Ancient Egypt: Love songs
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Love songs |
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A Memphite functionary and his wife Ca.2500 BCE, Wood, Memphis |
My boat sails downstream In time to the stroke of the oarsmen. A bunch of reeds is on my shoulder, And I am travelling to Memphis, "Life of the Two Lands". And I shall say to the god Ptah, Lord of Truth: "Give me my fair one tonight." The god Ptah is her tuft of reeds, The goddess Sekhmet is her posy of blossoms, The goddess Earit is her budding lotus, The god Nefertum is her blooming flower, My love will be happy! The dawn irradiates her beauty. Memphis is a crop of pomegranates, Placed before the god with the handsome countenance.
19th Dynasty [1]
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| (Woman:) Come, my brother, swim to me! The water is deep in my love Which carries me to you. We are in the midst of the stream, I clasp the flowers to my breast Which is naked and drips with water. But the moon makes them bloom like the lotus. I give you my flowers because they are beautiful, And you are holding my hand In the middle of the water. After J.M.Kellner Under the protection of Hathor
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Couple ca 2500 BCE, limestone, 85 cm tall |
(Man:) The little sycamore That she planted with her own hand Opens its mouth to speak. Its rustling is as sweet As a draught of honey. How beautiful its graceful branches In their greenness. On it hangs young fruit and fruit that is ripe, Redder than the blood-red jasper. The love of my loved one is on the other shore. An arm of the river lies between us, And crocodiles lurk on the sand-banks. But I enter the water, I plunge into the flood; My eager heart carries me swiftly over the waves; I swim as surely as though I were walking on solid ground. Love, it is love that gives me strength, Averting the perils of the river.
18th Dynasty [1]
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(Woman:) O, my god, my lotus ... The north wind is blowing ... It is pleasant to go down to the river My heart longs to enter it To bathe with you. I let you see my beauty in a shirt of finest royal linen, moist with balsam. My hair is plaited with reeds I enter the water to be with you And leave it to join you With a red fish. It is beautiful on my fingers I lay it down before you Contemplating your beauty. O my hero, my lover! Come and look at me! (Woman:) Your love shall endure Day and night during the hours when I am asleep And when I wake by day. Your form animates hearts The yearning for your voice Gives strength to my body When it is tired. Always I shall say: There is no one else Who is in harmony With your heart, But me only! (Man:) My lover has come My heart rejoices, My arms are opened To embrace her. The heart in my breast is happy As a fish in its waters. O night, you belong to me forever Since my mistress has come to me. Alas, were I her little signet-ring The companion of her finger, I would see her love At all times every day. I would have conquered her heart. After Hermann A. Schlögl Gärten der Liebe , 2000
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Ptah-khenuwi and wife 5th dynasty Source: bmfa | ||
Couple 18th Dynasty, Schist, 12 cm tall |
(Man:) My loved one is unique, without a peer, More beautiful than any other, See, she is like the star that rises on the horizon At the dawn of an auspicious year. She moves in a shimmer of perfection, her complexion is superb, Her eyes are marvellously seductive, On her lip linger persuasive words. Never does she speak one word too many! Her neck is slender, ample her breast, Her hair is lapis-lazuli; Her arms more splendid than gold And her fingers like lotus petals. Her robe is tightly caught in around her waist. Revealing the most beautiful legs in all the world... You cannot help following her with your eyes wherever she goes, She is such an unrivalled goddess in appearance.
14th century BCE [1]
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(Woman:) ... "Am I not here with [you]?" Where have you set your heart (upon going)?" Should you not embrace [me]?" Has my deed come back [upon me]?" ... the amusement. If you seek to caress my thighs ... Is it because you have thought of eating that you would go forth? Is it because you are a slave to your belly? Is it because you [care about] clothes? I have a bedsheet! Is it because you are hungry that you would leave? (Then) take my breasts That their gift may flow forth to you. Better a day in the embrace [of] my brother ... Than a thousand myriads while ---. P. Harris 500, 19th dynasty
Michael V. Fox, Song of Songs & Ancient Egyptian Love Songs |
Menkaure and his wife 4th dynasty Source: bmfa |
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Seneb and his family 4th dynasty Source: Jon Bodsworth |
Seven days to yesterday I have not seen the sister, And a sickness has invaded me My body has become heavy, Forgetful of my own self, If the chief of physicans come to me, my heart is not content with their remedies; the lector priests, no way out is in them- My sickness will not be probed. To say to me: "Here she is!" is what will revive me; Her name is what will lift me up; The going in and out of her messengers is what will revive my heart. More beneficial to me is the sister than any remedies; She is more to me than collected writings My health is her coming in from outside When I see her, then I am well. If she opens her eye, my body is young again If she speaks, then I am strong again When I embrace her, she drives evil away from me - But she has been gone forth from me for seven days! Chester Beatty papyrus
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Picture source: Les merveilles du Louvre, Hachette Footnotes: [1] Source: Samivel, The Glory of Egypt, 1955 |
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 | Love songs from Ramesside Egypt (UCL) | |
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