The lack of a son and heir was a serious matter for priestly families; see for instance the Epitaph of Padisobek ( AET 4.40 ). In this letter, which has survived on a piece of wood, a priest attempted to strike a bargain with the god to solve the problem; Taipe was almost certainly his wife.
The text was first published by M. Malinine, "Une lettre démotique à Aménothès, fils de Hapou" (RdÉ 14, 1962). The first half of the English translation is taken from P. Lang, "Medicine and Society in Ptolemaic Egypt", p. 91 ( Google Books ); see also A. Marshall, "Motherhood and Early Childhood in Ancient Egypt", pp. 13-14 ( Google Books ).
The voice of a servant, the god's father and prophet of Amenrasonter, Userwer, son of Hor, son of Userwer, who addresses himself to his master, the royal scribe Amenhotep, son of Hapy, the great god: If it happens that Taipe, daughter of Peteamestous, becomes pregnant, I will give a deben of silver, or 5 staters of silver, or again, a deben of silver. If it happens that she gives birth, I will give another deben of silver, or 5 staters of silver, or again, a deben of silver, for the price, on the day he commands it. May my great lord have millions of jubilees! O good scribe! Hear my voice, I am your servant and son of your servant, from the beginning! Do not forget Userwer son of Hor, son of Userwer! From the beginning, I . . . Written in year 3, month Phamenoth, day 23 (?).
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