DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3236#0172
CHAP. XIV.—QANTARAH.
107
Egypt," and instead of the little fort at the
" bridges," we find a great camp established at
Defeneh, from which all points that needed
defence could be easily reinforced, while provi-
sions could be obtained in sufficient abundance.
"When under the Ptolemies the place began
ao-ain to be inhabited, the ancient walls had
probably entirely disappeared, or if any founda-
tions remained they were -cleared out for new
buildings. The settlement with its garrison
flourished through the Roman period, but there
is no trace of Arab occupation. If any Arab
bricks have existed there, they have been carried
off to Qantarah.
With regard to the extent of the nome of
Khent abt, we have two points to help us in
fixing it. The Sethroite nome under the
Roman Empire lay on the E. of the Pelusiac
branch. The south-western end of Khent abt
lay perhaps between Defeneh and Menagi; at
the latter place the Pelusiac arm touched the
edge of the desert, and the nome goddess Uat
of the nineteenth nome appears.
103. In connection with this nome, however,
I must discuss one other place, and that is
Defeneh, and the inscription which Mr. Petrie
found there.
The sandstone monument upon which the in-
scription is cut has been a large stela. The
upper part is entirely destroyed, and the rest,
with the exception of the last six lines, is much
mutilated. The date and king's name, with
which it undoubtedly began, are therefore lost.
1. . . . his Majesty . . .
which is in Sais of Is eith . . .
it was good. They said to his
3. . .
Majesty
4. . .
5. . .
said . .
6. . .
on this hill (Defeneh ?). His Majesty
soldiers ? . . . cycle of years. He
had not ascended
7........
the 13th day
to the sove-
8. . . . rain of heaven .
of Pharmouthi.
9.........
reign lord
10.........according to the
measure of
11. . . . his Majesty. The heart of his
Majesty was pleased with it more than any-
thing. The soldiers began to adore his
Majesty.
12. (saying) . . . thy spirits, 0 mighty king,
chief beloved of all the gods, a great marvel
took (?) place in thy reign.
13. such as had not been seen or heard of,
the heavens rained upon the mount of Punt,
rain being scanty in the fields of the south.
14 . . . in this month in which the rainfall
took place at a time when rain was out of season
even in the north land,
15. thy mother Neith of the temple of Sais
came to thee to conduct to thee the Nile giving
life to thy soldiers.
16. The king made a great sacrifice and a
great offering to all the gods of this land, and
performed (the service of) giving life stability,
purity, and eternity.
17. His Majesty commanded to set up this
tablet of white bennu stone in the temple of
Khem, lord of'. . . Coptos (?) of Khem (?)
making it stand there for ever !
There can be little doubt that the name of
Coptos has to be restored in the last line. The
remains of the name show the legs and tail of
a hawk-like bird, therefore probably ti of Qebti.
The date of the stela is given roughly by the
prominent introduction of Sais and Neith. It
must belong to the period of the twenty-sixth
dynasty. The inscription is so fragmentary
that but little can be certainly made out of its
purport. No distinct reason appears for its
being found at Defeneh. The last lines mention
an extraordinary fall of rain in the Red Sea
district, the land of Punt. Perhaps it was in
commemoration of this that a copy of the stela,
p 2
107
Egypt," and instead of the little fort at the
" bridges," we find a great camp established at
Defeneh, from which all points that needed
defence could be easily reinforced, while provi-
sions could be obtained in sufficient abundance.
"When under the Ptolemies the place began
ao-ain to be inhabited, the ancient walls had
probably entirely disappeared, or if any founda-
tions remained they were -cleared out for new
buildings. The settlement with its garrison
flourished through the Roman period, but there
is no trace of Arab occupation. If any Arab
bricks have existed there, they have been carried
off to Qantarah.
With regard to the extent of the nome of
Khent abt, we have two points to help us in
fixing it. The Sethroite nome under the
Roman Empire lay on the E. of the Pelusiac
branch. The south-western end of Khent abt
lay perhaps between Defeneh and Menagi; at
the latter place the Pelusiac arm touched the
edge of the desert, and the nome goddess Uat
of the nineteenth nome appears.
103. In connection with this nome, however,
I must discuss one other place, and that is
Defeneh, and the inscription which Mr. Petrie
found there.
The sandstone monument upon which the in-
scription is cut has been a large stela. The
upper part is entirely destroyed, and the rest,
with the exception of the last six lines, is much
mutilated. The date and king's name, with
which it undoubtedly began, are therefore lost.
1. . . . his Majesty . . .
which is in Sais of Is eith . . .
it was good. They said to his
3. . .
Majesty
4. . .
5. . .
said . .
6. . .
on this hill (Defeneh ?). His Majesty
soldiers ? . . . cycle of years. He
had not ascended
7........
the 13th day
to the sove-
8. . . . rain of heaven .
of Pharmouthi.
9.........
reign lord
10.........according to the
measure of
11. . . . his Majesty. The heart of his
Majesty was pleased with it more than any-
thing. The soldiers began to adore his
Majesty.
12. (saying) . . . thy spirits, 0 mighty king,
chief beloved of all the gods, a great marvel
took (?) place in thy reign.
13. such as had not been seen or heard of,
the heavens rained upon the mount of Punt,
rain being scanty in the fields of the south.
14 . . . in this month in which the rainfall
took place at a time when rain was out of season
even in the north land,
15. thy mother Neith of the temple of Sais
came to thee to conduct to thee the Nile giving
life to thy soldiers.
16. The king made a great sacrifice and a
great offering to all the gods of this land, and
performed (the service of) giving life stability,
purity, and eternity.
17. His Majesty commanded to set up this
tablet of white bennu stone in the temple of
Khem, lord of'. . . Coptos (?) of Khem (?)
making it stand there for ever !
There can be little doubt that the name of
Coptos has to be restored in the last line. The
remains of the name show the legs and tail of
a hawk-like bird, therefore probably ti of Qebti.
The date of the stela is given roughly by the
prominent introduction of Sais and Neith. It
must belong to the period of the twenty-sixth
dynasty. The inscription is so fragmentary
that but little can be certainly made out of its
purport. No distinct reason appears for its
being found at Defeneh. The last lines mention
an extraordinary fall of rain in the Red Sea
district, the land of Punt. Perhaps it was in
commemoration of this that a copy of the stela,
p 2