DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5066#0060
dyn. in. JOURNEYS TO THE PENINSULA OF SINAI 31
high-sounding titles. Without distinguishing the in-
dividual the first title was that of Horus, who dispenses
life and prosperity ; the second, ' lord of the double
diadem ;' and the third, ' the image of the golden Horus,
conqueror of his opponent.' After each king's name
was placed that of his pyramid to distinguish him, and
as a pledge of lasting fame. It was a pious custom
whenever the king or a great noble was mentioned to
add immediately after his name, 'Life, health, and
strength be to him.'
On the steep wall of rock in the Wady-Magharah,
where, in the very ancient caverns, the traces of the
miner may easily be recognised, Sneferu appears as a
warrior, with a mighty club striking a vanquished
enemy to the ground. The inscription engraved beside
the picture mentions him clearly by name, with the
title of ' vanquisher of a foreign people.' The land,
which formerly yielded copper ore, and blue and green
precious stones, seems to have been a possession much
coveted by the rulers of Kamit,1 and it was without
doubt Sneferu who gained possession of this moun-
tainous peninsula. By a short sea passage from Egypt,
or by a longer journey on the backs of asses, the
soldiers of the king and the troops of miners, with the
steward and overseer, reached the valley of the mines.
Even at this day the traveller can see and read on the
half-defaced stone a number of pictures and writings.
Standing on a high rock, which commands the entrance
to the Wady-Magharah, his eye discovers without
difficulty the ruins of the strong fortress whose well-
built walls once enclosed huts beside a deep well,
and protected the Egyptian troops from sudden attack.
There were also temples there dedicated to Hathor,
whom the Egyptians worshipped as the protectress of
1 See p. 5.
high-sounding titles. Without distinguishing the in-
dividual the first title was that of Horus, who dispenses
life and prosperity ; the second, ' lord of the double
diadem ;' and the third, ' the image of the golden Horus,
conqueror of his opponent.' After each king's name
was placed that of his pyramid to distinguish him, and
as a pledge of lasting fame. It was a pious custom
whenever the king or a great noble was mentioned to
add immediately after his name, 'Life, health, and
strength be to him.'
On the steep wall of rock in the Wady-Magharah,
where, in the very ancient caverns, the traces of the
miner may easily be recognised, Sneferu appears as a
warrior, with a mighty club striking a vanquished
enemy to the ground. The inscription engraved beside
the picture mentions him clearly by name, with the
title of ' vanquisher of a foreign people.' The land,
which formerly yielded copper ore, and blue and green
precious stones, seems to have been a possession much
coveted by the rulers of Kamit,1 and it was without
doubt Sneferu who gained possession of this moun-
tainous peninsula. By a short sea passage from Egypt,
or by a longer journey on the backs of asses, the
soldiers of the king and the troops of miners, with the
steward and overseer, reached the valley of the mines.
Even at this day the traveller can see and read on the
half-defaced stone a number of pictures and writings.
Standing on a high rock, which commands the entrance
to the Wady-Magharah, his eye discovers without
difficulty the ruins of the strong fortress whose well-
built walls once enclosed huts beside a deep well,
and protected the Egyptian troops from sudden attack.
There were also temples there dedicated to Hathor,
whom the Egyptians worshipped as the protectress of
1 See p. 5.