Translated by Edouard Naville
In the great temple of Abu-Simbel, between two pillars of the first hall, there is a large tablet, which has been added, evidently, a long time after the completion of the temple. This tablet, which is the object of the present translation, is covered with a text of thirty-seven lines, containing a speech of the god Ptah Totunen to the King Rameses II, and the answer of the King.
It was very likely considered by the kings of Egypt to be a remarkable piece of literature, as it has been repeated, with slight alterations, on the pylons of the temple of Medinet-Habu, built by Rameses III. The tablet, which is decaying rapidly, has been published three times: first, by Burton, in the “Excerpta Hieroglyphica,” pl. 60; then from the copies of Champollion, in the “Monuments de l'Egypte et de la Nubie,” I, pl. 38; and, finally, by Lepsius, “Denkmäler,” III, pl. 193. The inscription of Medinet-Habu has been copied and published by M. Duemichen, in his “Historische Inschriften,” I, pl. 7-10, and by M. Jacques de Rougé, in his “Inscriptions recueillis en Egypte,” II, pl. 131-138.
I am not aware that any complete translation of this long text has been made. The first part has been translated into German by Mr. Duemichen (“Die Flotte einer Ægyptischen Königin,” Einleitung), from the text at Medinet-Habu; a portion of it is also to be found in Brugsch, “Ægyptische Geschichte,” p. 538. The present translation I have made from the tablet, which, being more ancient than the inscription, is [pg 316] very likely to be the original. It contains an interesting allusion to the marriage of Rameses with a daughter of the King of the Kheta. The inscription at Medinet-Habu, which is written more carefully than the tablet, and with less abbreviations, has given me a clue to several obscure passages of the ancient text.
The tablet is surmounted by a cornice, with the winged disk. Underneath, the god Totunen is seen standing, and before him Rameses, who strikes with his mace a group of enemies whom he holds by the hair. Behind the god are the ovals of six foreign nations, most likely Asiatics: Auentem, Hebuu, Tenfu, Temuu, Hetau, Emtebelu.
The inscription above the god is as follows:
“Said by Ptah-Totunen, with the high plumes, armed with horns, who generates the gods every day: (I am) thy father, I have begotten thee like a god, to be a king in my stead. I have transmitted to thee all the lands which I have created; their chiefs bring thee their tribute, they come bearing their presents because of their great fear; all foreign nations are united under thy feet, they are to thee eternally; thy eye is fixed on their heads forever.”
Tablet of Rameses II
1 The 35th year, the 13th of the month Tybi, under the reign of Rā-Haremakhu, the strong bull, beloved of truth, the Lord of the Thirty Years, like his father Ptah, Totunen, the Lord of Diadems, the protector of Egypt, the chastiser of foreign lands, Rā, the father of the gods, who possesses Egypt, the golden hawk, the Master of Years, the most mighty sovereign of Upper and Lower Egypt.
2 Rā-userma-sotep-en-Rā, the son of Rā, the issue of Totunen, the child of the Queen Sekhet, Rameses, beloved of Amen, ever living.