȝ
nb ʿbȝ
8sḫm šps
[ḥry] nṯr.w nb(.w)

ỉmy-r’ ȝḥ.t Rʿ
wp 9tȝš
[n Psḏ.t]
[tȝ r-ḏr=]f ḥr.tw
r bwt=f

10dỉ=ỉ n=k ḥr.w nb.w
ḥr […]

11nṯr nfr
ỉw n dwȝ=f
sḏm spr.w
n […]
ḥr dỉ(.t) n=f ỉȝw
[…].w
ḥr(?) rn=f ʿȝ
(??)
ḥnʿ ḫpr.w nb.w
ẖnmw pȝwty tpy

7 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of the Field,
Shu, Son of Re,
the Great God,
Lord of Aba;
8 august image,
[Chief] of all the gods.

Overseer of the Field of Re,
who divides 9 the territories
[of the Ennead];60
the entire earth avoids
his abomination.

10 I cause for you that everybody
is […]

11 The good god,
who comes to whomever praises him,
who hears prayers
of […]
giving him praise
[…] people […]
in(?) his great name,
(??)
along with all that exists:
Khnum, the First Primeval one.

Esna 501

1nsw.t bỉty
ỉt m šȝʿ
ṯz pr.t
n nṯr.w rmṯ.w
šzp-ʿnḫ n ḫnty Ỉwny.t

1 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
the Father in the beginning (Khnum),
who binds the seed
for gods and humans.
Living replica of Foremost of Iunyt.

Esna 502

Title

1ḫrp qbḥw
n qmȝ Nwn
sḏfȝ wḏḥ
n [ỉt=f?]

1 Offering cool water
to the Creator of Nun,
provisioning the altar
of [his father?]

The King

2nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(Nrwn [k]rwtys ksrs nty-ḫwỉ)|
3zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(krmnyqs ȝwtgrtwr)|
4[…] Km.t
bʿḥ tȝ-mry m nfrw=f

5wnn nsw.t-bỉty
(Nr[wn] krwts ksrs nty-ḫwỉ)|
ḥr ḫrp wḏḥ n ỉt=f
m mw […]

2 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Nero [C]laudius Caesar Augustus)
3 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Germanicus Autokrator)|
10 [He who …] Egypt,
who floods the Beloved Land with his goodness.

11 While the King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
(Ner[on] Claudius Caesar Augustus)|
is consecrating the altar of his father,
with water […]

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

6ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
bȝ šps ḫnty Ỉwny.t
7Nwn wr
nnỉ s(w) ḥr ȝḫ.t
nṯr wr ḫp(r) 8m zp tpy
ḥy ḥʿpỉ
m [fd.t] n 9ḥʿw=f
wr kȝ=f r nṯr.w

10dỉ=ỉ n=k ḥʿpỉ
[…]
bʿḥ.n=f tȝ.wy
nn qn-rnp.t

11[…]
qmȝ wnn.t
[…]
[…]=s
ḥy ḥʿpỉ r-ḫt=f
ṯz ṯb.ty=f
r swr Nwn
ẖnmw ḫnty ḫnt-tȝ

6 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,
august Ba within Iunyt,
7 Great Nun (Nwn)
who wearied (nn) himself upon the field;
great god who came about 8 in the first moment,
the Inundation surges
from the [sweat] of 9 his body,
his Ka is greatest of the gods!

10 I give you the Inundation
[…]
as it flooded the two lands,
without any years of famine.

11 […]
who created what exists,
[…]
[…] its […],
the Inundation surges after him,
he who binds his sandals,
in order to magnify Nun:
Khnum, foremost of Khent-ta.

Esna 503

  • Location: West wall, south side, bottom to the right of the door
  • Date: Decius
  • Hieroglyphic Text
  • Bibliography: Leitz, Löffler 2019, p. 110-113; Klotz 2014, pp. 51-54 (for the title); LD IV, 90c (additional signs not in Sauneron)
  • Photograph

Before the Ram

1ỉr s(r) nṯr
bȝ pw n Rʿ
2bȝ Šw
bȝ Gbb
3bȝ Wsỉr
swḥ n ʿnḫ

1 As for the divine ram:
it is the Ba of Re,
2 the Ba of Shu,
the Ba of Geb,
3 and the Ba of Osiris;
the breath of life.

Title

4[…]
[qdỉ rḫy.t]
5[pʿ.t …]
6[…] nṯr.w
[…] n=k […]
7ms ms.w=k
ḥm[…]
[… ẖnmw]

4 […]
[who builds the rekhyt-people],61
5 [and the elites…]
6 […] the gods
[…] you […]
7 birthing your children,
[…]
[…Khnum].

The King

8nsw.t-bỉty
nb tȝ.wy
(ỉwtkrt(r) kysrs)|
9zȝ Rʿ
nb ḫʿ.w
(tkỉws nty-ḫwỉ)|
10ỉbȝ wrh
m Ỉwny(.t)

11nṯr nfr
wtṯ n ẖnmw
šzp-ʿnḫ […]
[…n] ḥry-nḥp
ỉqr-ḏbʿ.w ḥr […]
[…]

8 The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Lord of the Two Lands,
(Autokrator Caesar)
9 Son of Re,
Lord of Appearances,
(Decius Augustus)|,
10 the dancer who performs the wrh-dance
in Iunyt.62

11 The good god,
begotten of Khnum,
the living image [of …]
[…of] Chief of the Potter’s wheel,63
excellent of fingers while […]
[…]

Khnum-Re Lord of Esna

12ḏd-mdw n ẖnmw-Rʿ nb tȝ-sn.t
13Ptḥ-Šw nb 14rnp.wt
nṯr ʿȝ ḫnty tȝ-sn(.t)

15ḥmw ʿnḫ n ʿnḫ.w
sr mr.ty
16ỉr nty ỉwty
nḥp wr
17smn ms.w=f
18Šȝy [Rnn].t
wḏ 19[ḫpr]
nḥp ṯȝy rʿ-nb
ʿȝ Ỉwny.t
20[…]
[…] nṯr.w

12 Words spoken by Khnum-Re Lord of Esna,
13 Ptah-Shu Lord 14 of years,
great god within64 Esna.

15 Artisan of life for the living,
truly beloved ram,
16 who made what is and is not;
great potter,
17 who establishes his creations;
18 Shay and [Renen]et,65
who decrees 19 [what happens]
who fashions men, every day:
Iunyt is great
20 […]
[…] the gods.

Behind the Divinities

21[…]
[…] wnn.w
šȝʿ ḫpr ḥȝ.t
Nwn wr
qbḥw-Ḥr […]
[…Nwn]
[ḫʿỉ m n.t…]

21 […]
[…] those who exist,
who started creation in the beginning,
Nun the great,
the Qebehu-Horus region(?) […]
[…Nun],66
[who appears out of the n.t-waters…].

Esna 504

  • Location: South and West walls, lower bandeau
  • Date: Unknown
  • Hieroglyphic Text
  • Bibliography: Hallof 2007

NB: Very little of this inscription was visible to Sauneron, but part of the beginning was copied earlier by Charles Edwin Wilbour in the late 19th century: Hallof 2007.

West wall

ỉȝ.t-ṯȝ.wy
spȝ.t tp(.t) n ẖnmw-Rʿ
tȝ-sn.t kȝ.tw [r=s]
[…]

District of the Chicks,
the first nome of Khnum-Re,
[it is also] called Esna
[…]

South wall

[…]
ḥqȝ(?) n Ỉrỉ-tȝ
ỉt zȝ(.w)-n=sn
ẖnm […]
[…]
[…] n ḫp(r.t) m šȝʿ
mḥ[…]

[…]
the rule(?) of Irita,
father of the Guardian Deities,
who unites […]
[…]
of she who came about in the beginning (Neith),
[…]

Esna 505

The procession of Hapi figures is now almost entirely cemented over and illegible.