Piye, who is sometimes called Piankhi, was a king of Kush in the second half of the 8th century B.C. He conquered all of Egypt, and his victories are vividly described in this document.
This translation is taken from R K Ritner, in "The Literature of Ancient Egypt", pp.367-385 ( archive.org ). An older translation , published by J.H. Breasted in volume 4 of "Ancient Records of Egypt", is also available.
There is a helpful introducton to the text by S. Schellinger, "The Victory Stela Of Piankhi" ( academia.edu ).
Regnal year 21, first month of Inundation, under the Majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Piye, beloved of Amon, living forever. The decree which My Majesty has spoken: "Hear what I have done in exceeding the ancestors. I am the king, the representation of god, the living image of Atum, who issued from the womb marked as ruler, who is feared by those greater than he, [whose father] knew and whose mother perceived even in the egg that he would be ruler, the good god, beloved of the gods, the Son of Re, who acts with his two arms, Piye, beloved of Amon."
One came to say to His Majesty: "The Chief of the West, the count and chief in Behbeit el-Hagar, Tefnakht, is in the Harpoon nome, in the nome of Xois, in Hapi, in . . ., in the marshy region of Kom el-Hisn, in Per-noub and in the nome of Memphis. He has seized the West even in its entirety, from the northern coastal marshes to Lisht, sailing southward with a sizeable army, while the Two Lands are united behind him, and the counts and rulers of estates are as dogs at his heels. No stronghold has closed [its doors in] the nomes of Upper Egypt: Meidum, the Fort of Osorkon I, Crocodilopolis {Medinet el-Faiyum}, Oxyrhynchus {el-Bahnasa}, and Takinash. Every city of the West has opened doors just through fear of him. When he turned about to the nomes of the East, then they opened to him likewise: The Mansion of the Phoenix, El-Hibeh, the Mansion of the King, and Aphroditepolis {Atfih}.
Behold, [he is] 5 beleaguering Heracleopolis {Ihnasya el-Medina}, and he has made himself an enclosing uroborous {snake biting its tail}, not allowing goers to go nor allowing entrants to enter, while fighting every day. In its full circuit he has measured it, with every count knowing his assigned wall, while he stations every man among the counts and rulers of estates to besiege his section." Then [His Majesty] heard [this] defiantly, laughing and amused. But these chiefs, counts and generals who were in their cities were sending word to His Majesty daily saying: "Have you been silent so as to ignore Upper Egypt and the nomes of the Residence, while Tefnakht seizes what is before him, having found no resistance? Namlot, [ruler of Hermopolis], count of Hutweret, has thrown down the wall of Nefrusy. He has demolished his own city through fear of the one who would seize it for himself in order to beleaguer another city. Behold, he has gone to be a subordinate at Tefnakht's heels, having shrugged off allegiance to His Majesty. He stands with him just like one of [his followers] in the nome of Oxyrhynchus, while Tefnakht gives to him rewards as his desire dictates from among everything that he has found."
Then His Majesty sent word to the counts and generals who were in Egypt, the commander Pawerem, and the commander Lamersekny, and every commander of His Majesty who was in Egypt: "Proceed in battle formation, engage in combat, encircle and beleaguer it! Capture its people, its herds, its ships upon the river! Do not allow the cultivators to go forth to the fields! Do not allow the ploughmen to plough! Beleaguer the frontier of the Hare nome; fight against it every day!" Then they did likewise.
Then His Majesty sent an army to Egypt, charging them forcefully: "Do not attack at 10 night in the manner of a game. You should fight when there is sight. Announce battle to him from afar! If he should say: 'Wait for the troops and cavalry of another city,' then may you sit until his army comes. Fight when he says. If, further, his supporters are in another city, let one wait for them. The counts, these whom he has brought to support him, and the trusted Libyan troops, let one announce battle to them in advance, saying: 'O you whom we do not know how to address in mustering the troops! Yoke the best steeds of your stable! Line up in battle formation! Be informed that Amon is the god who sent us!' When you arrive within Thebes before Karnak, you should enter into the water. Purify yourselves in the river! Clothe yourselves in the best linen! Lay down the bow, withdraw the arrow! Do not boast of greatness as a possessor of strength! The mighty has no strength in ignorance of Amon, for he makes the broken-armed strong-armed. Thus do multitudes turn tail to the few; one seizes a thousand men. Sprinkle yourselves with the water of his altars. You should kiss the ground before him and you should say to him: 'Give us passage, that we might fight in the shadow of your strong arm! The corps of recruits whom you have sent, let its onslaught occur while multitudes tremble before it."
Then they placed themselves on their bellies before His Majesty, saying:
"It is your name that will serve as our strong arm, your counsel that brings your army to port, with your bread in our bellies on every passage, and your beer 15 quenching our thirst.
It is your valour that provides our strong arm, so that one is terrified at the mention of your name.
No army profits whose commander is a coward.
Who is your equal there?
You are a mighty king, who acts with his two arms, the master of the art of war."
They then went sailing northward and they arrived at Thebes; they did exactly as His Majesty had said. They then went sailing northward on the river, finding that numerous ships had come southward with soldiers, sailors, and troops of every valiant warrior of Lower Egypt equipped with weapons of warfare to fight against the army of His Majesty.
Then a great slaughter was made among them, in incalculable numbers. Their army and their ships were captured and brought away as captives to the place where His Majesty was. They then advanced to the frontier of Heracleopolis, announcing battle. List of the counts and kings of Lower Egypt:
King Namlot and King Iuput,
Chief of the Ma, Sheshonq, of Busiris,
Great Chief of the Ma, Djedamoniuefankh, of Mendes,
and his eldest son, who was the general of Hermopolis Parva,
the army of Hereditary Prince Bakennefi
and his eldest son, the Chief of the Ma, Nesnaiu, in Hesebu,
every plume-wearing chief who was in Lower Egypt,
and King Osorkon who was in Bubastis and the district of Ranefer, with every count and ruler of estates in the West, in the East, and the islands in between being united in a single alliance as subordinates at the heels of the Great Chief of the West, the ruler of estates of Lower Egypt, the prophet of Neith, Lady of Sais, 20 the setem-priest of Ptah, Tefhakht.
They then went forth against them. Then they made a great slaughter among them, greater than anything, and their ships on the river were captured. The remnant then crossed over, landing on the West in the vicinity of Perpega.
As the land lightened and the morning dawned, the army of His Majesty crossed over against them, so that army joined battle with army.
Then they slew numerous men among them together with horses in incalculable numbers, with trembling occurring in the remnant so that they fled to Lower Egypt from a beating more severe and painful than anything.
List of the slaughter which was made among them. Men: . . . persons , Horses: . . .
King Namlot fled upstream to the South when he was told: "Hermopolis is faced with enemies from the troops of His Majesty, with its people and its herds captured."
Then he entered into Hermopolis while the troops of His Majesty were on the river and the bank of the Hare nome.
Then they heard it and surrounded the Hare nome on its four sides, without letting those who would go out go out nor letting those who would enter enter. They sent word explicitly to report to the Majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Piye, beloved of Amon, given life, detailing every attack which they had made, detailing every victory of His Majesty.
Then His Majesty raged because of it like a panther: "Have they allowed a remnant to remain among the troops of Lower Egypt so as to let go an escapee among them to relate his campaign, not killing them to exterminate the last of them? As I live, as Re loves me, as my father Amon favours me, I shall go northward myself, that I might overturn 25 what he has done, that I might cause that he retreat from fighting for the course of eternity! After the rites of the New Year are performed, when I offer to my father Amon in his beautiful festival, when he makes his beautiful appearance of the New Year, let him send me in peace to behold Amon in the beautiful festival of the Opet feast, that I might convey his image in procession to Luxor temple in his beautiful festival of 'The Night Feast of Opet' and the festival of 'Abiding in Thebes' which Re devised for him in the primordial time, that I might convey him in procession to his house in order to rest on his throne on the day of ushering in the god in the third month of Inundation season, day 2, and that I might make Lower Egypt taste the taste of my fingers."
Then the troops who were there in Egypt heard the raging that His Majesty had made against them.
Then they fought against Oxyrhynchus of the Oxyrhynchite nome, taking it like a burst of water and sending word before His Majesty, but his heart was not appeased because of it.
Then they fought against "The Peak, Great of Victories," finding it filled with troops comprising every valiant warrior of Lower Egypt.
Then a battering ram was employed against it, so that its walls were demolished and a great slaughter made among them in incalculable numbers, including the son of the Chief of the Ma, Tefnakht.
Then they sent word to His Majesty because of it, but his heart was not appeased regarding it.
Then they fought against Hutbenu, so that its interior was opened and the troops of His Majesty entered into it.
Then they sent word to His Majesty, but his heart was not appeased regarding it.
First month of Inundation season, day 9. His Majesty then came sailing northward to Thebes. At the feast of Opet, he celebrated the festival of Amon. His Majesty then went 30 sailing northward to the quay of the Hare nome. His Majesty came out of the cabin of the barge, the horses were yoked, the chariots were mounted, so that the grandeur of His Majesty extended to the hinterlands of the Asiatics, and every heart was quaking before him.
Then His Majesty burst forth to revile his army, raging at it like a panther: "Do they endure while your combat is such that my business is delayed? It is the year for finalising a conclusion, for placing fear of me in Lower Egypt, and for inflicting upon them a severe and painful defeat by striking."
He made for himself a camp at the southwest of Hermopolis, keeping a stranglehold on it daily. A talus was made to clothe the wall, and a platform was erected to elevate the archers when shooting and the slingers when slinging stones, slaying the people among them daily. Days passed, and Hermopolis became foul to the nose, deprived of its ability to breathe.
Then Hermopolis threw itself upon its belly, pleading before the King of Lower Egypt, while messengers came and went bearing everything beautiful to behold: gold, every sort of precious gemstone, clothing by the chest, and the diadem which had been on his brow, the uraeus which had inspired respect of him, without ceasing for numerous days, imploring his crown.
Then One {King Namlot} sent his wife, the royal wife and royal daughter, Nestanetmehu, to implore the royal wives, the royal concubines, the royal daughters, and the royal sisters, and she threw herself upon her belly in the women's house before the royal women: "Come to me, royal wives, royal daughters and royal sisters! May you appease Horus, Lord of the palace, whose wrath is great, whose vindication is grand! Cause 35 that he . . . me. Behold, he . . . . . . him. Behold, . . . . . . [Speak (?)] to him, so that [he] might then turn about to the one who praises him . . ."
[... ] provision . . . . . . of life in . . . 40 . . . . . . they filled(?) with what was efficacious . . . praise him . . . the royal wives, the royal sisters [ . . . They threw] themselves upon their bellies [before His Majesty . . . ] the royal wives [ . . . Namlot,] ruler of Hutweret. . . . for his city (?), the ruler 45 . . . . . . as ruler . . . in the city (?) . . . . . . through lack of . . . 50 . . . to the place where [His] Majesty was. [His] Majesty spoke (?) to him . . . :
"Who . . . your mother? Who has guided you? Who has guided you? Who, then, has guided you? Who has guided you [so that you have abandoned] the path of life? Has heaven then rained with arrows? I was [content] when Southerners bowed down and Northerners said: 'Place us within your shade!' Was it bad that the King (?) [of Hermopolis came (?)] bearing his offerings? The heart is a rudder, which capsizes its owner by what issues from the wrath of god, when he has seen flame in the cool waters in (?) the heart. . . . 55 There is no adult who is seen with his father, for your nomes are filled only with children."
Then he threw himself on his belly in the presence of His Majesty: "[Peace be with you,] Horus, Lord of the palace! It is your wrath which has done this against me. I am one of the King's servants who pays taxes to the treasury as daily offerings. Make a reckoning of their taxes. I have provided for you far more than they."
Then he presented silver, gold, lapis lazuli, turquoise, copper, and every sort of gemstone in great quantity.
Then the treasury was filled with this tribute, and he brought a horse with his right hand and a sistrum in his left - a sistrum of gold and lapis lazuli.
Then His Majesty appeared in splendour from his palace, proceeding to the temple of Thoth, Lord of Hermopolis, and he sacrificed long-horned cattle, short-horned cattle, and fowl for his father Thoth, Lord of Hermopolis, and the Ogdoad in the temple of the 60 Ogdoad.
The troops of the Hare nome proceeded to shout and sing, saying:
"How beautiful is Horus, appeased in his city,
The Son of Re, Piye!
May you celebrate for us a jubilee,
As you protect the Hare nome!"
His Majesty then proceeded to the house of King Namlot, and he went into every chamber of the palace, his treasury and his storehouses. He caused that there be presented to him the royal wives and the royal daughters. They proceeded to hail His Majesty with feminine wiles, but His Majesty did not pay attention to them. His Majesty then proceeded to the stable of the horses and the quarters of the foals. When he saw [that] 65 they were starved, he said: "As I live, as Re loves me, as my nose is rejuvenated with life, how much more painful it is in my heart that my horses have been starved than any other crime that you have committed at your discretion. Your neighbour's fear of you is testimony for me. Are you unaware that the shadow of god is over me, and that my deeds have not failed because of him? If only another had done it to me, whom I did not know, whom I had not rebuked because of it! I am one fashioned in the womb and created in the egg of god, with the seed of god within me! As his ka-spirit endures, I have not acted in ignorance of him! He is the one who commanded me to act!"
Then his property was assigned to the treasury 70 and his granary to the endowment of Amon in Karnak.
The ruler of Heracleopolis, Peftchauauibast, then came bearing tribute to Pharaoh: gold, silver, every sort of gemstone, and the pick of the horses of the stable. He threw himself upon his belly in the presence of His Majesty, saying:
"Hail to you, Horus, mighty King, bull who attacks bulls!
The netherworld has seized me, and I am deep in darkness!
O you who give me the enlightenment of your face,
I cannot find a friend on a day of distress,
who will stand up on a day of fighting,
except for you, O mighty King!
From me you have stripped away the darkness
I shall be a servant together with my property, while
Heracleopolis is levied with taxes 75 for your domain.
You are indeed Horachty, chief of the imperishable stars!
As he exists, so do you exist as king.
He will not perish, nor will you perish,
O King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Piye, living forever!"
His Majesty then sailed northward to the opening of the canal beside Illahun, and he found PerSekhemkhepere with its ramparts heightened, its fortress closed, and filled with every valiant warrior of Lower Egypt. Then His Majesty sent word to them saying:
"O living dead! O living dead!
O miserable wretches! O living dead!
If the moment passes without opening to me,
behold, you belong to the tally of the fallen!
Such is the one subjected to royal punishment.
Do not bar the gates of your life so as to confront the slaughter block of this day!
Do not desire death so as to hate life!
[Choose (?)] life in the presence of the entire land!"
Then they sent word to His Majesty, saying:
"Behold, the shadow of god is upon you.
The son of Nut, may he give to you his arm's,
then your wish will come to pass directly
like what issues from the mouth of the god
Behold, you are born of god,
because we see it by the actions of your arms.
Behold, as for your city and its fortifications,
80 [do what pleases] you with them.
May entrants enter and goers go;
may His Majesty do what he will."
Then they came out with a son of the Chief of the Ma, Tefhakht. The troops of His Majesty then entered into it, without his slaying anyone among all the people whom he found [there . . . ] men and treasurers to seal his possessions, while his treasuries were assigned to the treasury, and his granaries to the endowment of his father Amon-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands. His Majesty then went sailing northward and he found that in Meidum, the House of Sokar, Lord of Illumination, had been closed, not having been attacked, and had intent to fight. . . . seized them; fear [over-powered (?)] them; awe sealed their mouths.
Then His Majesty sent word to them, saying:
"Behold, two ways are before you; choose as you wish.
Open, you will live; close, you will die.
My Majesty will not pass by a closed city!"
Then they opened to him directly, and His Majesty entered within this city and he presented a [great] offering [to] Imenhy, foremost of Illumination. Its treasury and granaries were assigned to the endowment of Amon in Karnak. His Majesty then sailed north to Lisht, and he found the stronghold closed and the walls filled with valiant troops of Lower Egypt.
Then they opened the fortifications and they threw themselves on their bellies in the presence of [His Majesty, and they said to] His Majesty:
"Your father has entrusted to you his legacy.
Yours are the Two Lands, and yours those in them.
You are the Lord of what is upon earth."
His Majesty then proceeded to have a great offering presented to the gods who are in this city, consisting of long-horned cattle, short-horned cattle, fowl, and everything good and pure.
Then its treasury was assigned to the treasury and its granaries to the endowment of 85 his father Amon-[Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands. His Majesty then sailed northward to] Memphis.
Then he sent word to them, saying: "Do not close; do not fight, O residence of Shu from the primordial time! The entrant - let him enter; the goer - let him go! No traveller will be hindered, I shall offer an oblation to Ptah and the gods who are in the Memphite nome; I shall make offering to Sokar in his sanctuary; I shall behold Ptah South-of-His-Wall; and I shall sail northward in peace, [while the people] of Memphis are safe and sound, and children are not mourned. Look, then, to the nomes of the South. None among them has been slain except for the rebels who blasphemed god, so that a slaughter was made among the traitors."
Then they closed their fortification and they sent out troops against some of the troops of His Majesty, who were but craftsmen, architects and sailors who had come [ . . . to] the harbour of Memphis. Now that Chief of Sais arrived in Memphis at night, ordering his soldiers, his sailors, all the elite of his army, a total of 8,000 men, ordering them firmly:
"Behold, Memphis is filled with troops comprising all the elite of Lower Egypt, with barley, emmer, every sort of grain, with the granaries overflowing, and with every sort of weapon [of war. It is protected(?) by a] stronghold; a great battlement has been built as a work of skilful craftsmanship; the river encircles its East, and fighting will not be found there. The stables here are filled with oxen, the treasuries supplied with everything: silver, gold, copper, clothing, incense, honey, and oil. I shall go that I might give things to the Chiefs of Lower Egypt, that I might open for them their nomes, and that I might become . . . days until I return."
He then mounted upon his horse, as he did not trust his chariot. He then went northward in fear of His Majesty. As the land lightened and the morning dawned, His Majesty arrived at Memphis. When he moored on its north, he found the water risen to the ramparts, with ships moored at 90 [the houses of] Memphis.
Then His Majesty saw that it was strong, the enclosure walls high with new construction, and the battlements supplied in strength. No way of attacking it was found. Every man proceeded to state his opinion among the troops of His Majesty, entailing every tactic of fighting, with every man saying: "Let us lay siege [to Memphis.] Behold, its army is numerous," while others were saying: "Make a ramp against it so that we elevate the ground to its ramparts. Let us put together a siege platform, erecting masts and using sails as walls for it. Let us divide it by this means on every side of it, with talus and . . . on its north, to elevate the ground to its rampart so that we might find a path for our feet."
Then His Majesty raged against it like a panther, saying:
"As I live, as Re loves me, as my father Amon favours me, I have discovered that this has happened for it by the command of Amon, This is what [all] men [of Lower Egypt] and the nomes of the South say: 'Let them open to him from afar! They do not place Amon in their hearts, nor do they know what he has commanded. He has done it expressly to give evidence of his wrath and to cause that his grandeur be seen.' I shall seize it like a cloudburst; [my father Amon] has commanded me."
Then he sent his ships and his troops to assault the harbour of Memphis, and they brought away for him every boat, every ferry, every pleasure boat, as many ships as were moored at the harbour of Memphis with prow rope fastened among its houses. 95 [There was not] a common soldier who wept among the entire army of His Majesty. His Majesty himself went to arrange the battle formation of the ships, as many as they were. His Majesty commanded his army:
"Forward against it! Mount the ramparts! Enter the houses atop the river! If one among you enters over the rampart, no one will stand in his way, . . . no troops will repel you. It would be vile, then, that we should seal Upper Egypt, moor at Lower Egypt, and yet sit in siege at "The Balance of the Two Lands."
Then Memphis was taken like a cloudburst, with numerous people slain within it, in addition to those brought as prisoners to the place where His Majesty was. Now [after the land] lightened and a second day occurred, His Majesty sent men into it, protecting the temples of the god for him, consecrating the shrines of the gods, offering cool water to the divine tribunal of Hikuptah, purifying Memphis with natron and incense, and putting priests in their assigned places. His Majesty proceeded to the estate of [Ptah], his purification was performed in the robing room, and there was performed for him every ritual which is performed for a king. He entered into the temple. A great offering was made to his father Ptah, South-of-His-Wall, consisting of long-horned cattle, short-horned cattle, fowl and everything good. His Majesty then returned to his house.
Then every nome that was in the region of Memphis heard it: Heripademi, Peninaiua, The Fort of Biu, and The Oasis of Bit, opening their fortifications and fleeing in flight, and no one knew where they went.
King Iuput then came together with the Chief of the Ma, Akanosh, and the Hereditary Prince, Padiese, 100 and all the counts of Lower Egypt, bearing their tribute in order to behold the beauty of His Majesty.
Then the treasuries and granaries of Memphis were assigned, made over to the endowments of Amon, of Ptah and of the Ennead which is in Hikuptah.
As the land lightened and the morning dawned, His Majesty proceeded to the East. An offering to Atum was made in Babylon {Old Cairo}, to the Ennead in the Estate of the Ennead, and to the cavern and the gods within it, consisting of long-horned cattle, short-horned cattle, and fowl, so that they might give life, prosperity, and health to the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Piye, living forever.
His Majesty proceeded to Heliopolis over that mountain of Babylon on the road of the god Sepa to Babylon. His Majesty proceeded to the camp which is on the west of Ity, his purification was performed, he was purified in the midst of the Lake of Cool Water, and his face was washed in the river of Nun where Re washed his face.
Proceeding to the High Sand in Heliopolis. Making a great offering on the High Sand in Heliopolis in the sight of Re at his rising, consisting of white oxen, milk, myrrh, incense, and every sort of sweet-smelling perfume pellets. Coming in procession to the Estate of Re. Entering into the temple in great acclamation, with lector priests adoring god and ritually repelling enemies from the king. Performing the rites of the robing room. Tying on the sedeb-garment. Purifying him with incense and cool water. Presenting to him bouquets of the Mansion of the Benben-mound. Bringing to him amulets of life. Mounting the stairway to the great window to behold Re in the Mansion of the Benben-mound, while the king himself stood alone. Breaking the seals of the doorbolts. Opening the doors. Seeing his father Re in the Mansion of the Benben-mound. Consecrating the morning-bark for Re and the evening-bark for Atum. Bringing the doors back into position. Applying the clay. Sealing 105 with the king's own seal. Giving orders to the priests: "I myself have inspected the seal. No other can enter into it, among all the kings who may arise." Before His Majesty they placed themselves on their bellies, saying: "It is to be established and enduring without fail, O Horus, beloved of Heliopolis!" Coming and entering the Estate of Atum. Presenting myrrh to the image of his father Atum-Khepri, the great one of Heliopolis. King Osorkon came expressly to behold the beauty of His Majesty.
As the land lightened and the morning dawned, His Majesty proceeded to the harbour at the head of his ships and crossed over to the harbour of the nome of Athribis, and the camp of His Majesty was made on the south of Kaheny, on the east of the nome of Athribis. Then there came these kings and counts of Lower Egypt, all the plume-wearing chiefs, all viziers, all chiefs, all royal confidants, from the West, from the East, and from the islands in between, to behold the beauty of His Majesty. Then the Hereditary Prince Padiese threw himself upon his belly in the presence of His Majesty, saying:
"Come to Athribis, that you might behold the god Khentykhety that the goddess Khuyt might protect you, that you might present an offering to Horus in his temple, consisting of long-horned cattle, shorthorned cattle, and fowl. May you enter into my house, for my treasury is open to you. I shall gratify you with my ancestral property, and I shall give you gold to the limits of your desire, turquoise heaped up before you, and many horses from the best of the stable, the foremost of the stall."
His Majesty then proceeded to the Estate of Horus Khentykhety to have long-horned cattle, short-horned cattle, and fowl presented to his father Horus Khentykhety, Lord of Athribis. His Majesty proceeded to the house of Hereditary Prince Padiese, who presented him with silver, gold, 110 lapis lazuli, turquoise, a great heap of everything, clothing of royal linen of every thread count, couches spread with fine linen, myrrh, unguent in jars, and horses both male and female, being all the foremost of his stable. He purified himself by a divine oath even in the sight of these kings and great chiefs of Lower Egypt:
"Any one here who conceals his horses or who hides for himself his worth, he shall die the death of his father! I have said this just so that you might testify for me, your humble servant, in all that you know that I possess. You should say whether I have hidden from His Majesty anything of my father's house: gold ingots, gemstones, every sort of vase, armlets, gold bracelets, necklaces, collars inlaid with gemstones, amulets of every limb, garland crowns for the head, rings for the ears, every royal adornment, all the vessels of the king's purification in gold and every sort of gemstone. All of these I have presented in the royal presence, and clothing of royal linen by the thousands, being all the best of my weaving workshop. I know that you will be satisfied with it. Proceed to the stall, choose what you wish among all the horses that you desire."
Then His Majesty did likewise. These kings and counts said before His Majesty: "Send us to our towns that we might open out treasuries, that we might choose in accordance with what your heart desires, and that we might bring to you the best of our stalls, the foremost of our horses." Then His Majesty did likewise. The list of them:
King Osorkon in Bubastis and the district of Ranefer,
King Iuput in Leontopolis {Tell Moqdam} and Taan,
Count Djedamoniuefankh 115 in Mendes and The Granary of Re,
His eldest son, the general in Hermopolis Parva, Ankhhor,
Count Akanosh in Sebennytos, in Iseopolis {Behbeit el-Hagar}, and Diospolis Inferior,
Count and Chief of the Ma, Patchenefy in Saft el-Henneh and in the Granary of Memphis,
Count and Chief of the Ma, Pamai in Busiris,
Count and Chief of the Ma, Nesnaiu in Hesebu,
Count and Chief of the Ma, Nakhthornashenu in Pergerer,
Chief of the Ma, Pentaweret,
Chief of the Ma, Pentabekhnet,
Prophet of Horus, Lord of Letopolis {Ausim}, Padihorsomtus,
Count Horbes in the Estate of Sakhmet, Lady of Eset, and the Estate of Sakhmet, Lady of Rahesu,
Count Djedkhiu in Khentnefer,
Count Pabasa in Babylon {Old Cairo} and in Atar el-Nabi, bearing all their good tribute . . . of gold, silver, . . . couches spread [with fine] linen, myrrh in jars, . . . of good value, horses 120 [both male and female, being all the foremost of his stable . . . ]
[Now] afterwards, one came to say to [His] Majesty . . . army(?) . . . him [his] walls [through ear (?)] of you, while he has set fire to his treasury and to his ships on] the river. He has reinforced Mosdai with soldiers even while he . . .
Then His Majesty sent his army to see what had happened there among the troops of the Hereditary Prince Padiese. They returned to report 125 to His Majesty, saying: "We slew every man whom we found here." Then His Majesty gave it as a gift to the Hereditary Prince Padiese.
Then the Chief of the Ma Tefnakht heard it and sent a messenger in fawning supplication to the place where His Majesty was, saying:
"Peace be with you! I cannot look upon your face in days of shame. I cannot stand before your fiery blast, for I am terrified of your grandeur. Indeed, you are the Ombite Seth, Lord of Upper Egypt, Montu, the strong-armed bull! To whatever city you might turn your attention, you cannot not find me, our humble servant, until I have reached the islands of the sea, 130 for I am fearful of your wrath, saying: 'His flame is hostile to me.' Is not the heart of Your Majesty cooled by these things that you have done to me? I am indeed one justly reproached, but you did not smite me commensurably with my crime. Weigh with the balance, ascertain with the weights! May you multiply them for me in triplicate, but leave the seed that you may harvest it in season. Do not tear out the grove to its roots! As your ka-spirit endures, terror of you is in my body, fear of you is within my bones! I cannot sit in the beer hall, nor has the harp been played for me. For I have eaten bread in hunger, I have drunk water in 135 thirst, since that day when you heard my name! Bitterness is in my bones, my head is balding, my clothing rags, until Neith is appeased toward me! Long is the course that you have brought upon me, and your face is against me yet. It is a year for purging my soul. Cleanse the servant of his fault! Let my property be received into the treasury: gold and every sort of gemstone, even the foremost of the horses, repayments in every kind. Send to me a messenger in haste, that he might dispel fear from my heart! Then I shall go to the temple in his sight to cleanse myself by a divine 140 oath.
When His Majesty sent the chief lector priest Padiamonnebnesuttawy and the general Pawerem, Tefnakht presented him with silver, gold, clothing, and every sort of precious gemstone. When he went into the temple, he praised god and cleansed himself by a divine oath, saying:
"I shall not transgress the royal command. I shall not thrust aside that which His Majesty says, I shall not do wrong to a count without your knowledge. I shall act in accordance with what the king has said. I shall not transgress what he has commanded."
Then His Majesty was satisfied concerning it.
One came to say 145 to His Majesty: "Crocodilopolis has opened its fortress and Aphroditepolis is placed upon its belly. There is no nome sealed against His Majesty among the nomes of the South and North, while the West, the East and the islands in between are upon their bellies through fear of him, having their property sent to the place where His Majesty is, like servants of the palace."
As the land lightened and the morning dawned, these two rulers of Upper Egypt and two rulers of Lower Egypt, those entitled to royal uraei, came to kiss the ground because of the wrathful power of His Majesty. Now, however, these kings and counts of Lower Egypt who came to behold the beauty of His Majesty, their legs 150 were like the legs of women. They could not enter into the palace since they were uncircumcised and eaters of fish - such is an abomination of the palace. However, king Namlot entered into the palace since he was pure and did not eat fish. Three stood in their positions while one entered the palace.
Then the ships were loaded with silver, gold, copper, clothing, and everything of Lower Egypt, every product of Syria, every incense pellet of god's land. 155 His Majesty then sailed southward with his heart gladdened and all those on both sides of him shouting. The West and East took up the announcement, shouting round about His Majesty.
The chant of jubilation which they said:
"O mighty ruler, O mighty ruler! Piye, O mighty ruler!
You return having conquered Lower Egypt;
making bulls into women!
Happy is the heart of the mother who bore you, and of the male whose seed is within you!
Those in the Nile valley praise her, the cow who gave birth to a bull!
You are eternal, your victory enduring,
O ruler beloved of Thebes!"
Attalus' home page | 12.05.23 | Any comments?