[22] It is usual for Egyptian girls to become mothers at about the age of thirteen, though sometimes earlier. They often continue to bear children at intervals of about two years, over a period of thirty years or so. Fifteen children is thus the usual number of a family, but half these generally die in babyhood.
[23] Maspero.
[24] Scarabs of the early period are sometimes inscribed Neb-nef-nezem, which has this meaning.
[25] The date of this work is not exactly known, but as it was certainly finished before the king founded his new city, it must have been commenced immediately upon his accession.
[26] The word benben, “shrine,” has the hieroglyph of an obelisk at the end of it, which has led to some mistranslations. Perhaps the temple was built somewhat on the plan of that at Abusêr, where an obelisk stood in an open court.
[27] It is possible that “found” is a mistranslation.
[28] Thus corresponding to the Silsileh quarry tablet, where Amon is worshipped.
[29] This tomb of Horemheb seems to have been begun and finished in the early years of Akhnaton’s reign, to have been left alone during the remainder of the reign, and to have received the addition of doorposts (see [note on p. 265]) after the death of Akhnaton. Fragments of the tomb are now divided between Leiden, Bologna, Vienna, Alexandria, and Cairo; and it would seem that all except those in the Cairo museum (the doorposts) are from the earlier period. The titles on the Cairo fragments are far more elaborate than those on the others. See Breasted, Records, iii. 1 ff.
[30] We know from the “Palermo stone” that the kingdom of Lower Egypt was much more ancient than that of Upper Egypt.
[31] In later times the name of Tiy and the Pharaoh’s second name were erased, but the name Amonhotep was not damaged. The facsimile copy here given was made on the spot by the present writer in correction of a previous copy made by Golénischeff. It is published in his ‘Travels in the Upper Egyptian Deserts’ (Blackwood).