Texts from the Pyramid Age

Front Cover
Ronald J. Leprohon
BRILL, 2005 - History - 522 pages
Ancient Egypt is well known for its towering monuments and magnificent statuary, but other aspects of its civilization are less well known, especially its written texts. Now "Texts from the Pyramid Age" provides ready access to new translations of a representative selection of texts ranging from the historically significant to the repetitive formulae of the tomb inscriptions from Old Kingdom Egypt (ca. 2700-2170 B.C.). These royal and private inscriptions, coming from both the secular and religious milieus and from all kinds of physical contexts, not only shed light on the administration, foreign expeditions, and funerary beliefs of the period but also bring to life the Egyptians themselves, revealing how they saw the world and how they wanted the world to see them. Strudwick's helpful introduction to the history and literature of this seminal period provides important background for reading and understanding these historical texts. Like other volumes in the "Writings from the Ancient World" series, this work will soon become a standard with students and scholars alike. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)
 

Contents

Introduction
1
Annals and Lists of Kings
65
Three Annalistic Vessel Inscriptions from Elephantine
74
Annals on the Sarcophagus of Ankhesenpepy from South Saqqara
75
A Writing Board from Giza
78
Texts from Temples
81
From the Temples of Sneferu at Dahshur
82
Block from the Mortuary Temple of Userkaf at Saqqara Reused at Lisht
83
Text on Offering Basin of Hebi from Giza
240
Text over the Entrance Doorway of the Tomb of Iy at Giza
241
Texts relating to Payment of Workmen
251
Inscriptions of Nymaatre from His Tomb at Giza
255
Text on the False Door of Nysuredi from Giza
256
Inscriptions of Remenuka from His Tomb at Giza
257
Inscription of Zeftjwa in Berlin
258
Scenes of Visiting the Tomb from Giza
259

Festival Offerings Calendar for the Sun Temple of Niuserre at Abu Gurob
86
Blocks from the Causeway of the Pyramid of Unas at Saqqara
91
Texts of Pepy I and Teti from Tell Basta
92
A Sed Festival Monument of Pepy II
93
Building Inscriptions from Temples
94
Royal Decrees
97
Decree of Neferirkare from Abydos
98
Two Decrees from the Abusir Papyri of Neferefre
101
Decree of Teti from Abydos
102
Decree of Pepy I from Dahshur
103
Decree of Pepy I from Koptos Koptos A
105
Decree of Pepy II from Abydos
106
Decree of Pepy II from Koptos Koptos B
107
Decree of Pepy II from Koptos Koptos C
109
Decree of Pepy II from Koptos Koptos D
112
Decree of Pepy II ? from Koptos Koptos G
114
Decree of Pepy II from Dakhla Oasis
115
Decree of Horus Kha from Koptos Koptos H
116
Decree of probably Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos I
117
Decree of Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos J
118
Decree of Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos K
119
Decree of Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos L
120
Decree of Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos M
121
Decree of Neferkauhor from Koptos Koptos O
122
Decree of Horus Demedjibtawy from Koptos Koptos R
123
Lists of Offerings for Cults from Koptos
124
Objects Bearing Royal Names
129
Sistrum of Teti
130
Objects of Merenre
131
Vessels of Pepy II
132
Rock Inscriptions of Kings and Expedition Leaders 48 Inscription of Unas at Elephantine
133
Quarry and Constructional Marks and Phyle Texts
153
Quarry Marks from Private Tombs at Giza
156
Phyle Texts from the Sun Temple of Userkaf at Abusir
158
Graffiti
161
A Graffito from Hindallab
163
State Administrative Texts 90 Selections from the Abusir Papyri from the Neferirkare Temple
165
List from the Abusir Papyri from the Neferefre Temple
172
Letters 92 Letters in the Abusir Papyri from the Neferirkare Temple
175
A Sixth Dynasty Letter Probably from Saqqara
176
A Protest to the Vizier from Saqqara
177
Part of a Letter regarding Work on a Pyramid Probably from Saqqara
178
A Letter about Complaints over Farming
179
Fragments of Letters from the Elephantine Archive
180
Letter from Izezi in the Tomb of Reshepses at Saqqara
181
Two Letters to the Dead
182
Private Legal Texts
185
A Dispute over an Inheritance from Elephantine
186
Legal Text from the Tomb of Akhethotep Hemi Nebkauhor at Saqqara
187
Inscription above a Shaft in the Tomb of Idu Seneni at elQasr wa esSayed
188
Block Bearing a Legal Text of possibly Kaiemnefret
189
Provision of a Doorway by Khenemti in the Tomb of Iarti at South Saqqara
191
Decrees Setting Up the Estates of Metjen from His Tomb at Saqqara
192
Agreement with Soul Priests from the Tomb of Nyankhkhnum and Khnumhotep at Saqqara
194
Texts of Nykaiankh from Tehna
195
Record of the Disposal of the Estates of Nykaure in His Tomb at Giza
200
Part of the Dispositions of Pepi Possibly from Giza
201
Instructions for the Cult of Tjenti and His Family from Giza
202
Wepemnefret Grants His Son Rights to Use Parts of His Tomb at Giza
203
Fragment of a Document relating to a Mortuary Estate from Saqqara
204
Sale of a House Found at Giza
205
A Selection of Offering Formulae and Titles
209
Formulae from the False Door of Mereri at Saqqara
210
Formulae in the Tomb of the Physician Nyankhre at Giza
211
Formulae from the False Door of Ptahhotep II
212
Formulae on the Sarcophagus of Sedjefaptah Called Fefi from Giza
213
From the Tomb of Sekhemka at Saqqara
214
Formulae from the False Door of Tepemankh at Saqqara
215
Appeals to the Living and Warnings to Evildoers
217
Texts from the Tomb of Ankhwedja Itji at Giza
218
Lintel in the Tomb of Herymeru at Saqqara
219
Offering Table of Ishetmaa from Saqqara
220
Text of Khenu from Saqqara
221
Text of Khuit Perhaps from Saqqara
222
Architrave of Mehi from Saqqara
223
Inscriptions over the Entrance to the Tomb of Mereri at Saqqara
224
Text of Meru Called Bebi from Saqqara
225
Texts from the Tomb of Nenki from Saqqara
226
Texts at the Entrance to the Tomb of Nyankhpepy at Saqqara
227
Texts on the Pillars of the Tomb of Nyhetepptah at Giza
229
Inscriptions at the Entrance to the Tomb of Nykauizezi at Saqqara
231
Text of Pehenwikai from Saqqara
232
Texts on False Door of Sekhentyuka and Nyankhsheret from Giza
233
Texts from the Tomb of Tjetu at Giza
234
Inscription in the Tombs of Tjy and Mereruka at Saqqara
235
Stela of Nipepy from Abydos
237
Commemorative and Dedicatory Texts
239
A Nameless Tomb from the Teti Pyramid Cemetery at Saqqara
260
Biographical Texts from the Memphite Region
261
False Door Inscriptions of Ankhkhufu from Giza
262
Text of Ankhmahor from Saqqara
264
Texts of Ankhmeryremeryptah Called Nekhebu from Giza
265
Text of Bia from Saqqara
269
Text of Debehen from Giza
271
Inscription on the False Door of Geref from Saqqara
272
Texts from the Tomb of Hetepherakhet at Saqqara
273
Pillar Text from the Tomb of Hetepherenptah
274
Inscriptions of Hezi from Saqqara
275
Facade Text from the Tomb of Idu at Giza
277
Text of Ipi from Saqqara
279
Lintel from the Tomb of Iyenhor at Saqqara
280
Inscription of Izi from Saqqara
281
Texts from the Tomb of Kaiaper at Saqqara
282
Texts from the Facade of the Mastaba of Kaigemni at Saqqara
285
Part of a Lintel of Kaihap Tjeti
287
Texts from the Tomb of Kaikherptah at Giza
288
Text of Khenu from Saqqara
291
Text of another Khenu from Saqqara
292
Inscriptions of Khuiwer from Giza
293
Architraves from the Tomb of Mehu at Saqqara
294
Text of Mersuankh from His Tomb at Giza
296
Texts of Metjetji Probably from Saqqara
297
Texts from the Tomb of Neferseshemptah at Saqqara
299
Texts from the Tomb of Neferseshemre at Saqqara
300
Inscriptions of Nyankhsekhmet from Saqqara
302
False Door of Ptahshepses from Saqqara
303
Inscription of Rewer from Giza
305
Inscriptions of Sabu Ibebi from Saqqara
306
Inscriptions of Sabu Tjeti from Saqqara
309
Inscriptions of Sekhemankhptah from Giza
310
Texts from the Mastaba of Senedjemib Inti at Giza
311
xxiv
312
Texts from the False Door of Seshemu at Giza
316
Inscriptions of Seshemnefer IV and His Son Ptahhotep from Giza
317
Inscriptions of Washptah from Saqqara
318
A Fragment of a Biography from West of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara
320
Anonymous Biographical Fragment of the Reign of Teti from Saqqara
321
Block from Giza
322
Biographical Texts from the Provinces
327
Texts on the Facade of the Tomb of Harkhuf at Qubbet elHawa
328
Inscriptions of Pepynakht Called Heqaib from His Tomb at Qubbet elHawa
333
Inscriptions on the Facade of the Tomb of Sabni and Mekhu I at Qubbet elHawa
335
From the Tomb of Another Sabni at Qubbet elHawa
339
Text of Khnumhotep in the Tomb of Khui at Qubbet elHawa
340
Inscriptions of Meryrenefer Qar from Edfu
342
Stela of Hekenu Perhaps from Moalla
345
Inscriptions of Idu I from Dendera
347
Inscriptions of Idu II from Dendera
348
Slab of Djadjay from elQasr wa esSayed
349
From the Tomb of Idu Menza from elQasr wa esSayed
350
Architrave of Pershenay from Abydos
351
Inscription of Weni from Abydos
352
Inscription of Djau from Abydos
357
Ideal Biography from the Tomb of an Unknown Person at Abydos
358
Stela from Tomb 253 at Sheikh Farag
359
Fragments of the Biography of Iy Mery at Hawawish
360
Text of Nehutdesher at Hawawish
361
Inscription of Mery II at Hagarsa
362
Texts from the Tomb of Ibi at Deir elGebrawi
363
Inscription of Djau at Deir elGebrawi
365
Fragment from the Tomb of Nebib at Deir elGebrawi
366
Inscription of Pepyankhheryib at Meir
368
Inscriptions of Inti at Deshasha
371
On the Architrave of Khnumnedjem from Busiris
373
Stela from the Chapel of Khentyka at Balat
374
Stela from the Chapel of Khentykawpepy at Balat
375
Texts of Women
379
Texts in the Mastaba of Khamerernebty II at Giza
381
From the Tomb of Nyankhkhnum and Khnumhotep
408
From the Tomb of Sekhemankhptah at Saqqara
414
Scenes of Pulling Papyrus
420
Objects in Tombs
423
Hieratic Texts on Pots from Qubbet elHawa
426
Long Offering List from the Chapel of Ankhmeryre
432
Addendum
437
Warning and Biographical Texts of Merefnebef
438
List of Sources
443
410
458
Bibliography
465
416
490
Glossary
503
Indexes
511
Crossreference List of Tomb Text Types
519
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Page 474 - Rolf Bergmann, Die althochdeutsche Glossenüberlieferung des 8. Jahrhunderts, Nachrichten der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen. I. Philologisch-Historische Klasse. Jahrgang 1983. Nr. l, Göttingen 1983 Rolf Bergmann, Liste der in dem Verzeichnis der althochdeutschen und altsächsischen Glossenhandschriften nachzutragenden Handschriften, in: R.

About the author (2005)

Nigel C. Strudwick, Ph.D. in Egyptology (1983), University of Liverpool, is Assistant Keeper, Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, at The British Museum. He has worked in Egypt since 1979, since 1984 in the "Tombs of the Nobles" at Luxor. He is the co-author, with Helen Strudwick, of Thebes in Egypt: A Guide to the Tombs and Temples of Ancient Luxor, and co-editor, with Helen Strudwick, of The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture.

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