Griffith, Francis Ll. [Hrsg.]; Newberry, Percy E. [Hrsg.]: El Bersheh (Band 2) (London, 1895)

III. SELECTED INSCRIPTIONS PROM IIET-NUB.



The following are attempts at transliterations
and translations of most of the Middle Kingdom
graffiti mentioned in the Introduction to this
Memoir. The hieratic texts, which abound in
difficulties, have been published by Messrs.
Blackden and Eraser,1 and on Plates xxii. and
xxiii. will be found transcriptions of six of the
best preserved of them. The numbers are
those attached to the published facsimiles.

A word of explanation is required. The
transcriptions in the plates are the result of
prolonged study, but are still faulty, and it
will be seen from the transliterations that

several departures from these texts have been
made in transliterating and translating the
graffiti, thus correcting and amplifying the

reading; or

suggesting

alternatives. Much

more remains to be done, and an examination
of the original would doubtless clear up many
obscure points, in spite of the admirable care
and intelligence displayed by the copyists.
Mr. Blackden deciphered a great part of the
unfamiliar and difficult script on the spot, and
we may trust his artist's pencil to have repro-
duced what he saw with fidelity.

1. RELATING TO THE GREAT £LLB-PRIEST

TEIITJTLHETEP.

GRAFFITO I. (See Pl. xxii.)

TEHUTINEKHT BORN OE

1. Saha bdti serner uati mcr hen neter uub aa [ne
Zehuti] \_sat ?] ne dr madt

2. men red tur dui heby em use/eht2 her iep het neter

rnd qed-es se-Ment ne Zehuti est-ef sa-ef zes-ef
ne un mad mes ne Seshyt (?) Ra ........

3. qerehet sept Met ta pen remt neb[_f] em seshu nezes

qen en mdt-ef neb qed aa kkepsh taui pen /c/ier
merut-ef.........

1. "The treasurer of the king of Lower Egypt, the

confidential friend of the king, the superintendent
of the priests, the great «a&-priest [of Thoth] the
......... of doing right,

2. firm of foot, clean of hands, holding festival in the

hall, chief of the temple in its entirety, one whosd
position Thoth advanced, his own son of very truth
born of Seshyt-Ra (?) .........

3. the remaining princely stock (i.e. remaining repre-

sentative of a princely line ?) throughout this
land, when all men were in confusion, when the
commoner was powerful, without his like, possessor
of virtue, great of valour, this double land was
possessed with his love .........

Collection of Hieratic Graffiti from the Alabaster Quarry of Hat-Nub.
The same phrases in hieroglyphics, pl. xv., line 9.