Ancient Egyptian texts: Letter by Ramses-nakht concerning supplies for the troops protecting gold miners in Nubia
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Letter by Ramses-nakht concerning supplies for the troops protecting gold miners in Nubia |
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The High Priest of Amen-Re, king of gods, Ramses-nakht is saying to the Nubian, the wearer of the feather-crown, Any-tun, and to the Nubian, the wearer of the feather-crown, Senut, and to the Nubian, the wearer of the feather-crown, Ter-ba-dydy, and to the Nubians, bearers of the bow, from the foreign land of Ugarit: in life, prosperity, health, in the favour of Amen-Re, king of gods, every day. Further as follows: I have heard, that you as bowmen have set out together with men of the gold miners from the troop of gold-washers of the temple of Amen-Re, king of gods, under my command, (and that of) every temple. The strong arm of Pharaoh, l.p.h., my lord, struck to the ground the enemies, the bedouins of Mu-qed, who had all settled in Qehqeh on the shore of the Sea, like Amen-Re, king of gods, this great god, lord of every land, accompanied you in order to lend you a hand. Rejoice therefore because of the numerous boons which Amen-Re, king of gods, has bestowed upon Pharaoh, l.p.h., his son, when he has struck the enemies, the bedouins which had come to devastate the land of Egypt, to the ground. Amen-Re, king of gods, praises you; Monthu praises you, the ka of Pharaoh, l.p.h., your lord, praises you, when you drove off the enemies, the bedouins who had come to devastate the land of Egypt, as you vanquished them. Continue doing so. |
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Letter on papyrus pCairo ESP, Document C Reign of Ramses IX  Ugarit: jkrjt apparently not the Ugarit we know of, which was in the northern LevantMu-qed: mw-qd.w (lit. inverted waters), often interpreted to refer to the Euphrates which flows into the sea in a southern direction, opposite to the direction of the Nile, hence inverted waters.Sea: ym (Semitic loan word) the Red Sea |
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I have ordered the Medjai whom I sent to you with the list of the requirements which I wrote in order to send to you. As soon as my letter reaches you, stay in the settlement of the gold production, until the things which I have sent to you under the supervision of my retainer reach you. And pay attention to these people, the gold miners from the troop of gold washers of the temple of Amen-Re, who are under my orders, so that they bring back this gold of Amen-Re, king of gods, and do not let the bedouins take it away. And prevent anyone to come and devastate the land of Egypt. Concerning anything else which (you) take care of, send (a message) to me that I may have it brought to you. Act as diligent workers of Amen-Re, king of gods, and of Pharaoh, l.p.h., your lord, and may you take care. |
Medjai: mDA.w originally Egyptian name for a northern Nubian tribe, some members of which were inducted into the Egyptian garrisons in Nubia in the Middle Kingdom. During the New Kingdom they were part of the Egyptian police force, until all police, even native Egyptians, could be referred to as Medjai. |
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List of necessities which are destined for the Nubians, wearers of the feather-crown, southerners from the foreign land of Ugarit, who have set out as bowmen against the enemies, the bedouins of Mu-qed, so that the strong arm of Pharaoh, l.p.h., may strike them to the ground: bales of thin cloth - 25 tunics of smooth cloth - 25 vessels of bronze - 25 metal knives - 25 metal axes tied to a wooden shaft - 25 loaves of good kyllestis-bread from the interior(?) - 1000 cakes of kyllestis baked goods - 100 various small cattle - 50 sumpter donkeys - 5 aromatic sheb-plant - 1 cumin - 1
After a transliteration and German translation by I. Hafemann |
pCairo ESP, Text D |
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