'
10
K0PT0S.
£L-*k>.
K«i,
The subjects are of interest as shewing the per-
manence of many details which we know in later
times. The three trees growing up from an irrigated
plot behind the statue of Min (VI, 6), and the two
serpents in shrines seen in Ptolemaic sculpture are
here (VI, 6). The globe and wings of Hor-behudet
with the uraei (VII, 13, 14) appear as in later times ;
and this is the first large example known, the earlier
ones of Khufu and Unas being on a smaller scale.
The khaker ornament was used along the tops of the
scenes (VI, 1, 2, 10) as at Bcni Hasan. The scenes
appear to have been of the same character as those of
older times (see Snefru and Khufu, L. D. ii 2 ; and
Pepy, L. D. ii 115, 116). The king smites his enemies
before Min (VI, 2), worships Min (VI, 12), and is
embraced by the gods (VII, 16). There have been
some scenes with goddesses, of which only two slabs
remain (VI, 8, 11), unfortunately without names. Of
course it is now obvious what the source was of the
block of Antef V, built into a bridge at Koptos, and
seen by Harris (My. E. 447).
18. Of the same age, though recopied, is a long
decree of Antef V, deposing one prince of Koptos,
and instating a new princely family. This was
engraved on the south side of the east entrance to the
temple : so that when the south jamb of the doorway
was overthrown northward, its inner side lay beneath;
and we discovered the inscription by looking on the
underside of the block (PL. VIII). It is now, with
the adjacent sculptures, placed in the Ghizeh Museum.
As the doorway was built by Usertesen I, there would
be a prima facie case for an added inscription such as
this being later in origin. But against this fact we
have to set the improbability of a king in a much
poorer age, just after the Xllth dynasty, caring to
make additions of baser quality (such as these Antef
sculptures) to a magnificent work of the XII dynasty :
and the fact that no trace of sculptures from the
Xllth dynasty temple was mixed with the Antef
blocks when they were laid down to make a pave-
ment. It seems more likely, then, that the inscription
was carved on the doorway of the new temple, as being
the title-deed of the reigning prince ; having been
conferred about a century bqfore then, it would be still
of practical importance, and might have been called
in question by some descendant of the deposed
family.
The translation of this inscription is as follows :—
(1) "The third year, month Phamenoth, 25thday,
of his majesty the king (Ra-nubu-kheper, saTa-,
Antef) giving life like the sun for ever. Decree
of the king to the chancellor, prince of Koptos,
(2) Miirenrhat, the king's son, administrator of
Koptos Oa-nen, the chancellor MenklvMin, the
scribe of the temple Neferhotep-ur, all the
garrison of Koptos, and all the officials of the
temple,—
" Behold ye this decree has been (3) brought to
you that ye may know that my majesty has sent
the scribe and divine chancellor of Amen Ameirse,
and the scmsu hayt Ameiruser, (4) to make in-
quisition in the temple of Min :—
" Whereas the officials of the temple of my father
Min came to my majesty to say that an evil thing
is come to pass in this (5) temple, even a har-
bouring of enemies by (blasted be his name)
Teta, son of Minhetep :—
" Therefore let him be cast out upon the ground
from the temple of my father Min, let him be
driven (6) from his office of the temple, to the
son of his son, and the heir of his heir ; may
they be cast abroad upon the earth, let his bread
and his sacred meat be seized, let his name not
be remembered in this temple, (7) as is done to
one like him who has transgressed in the matter
of an enemy of his god ; let his writings in the
temple of Min be destroyed, and in the govern-
ment office on every roll likewise :—
" And every king (8) and every puissant ruler
who shall forgive him, may he not receive the
white crown, or support the red crown, or sit
upon the throne of Horus the living ; let not the
two diadems (9) grant him favours as beloved of
him ; and every administrator or prince who shall
approach the Lord to forgive him, let his people,
his possessions, and his lands be given to the
endowment of (10) my father Min of Koptos ;
also let not any man of his circle, of the relations
of his father or of his mother be raised to this
office :—
(11) "Also that this office shall be given to the
chancellor, overseer in the palace, Miirenrhat,
and let there be given to him its bread and its
sacred meat, established unto him in writings in
the temple (12) of my father Min of Koptos,
to the son of his son and the heir of his
heir."
Mr. Griffith, in translating this, remarks that it
closely follows the spelling of the hieratic: the
repetition of the feminine t before suffixes is especially
noticeable ; and there are a few positive mistakes of
spelling. The qenbet (11. 2 and 4) are written as if
h
^■H^HHBlHMnHHHnBni
10
K0PT0S.
£L-*k>.
K«i,
The subjects are of interest as shewing the per-
manence of many details which we know in later
times. The three trees growing up from an irrigated
plot behind the statue of Min (VI, 6), and the two
serpents in shrines seen in Ptolemaic sculpture are
here (VI, 6). The globe and wings of Hor-behudet
with the uraei (VII, 13, 14) appear as in later times ;
and this is the first large example known, the earlier
ones of Khufu and Unas being on a smaller scale.
The khaker ornament was used along the tops of the
scenes (VI, 1, 2, 10) as at Bcni Hasan. The scenes
appear to have been of the same character as those of
older times (see Snefru and Khufu, L. D. ii 2 ; and
Pepy, L. D. ii 115, 116). The king smites his enemies
before Min (VI, 2), worships Min (VI, 12), and is
embraced by the gods (VII, 16). There have been
some scenes with goddesses, of which only two slabs
remain (VI, 8, 11), unfortunately without names. Of
course it is now obvious what the source was of the
block of Antef V, built into a bridge at Koptos, and
seen by Harris (My. E. 447).
18. Of the same age, though recopied, is a long
decree of Antef V, deposing one prince of Koptos,
and instating a new princely family. This was
engraved on the south side of the east entrance to the
temple : so that when the south jamb of the doorway
was overthrown northward, its inner side lay beneath;
and we discovered the inscription by looking on the
underside of the block (PL. VIII). It is now, with
the adjacent sculptures, placed in the Ghizeh Museum.
As the doorway was built by Usertesen I, there would
be a prima facie case for an added inscription such as
this being later in origin. But against this fact we
have to set the improbability of a king in a much
poorer age, just after the Xllth dynasty, caring to
make additions of baser quality (such as these Antef
sculptures) to a magnificent work of the XII dynasty :
and the fact that no trace of sculptures from the
Xllth dynasty temple was mixed with the Antef
blocks when they were laid down to make a pave-
ment. It seems more likely, then, that the inscription
was carved on the doorway of the new temple, as being
the title-deed of the reigning prince ; having been
conferred about a century bqfore then, it would be still
of practical importance, and might have been called
in question by some descendant of the deposed
family.
The translation of this inscription is as follows :—
(1) "The third year, month Phamenoth, 25thday,
of his majesty the king (Ra-nubu-kheper, saTa-,
Antef) giving life like the sun for ever. Decree
of the king to the chancellor, prince of Koptos,
(2) Miirenrhat, the king's son, administrator of
Koptos Oa-nen, the chancellor MenklvMin, the
scribe of the temple Neferhotep-ur, all the
garrison of Koptos, and all the officials of the
temple,—
" Behold ye this decree has been (3) brought to
you that ye may know that my majesty has sent
the scribe and divine chancellor of Amen Ameirse,
and the scmsu hayt Ameiruser, (4) to make in-
quisition in the temple of Min :—
" Whereas the officials of the temple of my father
Min came to my majesty to say that an evil thing
is come to pass in this (5) temple, even a har-
bouring of enemies by (blasted be his name)
Teta, son of Minhetep :—
" Therefore let him be cast out upon the ground
from the temple of my father Min, let him be
driven (6) from his office of the temple, to the
son of his son, and the heir of his heir ; may
they be cast abroad upon the earth, let his bread
and his sacred meat be seized, let his name not
be remembered in this temple, (7) as is done to
one like him who has transgressed in the matter
of an enemy of his god ; let his writings in the
temple of Min be destroyed, and in the govern-
ment office on every roll likewise :—
" And every king (8) and every puissant ruler
who shall forgive him, may he not receive the
white crown, or support the red crown, or sit
upon the throne of Horus the living ; let not the
two diadems (9) grant him favours as beloved of
him ; and every administrator or prince who shall
approach the Lord to forgive him, let his people,
his possessions, and his lands be given to the
endowment of (10) my father Min of Koptos ;
also let not any man of his circle, of the relations
of his father or of his mother be raised to this
office :—
(11) "Also that this office shall be given to the
chancellor, overseer in the palace, Miirenrhat,
and let there be given to him its bread and its
sacred meat, established unto him in writings in
the temple (12) of my father Min of Koptos,
to the son of his son and the heir of his
heir."
Mr. Griffith, in translating this, remarks that it
closely follows the spelling of the hieratic: the
repetition of the feminine t before suffixes is especially
noticeable ; and there are a few positive mistakes of
spelling. The qenbet (11. 2 and 4) are written as if
h
^■H^HHBlHMnHHHnBni