CHAPTER VI
THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE NEW YORK OBELISK.
_I. Inscriptions of Thothmes III._
The inscriptions of Thothmes III. comprise the four sides of the pyramidion and the central columns of the four faces of the obelisk.
THE PYRAMIDION.
The pictures of the four sides of the pyramidion here given are reproduced from the squeezes taken under the direction of Mr. Gorringe as published in his "Egyptian Obelisks". They are, however, given in their correct form, as the squeezes seem to have been taken by an inexperienced hand and a person unacquainted with Egyptological subjects. The figures seated in the squares are the gods Râ-Hor-Khuti and Tum, representing the rising and the setting sun. The former is the hawk-faced god seated on a throne, holding in his right hand the staff of power [glyphs] (US "_power_"), and handing it to the king with the usual sign [glyphs] (ÂNKH "_life_"). Besides this the disk of the sun [glyphs] (RÂ "_sun_") reclines on his head. The god Tum, on the other hand, is represented in his human form, bearded and wearing a king's head-dress [glyphs], and holding in his hands the identical symbols of [glyphs] "_life_" and [glyphs] "_power_". In front of the gods we find in each case the king represented as an androsphinx ([glyphs]) in the act of offering libation to the divinity. It must be noted that this kind of sphinx being human-faced and bearded, is always the representation of Pharaoh as the essence of the godhead.
{47}East Face of the Pyramidion.
[Illustration]
The three vertical columns to the left above and the two below the sphinx refer to the sphinx-king, the remainder to the god RÂ-HOR-KHUTI (_i. e._ "the sun, Horus in the horizon") and the libation in the hands of the sphinx.
The three columns above the sphinx are:
nuter nefer neb taui Men-kheper-Râ The god · good · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. ·
du ânkh zeta giving · life · forever.
_i. e._ This is _Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives eternal life_.
Below the sphinx we read:
qa nekht khâ em Us {48} The bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes ·
sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ son (of) · Râ · Thothmes III.
_i. e._ This is _the powerful_ and _glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III._
The term [glyphs] NEB TAUI "lord of the two countries" is the usual title of Pharaoh. The two countries referred to are Upper and Lower Egypt, which are still and have been from time immemorial the two provinces of Egypt. The word seems, however, to imply still more. In the pompous wording of the Pharaonic monuments it expresses the grand title of the Roman emperors: lord of the Universe.--The [glyphs] DU ÂNKH ZETA "who gives eternal life" calls attention to the king's power over the life and death of all his subjects. As he himself received life from the gods, so he bestowed it on his people at pleasure.--[glyphs] QA NEKHT "the powerful bull" is a truly Oriental expression for "the mighty hero", the bull being a symbol of strength and power. The same king is addressed by the deity in his victory-stelé, already alluded to on page 31, in the following words: [glyphs] DU·A MA SEN HEN·K EM QA RENP MEN AB SPUT ÂBUI NEN HAN·TU·F "_I let them behold your majesty like a young and stout-hearted bull whetting his horns; none can escape him._"--[glyphs] US "Thebes" was the capital of Upper Egypt and the seat of government at that time.--[glyphs] SA RÂ "the son of Râ" is the usual title of Pharaoh which has already been explained on page 31.
The four columns to the right above the god bear the following legend:
du ânkh· f neb Râ-Hor-khuti {49} giving · life · him · all · Râ-Hor-Khuti ·
nuter â neb taui (neb ta neb ta) the god · great · lord (of the) two countries.
_i. e._ This is _Ra-Hor-Khuti, the great god, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _who gives him_ [the king] _all life_.
Between the god and the sphinx-king we read these words referring to the libation brought by the king:
er du·t arp for · a gift · wine.
_i. e._ _As a gift_ (the king brings an offering of) _wine._
[glyphs] RÂ-HOR-KHUTI "_the sun, the hawk of the horizon_" is the name of the sun-god when in his full power at noon (see page 30).--The names of all kings are always written in oval rings called _cartouches_, to distinguish them more readily from other words and names in the inscriptions. The usual "divine" title of Thothmes III. is [glyphs] MEN-KHEPER-RÂ (the first sign being read last), which means "_the stable_ and _creative sun_". His family name, in its simplest form, is [glyphs] DEHUTI-MESES "_child of Thoth_". There are as many as 12 variants (or different readings) of this cartouche, prominent and somewhat odd among them being the following:
Dehuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Dehuti-meses-heq-Us Dehuti-mes Thoth's child, of beautiful Thoth's child, lord of Thoth's child. form. Thebes.
The most singular cartouche of Thothmes III., however, is found on our New York Obelisk on the East Face and central column (see page 56).
{50}South Pace of the Pyramidion.
[Illustration]
The three columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and are identical with those of the East pyramidion (page 47): [glyphs] NUTER NEFER NEB TAUI MEN-KHEPER-RÂ DU ÂNKH ZETA "This is _Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _who gives eternal life_".
The hieroglyphs below the sphinx-king are totally destroyed, but must have been the same as those on the East pyramidion (page 48): [glyphs] QA NEKHT KHÂ EM US SA RÂ MEN-KHEPER-RÂ "This is _the powerful and glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III_".
{51}The four columns above to the right refer to the god Tum, the setting sun, seated on a throne beneath. The inscription is:
du ânkh· f neb Tum neb taui Giving · life · him · all · Tum · lord (of · the) two countries ·
heq An nuter â neb ha·t prince (of) · Heliopolis · the god · great · lord (of · the) temple.
_i. e._ This is _Tum, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _the prince of Heliopolis, the great god, the lord of_ his _temple, who gives him_ [the king] _all life_.
[glyphs] HEQ AN "_the prince of Heliopolis_" signifies as much as "the tutelary divinity of Heliopolis". This famous city was the capital of the XIIIth _nome_ or province of Lower (Northern) Egypt bearing the same name. The name it received from the Greeks and Romans means "City of the Sun".--[glyphs] TUM "_Tum_" was the god of the setting sun. The word is derived from the Egyptian verb [glyphs] TUM "_to close, finish_", and when referring to the sun "_to set_" (cf. page 27). A fuller form of the name is Atum.--[glyphs] ÂNKH NEB literally "_all life_" is a very concise expression for "_all manner of life_" and embraces every visible act of life, such as breath, animation, motion, thought, speech, pleasure, &c. The hieroglyph [glyphs], always pronounced NEB, has, as can be seen from this sentence, two different meanings, "_all_" and "_lord_", which result from the primitive idea of "possession".
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is destroyed with the exception of the letter [glyphs] [R] at the top. It must have been, however, the same as on the East pyramidion, namely: [glyphs] ER DU·T ARP "_As a gift_ (the king brings an offering of) _wine_".
{52}West Face of the Pyramidion.
[Illustration]
The four columns above to the right (the last one being destroyed) refer to the sphinx-king and read as follows:
nuter nefer heq An suten kaut? The god · gracious · prince of · Heliopolis · king of Upper and Lower
neb taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh Egypt · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life ·
zeta forever.
_i. e._ This is _the gracious god, the prince of Heliopolis, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Thothmes III., who gives eternal life_.
{53}[glyphs] SUTEN-KAUT (pronunciation doubtful!) "the king of Upper and Lower Egypt" is the official title of the Egyptian kings and conveys the same meaning as the [glyphs] NEB TAUI "_the lord of the two countries_" mentioned so frequently above. Another name of the king, and one that has been embodied into our language, is [glyphs] PER Â "_Pharaoh_", which is, literally translated, "_the great house_"; a title bearing the closest resemblance to the modern "Sublime Porte" of the Turkish sultan.
Below the sphinx is the same inscription as on the East pyramidion: [glyphs] QA NEKHT KHÂ EM US SA RÂ MEN-KHEPER-RÂ "This is _the powerful_ and _glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III_".
The three columns above to the left refer to the god Tum, who is seated below, and read:
du ânkh ded us Tum neb An Giving · life · stability · strength · Tum · lord of · Heliopolis ·
nuter nefer â neb en ha · t the god · gracious · great · lord · of · the temple.
_i. e._ This is _Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, the gracious_ and _great god, the lord of_ his _temple, who gives life, stability_, and _strength_.
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king differs from that of the preceding pyramidions; it is:
er du·t qebeh ar ef du ânkh For · a gift · libation · to make · him · give · life.
_i. e._ The king _pours out a libation_ of water _in order to receive from him_ [the god] _life_.
{54}North Face of the Pyramidion.
[Illustration]
The four columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and read:
nuter nefer neb ar khet suten kaut? The god · gracious · lord · maker of · things · king of Upper and Lower
neb taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh Egypt · lord (of ·the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life ·
zeta forever.
_i. e._ This is _the gracious god, the lord_ and _maker of everything, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Thothmes III., who gives eternal life_.
{55}The inscription below the sphinx is identical with the one on the East pyramidion; namely, [glyphs] [glyphs] QA NEKHT KHÂ EM US SA RÂ MEN-KHEPER-RÂ "This is _the powerful_ and _glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes, the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III_".
The three columns above to the right refer to the sun-god Râ seated below, and read:
du ânkh ef neb Râ-Hor- khuti neb Giving · life · him · all · Râ-Horus in the horizon · lord (of ·
taui the) two countries.
_i. e._ This is _Ra-Hor-khuti, the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _who gives him_ [the king] _all life_.
[glyphs] RÂ-HOR-KHUTI "Râ-Horus in the horizon" is the title of the morning-sun, to which attention has already been called on page 30. The last sign is very frequently written [glyphs] KHU·T, the [glyphs] showing the disk of the sun between two mountains and in the act of rising, and the [glyphs] signifying "a house" or "a place". The whole group means "the house of the rising sun" or "the source of light", which is usually translated by the general term "horizon". The whole title, therefore, stands for the rising or eastern sun (cf. the picture on page 28).
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is partially destroyed, leaving, however, enough traces to show that it must have been identical with the one on the West pyramidion: [glyphs] ER DU·T QEBEH AR·F DU ÂNKH "The king _pours out a libation_ of water _in order to receive from him_ [the god] _life_".
{56}THE OBELISK PROPER.
On the obelisk proper the inscriptions of Thothmes III. are contained in the central column of each face. At the top of each column, immediately below the pyramidion, we find the sign [glyphs], literally PET "heaven", which may either be taken with the next sign [glyphs] HOR "Horus" so as to signify "the heavenly Horus", or else it may be regarded to express the wish of the Pharaoh, that heaven would protect his obelisk and proclaim its inscriptions as of heavenly origin.
EAST FACE [CENTRAL COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes ·
neb mut _or_ sheta neb ârâ _or_ mehen · t lord of the Vulture diadem · lord of the Uræus-snake diadem ·
ûah suten ma Râ em pet Tum neb · t en An placed · king · like · Râ · in · heaven · Tum · lord · of · Heliopolis ·
meses sa en kha · t ef meses nef Dehuti qema en begotten · son · of · womb · his · born · him · Thoth · created · by ·
sen em hat-â em neferu hâu sen rekh them · in · great-temple · in · beauty of · limbs · their · knowing ·
enti ar · f sutenî · t ûah kher neheh suten-kaut? what · he should do · kingdom · placed · for · eternity · king of Upper and Lower Egypt
Men-kheper-Râ Tum nuter â henâ pau · t nuteru · f Thothmes III. · Tum · god · great · with · circle · (of) gods · his ·
merî du ânkh ded us neb ma Râ {57} beloved · giving · life · stability · strength · all · like · Râ ·
zeta forever.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful_ and _glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes_.[2] He is _the lord of the Vulture_ and _Uræus diadems_[3], and his _kingdom is established_ as firmly _as the sun in the heavens_. His name is[4]: "_He whom Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, has begotten_, and who is _the son of his loins, whom Thoth has brought forth_"[5], who _was created by them_ [the gods] _in the great temple_ of Heliopolis _in the beauty of their limbs,_ and _who knew_ beforehand _what he would do to establish_ for himself _an eternal kingdom_. He is _Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of the great god Tum and his circle of gods, who gives all life, stability, and strength now and for ever!_
{58}SOUTH FACE [CENTRAL COLUMN].
Almost the entire column on this side is in a very poor condition, the hieroglyphs being hardly discernible. The following, however, may prove to be a correct restoration of the inscription.
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and
Men-kheper-Râ ar nef em mennu · f Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · made · by him · for · monument · his ·
en tef neb An s · âhâ nef for · father · lord of · Heliopolis · caused to erect · by him ·
tekhenui ûrui benben · t em usem em sep two obelisks · large · the pyramidion · of · gold-metal · at · time ·
tep sed-heb .......... nen first (of) · the thirty-year-period · ... _illegible!_ ... · not ·
ar nef sa Râ Dehuti-meses-nefer-kheperu (as) done by him · the son of Râ · Thothmes III. ·
Râ-Hor-khuti merî zeta Râ-Hor-Khuti · beloved · forever.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Ra_. He is _Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, who has made_ this to be _his monument_ in honor _of_ his _father_ Tum, _the lord of Heliopolis_, and who _has set up for him two[6] large obelisks, the pyramidion_ being covered _with gold-metal,[7] on the first day[8] of the thirty-year festival[9] ..........[10] No one_ has ever done what _he did, the Sun's offspring_, {59}_Thothmes III., the beloved of Ra-Hor-Khuti_, who lives _forever_.
WEST FACE [CENTRAL COLUMN].
The abrasion caused by the sand of the Libyan desert has effaced almost every hieroglyph on this side of the obelisk. All that can be seen is given below.
Hor-pet qa nekht khâ em Us The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes ·
suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ s · menkh king of Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · causing to be adorned ·
per en meses am · f .......... the house · of · birth · there · his · ...._illegible!_.... ·
sa Râ Dehuti-meses-nefer-kheperu Râ-Hor-khuti {60} the son of Râ · Thothmes III. · Râ-Hor-Khuti ·
merî zeta beloved · forever.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful_ and _glorious bull_ [king] _in Thebes_. He is _the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Thothmes III., who has embellished the house where he was born, .........., the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III., the beloved of Ra-Hor-Khuti_, who lives _forever_.
NORTH FACE [CENTRAL COLUMN].
Hor-pet hez qa Râ mer The heavenly Horus · the white crown · lifting · Râ · beloved · king of
suten-kaut? Men-kheper-Râ Hor-nub har Upper and Lower Egypt · Thothmes III. · the golden Horus · rejoicing in ·
nekht hu hequ men · tu? pehu su strength · smiting · the princes (of) · the countries · distant · they ·
khatf utu nef tef Râ nekhtu er ta because · ordered · for him · father · Râ · victories · over · land ·
neb dem·t ent khepesh em ru dedui · all · completeness · of · power · at · the end of · the two hands ·
f er s·usekh tash·tu Qem · t his · in order to · cause to be extended · the boundaries of · Egypt ·
sa Râ Dehuti-meses-nefer-kheperu du ânkh neb zeta the son of · Râ · Thothmes III. · giving · life · all · forever.
{61}_i.e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, who has crowned_[11] himself _with the white crown_[12], _beloved of Ra_. He is _Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus_[13], _rejoicing in_ his _strength, the vanquisher of the princes of the countries which are distant_. He did this _because_ his _father Ra had_ so _commanded him_, and had then given him _victories over the entire world_, and had placed _an abundance of power on his arm, so that he_ [the king] _might enlarge the boundaries of Egypt_. This was done by _the Sun's offspring, Thothmes III., who gives all life forever_.
{62}_II. Inscriptions of Ramses II._
The inscriptions of Ramses II. are found in the two vertical columns to the right and left of the central column of each face and the two horizontal lines at the base of each face of the obelisk. The inscriptions are in a much better condition than those of Thothmes III., and can be more readily deciphered. They were engraved on the stone not quite three centuries after the pyramidions and the central columns were inscribed. Even a casual observer will notice that the hawk at the top of each central column is larger than those to the right and left of it, these being crowded into the remaining space.
EAST FACE [NORTHERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ meses nuteru ger Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the Sun · born of · the gods · possessing ·
taui sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su hun shepes the two worlds · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · a child · glorious ·
merîti ma Aten pesed· f em khu·t neb beloved · like · Aten · shines · he · in · the horizon · lord · of the
taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ ·
Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su khu en Râ du ânkh {63} Ramses II. · the glory · of · Râ · giving · life.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Ra_. He is _Ramses II._[14], _the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Sun_ himself, and _the child of the gods_. He is _master of the two countries_ [Egypt], _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II._[15] He is _a youth glorious_ and _beloved like Aten_[16], _when he shines in the horizon_. He is _the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II._[14], _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II._[15], _the glorious_ image _of Ra, who gives life_.
{64}EAST FACE [SOUTHERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht khepera sa suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus· bull · powerful · Khepera's · son · king of Upper
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Hor-nub user renpe·tu and Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the golden Horus · abounding in · years ·
â en nekhtu sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su per en great · in · victories · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · going out · by ·
ef em kha·t er shep khâu en Râ meses him · from · womb · to · obtain · diadems · of · Râ · begetting ·
su er neb uâ neb taui himself · as · lord · only · lord of · the two countries ·
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su khu en Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. the glory · of ·
Râ ma Râ Râ · to-day (_literally_: like Râ).
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Khepera_[17]. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years_ and _is great in victories_. He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who issued from the_ Sun's _loins to receive the diadems of Ra_. It is he _who brought forth himself[18] as sole ruler_ and _lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., the glorious_ image _of Ra, now_ and forever.
{65}SOUTH FACE [EASTERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Truth · beloved · king of Upper and Lower Egypt ·
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb heb ma tef · f Ramses II. · lord of · festival · like · father · his ·
Ptah-tathunen sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su nuter nuteri Ptah-tatunen · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · god · morning
dûa taui rekh hapu shef · t em star of · the two countries · knowing · the laws · awe inspiring · in ·
arî · tu neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ (his) works · the lord of · the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ ·
Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh Ramses II. · giving · life.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Ma_.[19] He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of festivals_, who is _like his father Ptah of Memphis_.[20] He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a god_ himself, _the morning-star of the two countries_, who is well _versed in the laws_ and _awe inspiring in_ his _works_. He is _the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring Ramses II., who gives life_.
{66}SOUTH FACE [WESTERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut _or_ sheta neb ârâ _or_ mehen · t Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · diadem ·
mâk Qem · t uâf men · tu? sa Râ protector of · Egypt · smiter of · the countries · the son of Râ ·
Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su suten menkh ma Râ .......... neb taui Ramses II. · king · kind · like · Râ · _illegible!_ · lord of the two countries · User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ Ramses II. · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day (_literally_: like Râ).
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Ra_. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture_ and _Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt_ and _smites the_ foreign _nations_. He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a kind ruler like Ra, .......... the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., now_ and forever.
{67}WEST FACE [NORTHERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ mer suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ · beloved · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Râ meses nuteru ger Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the Sun · born of · the gods · possessing ·
taui sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su .......... the two countries · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · _illegible!_
nen ar ar· f em per tef· f not · (was) done · (what) did · he · in · the house of · father · his ·
neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ lord of · the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ ·
Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh Ramses II. · giving · life.
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Ra_. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt_, who is _the Sun_ himself and _child of the gods_. He is _master of the two countries_ [Egypt], _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II. .......... No one has done_ what _he did in his father's_ [Tum's] _house_. He is _the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives life_.
{68}WEST FACE [SOUTHERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ Hor-nub user renpe·tu Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · the golden Horus · abounding in · years ·
â en nekhtu sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses .......... great · in · victories ·son of Râ · Ramses II. · _illegible!_
neb taui User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-R sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ lord of the two Ramses II. · son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day. countries ·
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Ra_. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years_ and _is great in victories_. He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II._, .......... He is _the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., now_ and forever.
NORTH FACE [EASTERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Mâ mer suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Mâ · beloved · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb hebu ma tef· f {69} Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · lord of · festivals · like · father · his ·
Ptah sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su meses en Râ er Ptah · son of Râ · Ramses II. · begotten · by · Râ · in order to ·
s·heb An er s·zef cause to be glad · Heliopolis ·in order to · cause to be filled ·
peru meses su neb taui the sanctuaries · begetting · himself · lord of · the two countries ·
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su du Ramses II. · the son of Râ · Ramses II. · giving ·
ânkh neb ma Râ life · all · to-day (_literally_: like Râ).
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Ma_ [Truth]. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the festivals like his father Ptah_. He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II._, whom _Ra has begotten in order to gladden Heliopolis_ and _fill_ her _sanctuaries_ with treasures. It is he _who brought forth himself_ as _lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now_ and forever.
{70}NORTH FACE [WESTERN COLUMN].
Hor-pet qa nekht Râ sa suten-kaut? The heavenly Horus · bull · powerful · Râ's · son · king of Upper and
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut _or_ sheta neb ârâ _or_ mehen·t Lower Egypt · Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · diadem ·
mâk Qem·t uâf men·tu? sa Râ protector of · Egypt · smiter of · the countries · son of Râ ·
Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su suten qen ar em dedui· f Ramses II. · king · triumph · made · at · the two hands · his ·
khatf her ta neb dem neb taui in · the face of · the land · all · entire · lord of the two countries ·
User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su du ânkh neb Ramses II. · son of Ra· Ramses II. · giving · life · all ·
ma Râ to-day (_literally_: like Râ).
_i. e._ Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Ra_. He is _Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture_ and _Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt_ and _smites the_ foreign _nations_. He is _the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., a king_ whose _hands have done warlike deeds in full view of the entire world_. He is _the lord of the two countries_ [Egypt], _Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now_ and forever.
{71}THE BASE [EAST, SOUTH, WEST, NORTH].
At the bottom of each of the four faces of the obelisk are two horizontal lines of almost totally destroyed hieroglyphs. They bear the cartouches of Ramses II., and are so written as to read from the centre each way. The inscription is
Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Amen-mer-Râ-meses-su
Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II. Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II.
_i. e._ Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II._! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II._! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II._! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II._!
_III. Inscriptions of Osarkon I._
Besides the three columns of hieroglyphs on each face of our obelisk, all chiseled in large and bold characters, we find at the lower end of each face near each edge inscriptions by a later king. The hieroglyphs of these inscriptions are so minute and so mutilated as to be scarcely legible. They seem to have started at the first of the lower cartouches and to have extended to the two {72}horizontal lines at the bottom of the obelisk. As each face has two of these columns, there are eight of these inscriptions on the obelisk. The last half of the inscriptions is destroyed in each case and may have been different on every column. The eastern column on the south face is the most legible one and presumably reads thus
suten-kaut? kherp-kheper-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ The king of Upper Osarkon I. · the son of Râ · and Lower Egypt ·
Amen-mer-Ûsarken .......... Osarkon I. · .........._illegible!_..........
_i. e._ _The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Osarkon I., the Sun's offspring, Osarkon I._, ..........
_IV. Inscriptions of Augustus._
There is no name of any other Egyptian ruler, except the three mentioned above, inscribed on our obelisk. When the emperor Augustus, however, had the London and New York Obelisks transported to Alexandria in 12 B. C., he caused his name to be engraved on the crabs which supported them. Only two of these crabs have come down to us and are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park. On the only remaining claw of one of the crabs are two inscriptions; on the one side in Greek and on the other in Latin, which give the names of the emperor, prefect or governor, and architect. Prof. Augustus Merriam of Columbia College has devoted some time to the study of these inscriptions and has made some very remarkable discoveries, which fix {73}the eighteenth year of the reign of Augustus as the time of the reërection of the London and New York Obelisks in Alexandria. The inscriptions are herewith given in fac-simile.
The Greek inscription reads
[Illustration]
which looks like this in regular Greek types:
L [Greek: IÊ KAISAROS] In the year · 18 · of Cæsar [Greek: BARBAROS ANETHÊKE] Barbarus · erected (it). [Greek: ARCHITEKTONOUNTOS] The architect being [Greek: PONTIOU] Pontius.
_i. e._ The governor _Barbarus erected_ this obelisk _in the eighteenth year of_ the reign of _the emperor_ Augustus (12 B. C.). _Pontius was the architect._
The Latin inscription reads
[Illustration]
{74}which is in regular Latin types:
ANNO XVIII CÆSARIS In the year · 18 · of Cæsar BARBARVS PRÆF Barbarus · the prefect ÆGYPTI POSVIT of Egypt · erected (it). ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO The architect being · Pontius.
_i. e._ _Barbarus, governor of Egypt, erected_ this obelisk _in the eighteenth year of_ the reign of _the emperor_ Augustus (12 B. C.). _Pontius was the architect._
The Greek letter _Psi_ ([Greek: Ps]) in the first line of the Latin text seems to have been the initial of the engraver's name, who must have been a Greek, if we can draw this inference from the beautiful Greek and the poor Latin form of the letters in the inscriptions.
THE FULL TRANSLATION OF THE OBELISK.
As a recapitulation of the translation of the Egyptian inscriptions on our obelisk, which has been given in the preceding pages, we now place the complete translation of each face of the obelisk in a very compact and simple form before our readers. The English translation will be found to correspond to the hieroglyphs, and each word can be easily picked out on the three columns of the original. All the words in _Italics_ are to be found in the Egyptian text, while those in common Roman types are supplied so as to render the inscriptions intelligible to the reader.
_Thothmes III., gracious _Râ-Hor-Khuti, the {75} god, lord of great god, the lord the two countries, of the two countries, giving eternal life._ giving him all life._
_The powerful and _Wine: glorious bull in as a Thebes, the Sun's gift._ offspring, Thothmes III._
Behold Pharaoh! He Behold Pharaoh! He Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly is _the heavenly is _the heavenly Horus, the powerful Horus, the powerful_ Horus, the powerful bull, the son of and _glorious bull bull, beloved of Khepera._ in Thebes._ Râ._ ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | He is _the king of He is _the lord of the He is _the King of Upper and Lower Vulture_ and _Uræus diadems_, Upper and Lower Egypt, Ramses II., and his _kingdom is estab- Egypt, Ramses II., the golden Horus, lished_ as firmly _as the the Sun_ himself, who abounds in sun in the heavens._ His and _the child of years_ and _is great name is: "_He whom Tum, the the gods._ He is in victories._ He is lord of Heliopolis, has be- _master of the two _the Sun's offspring, gotten_ and who is _the son countries, the Sun's Ramses II., who of his loins, whom Thoth has offspring, Ramses issued from the_ brought forth_", who _was II._ He is _a youth Sun's _loins to created by them in the great glorious_ and _be- receive the diadems temple_ of Heliopolis _in loved like Aten, of Râ._ It is he the beauty of their limbs_, when he shines in _who brought forth and _who knew_ beforehand the horizon._ He is himself as sole _what he would do to estab- _the lord of the two ruler_ and _lord of lish_ for himself _an etern- countries, Ramses the two countries, al kingdom._ He is _Thothmes II., the Sun's off- Ramses II., the III., the king of Upper and spring, Ramses II., Sun's offspring, Lower Egypt, beloved of the the glorious_ image Ramses II., the great god Tum and his circle _of Râ, who gives glorious_ image _of of gods who gives all life, life._ Râ, now_ and forever. stability and strength now and forever._
Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_!
_Thothmes III., gracious _Tum, lord of the two {76} god, lord of the two countries, lord of Helio- countries, giving eternal polis, the great god, the life._ lord of_ his _temple, giving him all life._ _The powerful_ and _glorious bull in _Wine: Thebes, the Sun's as a offspring, Thothmes gift._ III._
Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the the powerful bull, the powerful bull, son of Râ_. beloved of Râ_. beloved of Mâ_. ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | He is _the king of He is _the king of He is _the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Ramses II., the lord Thothmes III., who has Ramses II., the lord of the Vulture_ and made_ this to be _his of festivals_, who is _Uræus diadems, who monument_ in honor _like his father Ptah protects Egypt_ and _of_ his _father_ Tum, of Memphis_. He is _smites_ all _the_ _the lord of Helio- _the Sun's offspring, foreign _nations_. He polis_, and who _has Ramses II., a god_ is _the Sun's off- set up for him two himself, _the morning- spring, Ramses II., a large obelisks, the star of the two coun- kind ruler like Râ, pyramidion_ being cov- tries_, who is well ................... ered _with gold-metal, _versed in the laws_ ................... on the first day of and _awe inspiring in_ ................... the thirty-year fest- his _works_. He is ................... ival.... No one_ has _the lord of the two the lord of the two ever done what _he countries, Ramses II., countries, Ramses II., did, the Sun's off- the Sun's offspring, the Sun's offspring, spring, Thothmes III., Ramses II., who gives Ramses II., now_ and the beloved of Râ-Hor- life_. forever. Khuti_, who lives _forever_.
Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_!
_Tum, lord of Helio- _The gracious god, {77} polis, the gracious_ and prince of Heliopolis, _great god, lord of_ his king, lord of the two _temple, giving life, countries, Thothmes III., stability_, and giving eternal life._ _strength._ _The powerful and glorious bull in Thebes, _Pouring out libation to the Sun's offspring, receive from him life._ Thothmes III._
Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the powerful_ and the powerful bull, the beloved of Râ._ _glorious bull in son of Râ._ Thebes._ ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | He is _the king of He is _the king of He is _the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Ramses II.,_ who is Thothmes III., who has Ramses II., the golden _the Sun_ himself and embellished the house Horus, who abounds in _the child of the where he was born, years_ and _is great gods._ He is _master ................... in victories._ He is of the two countries, ................... _the Sun's offspring, the Sun's offspring, ................... Ramses II._, Ramses II. ........ ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... ................... No one has done_ what ................... ................... _he did in his ................... He is _the lord of the father's house._ He is ..................., two countries, Ramses _the lord of the two the Sun's offspring, II., the Sun's off- countries, Ramses II., Thothmes III., the be- spring, Ramses II., the Sun's offspring, loved of Râ-Hor-Khuti,_ now_ and forever. Ramses II., who gives who lives _forever._ life._
Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_!
_The gracious god, lord_ {78} and _maker of things, _Râ-Hor-Khuti, the lord king, lord of the two of the two countries, countries, Thothmes III., giving him all life._ giving eternal life._
_The powerful_ and _glorious bull in Thebes, _Pouring out libation to the Sun's offspring, receive from him life._ Thothmes III._
Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is Behold Pharaoh! He is _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, _the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, lifting the white the powerful bull, the beloved of Mâ._ crown, beloved of Râ._ son of Râ._ ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | He is _the king of He is _the king of He is _the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt, Ramses II., the lord Thothmes III., the Ramses II., the lord of the festivals like golden Horus, rejoic- of the Vulture_ and his father Ptah._ He ing in_ his _strength, _Uræus diadems, who is _the Sun's off- the vanquisher of the protects Egypt_ and spring, Ramses II._ princes of the count- _smites_ all _the_ whom _Râ has begotten ries which are dist- foreign _nations._ He in order to gladden ant._ He did this is _the Sun's off- Heliopolis_ and _fill_ _because_ his _father spring, Ramses II., her _sanctuaries_ with Râ had_ so _commanded a king_ whose _hands treasures. It is he him,_ and had given have done warlike _who brought forth him _victories over deeds in full view of himself_ as _lord of the entire world_, and the entire world._ He the two countries, had placed _an abund- is _the lord of the Ramses II., the Sun's ance of power on his two countries, Ramses offspring. Ramses II., arm, so that he might II., the Sun's off- who gives all life enlarge the boundaries spring, Ramses II., now_ and forever. of Egypt._ This was who gives all life done by _the Sun's now_ and forever. offspring, Thothmes III., who gives all life forever._
Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_! Long _life_ to _the gracious god, Ramses II_!
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