DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5066#0068
dot. it. MENCHEKES THE PIOUS 39
the reputation of being a mild and just man. It also
appears certain that lie industriously studied the re-
ligious writings of his age. The ' Eitual of the Dead/
which was usually buried with every mummy as a
guide in the world beyond, mentions this king thus:—
This gate (chapter) was found in the city of Hermopolis, en-
graved on a block of alabaster and painted in blue colour, under
the feet of this god. It was found in the time of King Men-kau-Ra,
the deified, by the king's son Hortotef, when he undertook a journey
to inspect the temples of Egypt. He brought the stone as a won-
derful thing to the king, after he had well understood the contents
full of mystery which were on it.
Shepses-ka-f, ( a£ n 0
is the name of the
Pharaoh who succeeded Men-kau-Ea. All doubt on the
subject is removed by the inscriptions on a tomb at
Saqqarah. The noble for whom it was constructed bore
the name of Ptah-Shepses ; he lived at court and was
a favourite with the kings. He appears first as an
adopted child of Men-kau-Ea, for ' he placed him among
the royal children in the royal women's house.' When
Men-kau-Ea died Shepses-ka-f placed the young page in
his own house and gave him his daughter in marriage.
' He was esteemed by the king above all his servants.
He became private secretary for every work that
Pharaoh was pleased to execute. He charmed the
heart of his master. His Majesty allowed him to em-
brace his knees and exempted him from the salutation
of the ground.' The last words are not without advan-
tage to our knowledge of ancient usages at the court of
the Pharaohs. When a servant of high or low degree
approached his royal master, custom demanded that he
should throw himself repeatedly in the dust and kiss
the ground, only favourites being permitted to touch
the king's knee. Ptah-Shepses directed the forced labour
of the mines, and was also the prophet of the god Sekar
the reputation of being a mild and just man. It also
appears certain that lie industriously studied the re-
ligious writings of his age. The ' Eitual of the Dead/
which was usually buried with every mummy as a
guide in the world beyond, mentions this king thus:—
This gate (chapter) was found in the city of Hermopolis, en-
graved on a block of alabaster and painted in blue colour, under
the feet of this god. It was found in the time of King Men-kau-Ra,
the deified, by the king's son Hortotef, when he undertook a journey
to inspect the temples of Egypt. He brought the stone as a won-
derful thing to the king, after he had well understood the contents
full of mystery which were on it.
Shepses-ka-f, ( a£ n 0
is the name of the
Pharaoh who succeeded Men-kau-Ea. All doubt on the
subject is removed by the inscriptions on a tomb at
Saqqarah. The noble for whom it was constructed bore
the name of Ptah-Shepses ; he lived at court and was
a favourite with the kings. He appears first as an
adopted child of Men-kau-Ea, for ' he placed him among
the royal children in the royal women's house.' When
Men-kau-Ea died Shepses-ka-f placed the young page in
his own house and gave him his daughter in marriage.
' He was esteemed by the king above all his servants.
He became private secretary for every work that
Pharaoh was pleased to execute. He charmed the
heart of his master. His Majesty allowed him to em-
brace his knees and exempted him from the salutation
of the ground.' The last words are not without advan-
tage to our knowledge of ancient usages at the court of
the Pharaohs. When a servant of high or low degree
approached his royal master, custom demanded that he
should throw himself repeatedly in the dust and kiss
the ground, only favourites being permitted to touch
the king's knee. Ptah-Shepses directed the forced labour
of the mines, and was also the prophet of the god Sekar