Walid shaikh al arab

“blessing oF the god Ptah’” stela FroM shedet

(kiMan Fares, Medinet el-FayyuM)

© P e n s a M u lt i M e d i a s.r.l.
PaPyrologica luPiensia, n . 23, 2014
issn 1591-2140
Abstract
the article focuses on the study of a heavily destroyed monumental stela of ramses ii
originally placed in the temple of sobek in shedet (kiman Fares, Medinet el-Fayyum).
this monument points to the importance of the temple of sobek in shedet during the
reign of ramses ii, who placed these official texts on monumental architecture in the
most important temples in his kingdom. the non-local stone used for this stela, the
grey granite, testifies to the particular care and attention given to the temple by ramses
ii. so far this is the only evidence of the «blessing of Ptah» text coming from Middle
and lower egypt.

Keywords
sobek, kiman Fares, stela

Introduction1

this paper aims to study a heavily destroyed monumental stela of ramses

ii originally placed in the temple of sobek in shedet (kiman Fares, Medinet
el-Fayyum), which has been never fully published. labib habachi was proba-
bly the first to note the monument as part of a stela of ramses ii lying in the
area of the amenmhat’s columns in kiman Fares and he mentioned it in his
article published in 19552. then it was seen by donadoni in 1964 in kiman
Fares near the granite columns shafts of amenemhat iii. he copied the text
and identified it as a copy of the last six lines of the «blessing of Ptah» (also
known as the «decree of Ptah») stela. the facsimile was published later in

1
this article has been realized within a scientific agreement between the university of Me-
dinet el-Fayyum and the centro di studi Papirologici of the university of salento, thanks to
which i was able to study and to discuss several aspects with the colleagues of the university of
salento during a visit in september 2013.
2
l. habachi, A Strange Monument of the Ptolemaic Period from Crocodilopolis, «Jea»
41 (1955), p. 107.
106 Walid shaikh al arab

2001, but the text was not translated3. donadoni suggested that the stela might
have been originally more than 3 m in height and that the text was originally
composed of 33 lines. Moreover, donadoni recognized another part of this
stela, the upper corner which comes from kiman Fares and is registered at
cairo Museum under the number Je 427834.

subsequently the stela was removed from its location and disappeared. sur-
prisingly it reappeared in occasion of the transfer of the monuments collected
in the university area of kiman Fares5 to the open air storehouse at kom au-
shim (karanis, Fayyum) in 2007.

Material: grey granite

Dimensions: see figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1: shedet stela (hights) Fig. 2: shedet stela (widths)

3
s. donadoni, Un frammento di stele ramesside dai Kiman Fares, in J. cervelló autuori-
a.J. Quevedo Álvarez (eds.), …ir a buscar leña. Estudios dedicados al prof. Jesús López, bar-
celona 2001, pp. 99-102.
4
about this fragment of granite that comes from kiman Fares, cf. s. donadoni, Un fram-
mento di stele cit., p. 100; k.a. kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions: Historical and Biographical.
Vol. II, Ramesses II, Royal Inscriptions, oxford 1969-1979, p. 318 (= KRI); h. gauthier, Le
Livre des rois d’Égypte, recueil de titres et protocoles royaux III. De la XIXe à la XXIVe dynastie,
le caire 1914, 44 nr. XXXi.
5
P. davoli-n.a. MohaMMed, On Some Monuments from Kiman Fares (Medinet El-Fa-
yyum), «seP» 3 (2006), pp. 81-110.






 “Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 107

this granite piece of irregular shape represents a small portion of a huge

monument of ramses ii. it contains parts of three registers (figs. 3-5): the first
one contains the rest of six hieroglyphic lines incised from left to right (←);
the second is plain; the third one, at the bottom of the block, includes the upper
part of unknown scene of which only a sun disk survives. this last register has
no parallel in the other copies of the «blessing of Ptah» stelae.

Inscription

an inscription poorly preserved is carved in the upper part of the block. it



contains the rest of six hieroglyphic lines separated by incised lines.

(X+1)
////// [n=ib]=sn qd [sw] //////
(X+2)
////// mi Axt nt pt r rdit [dwA tw kwy6] //////
(X+3)
////// mrw AHt mnmnt sH[b] //////

6
this word can also be transliterated as kywy, cf. a. erMan-h. graPoW, Wörterbuch der
aegyptischen Sprache, v, berlin-leipzig 1953, p. 116 (= WB). it is translated as «ordinary folk».
this word was also identified by l.h. lesko, A Dictionary of Late Egyptian, iv, california


1989, p. 171, under the form ky translated as «others». in addition, this term with the foes de-
ϲ

terminative appears in Wb v, 116 and P. Wilson, A Ptolemaic Lexikon: A Lexicographical Study

of the Texts in the Temple of Edfu, ola, 78, leuven 1997, pp. 1085-1086 which means «foes
or hostile forces». i prefer to translate it as «worshippers, faithfuls, believers, or loyals» for both
sexes because the adoration of a divinity concerns not only the believers coming from the ordi-
nary folk, but also those of all other social levels.



 108 Walid shaikh al arab

(X+4)
//////Dr(rw) {r-sy}=sn sXpnw <=sn nb> m HH //////
(X+5)
////// ntk qmA sn m //////
(X+6)
////// (wsr-MAat-Ra stp n Ra)I sA Ra (Ra msi mry Imn)I //////
(X+1)
////// [at] their [wish], i have built [it] //////
(X+2)
////// like the horizon of the heaven, causing [the believers] to adore [you] //////
(X+3)
////// serfs, arable lands and cattle, i made it festive //////
(X+4)
////// , [to] their limit, < all > fattened-up in millions //////
(X+5)
////// you who created them by //////
(X+6)
////// (usermaatre-setepenre)I, son of ra (ramses ii //////

Comparative study with Donadoni’s facsimile

some differences emerged when comparing the surviving text in shedet

stela with the one on the copy published by donadoni (fig. 6). represented
a mab
represented
represented by a represented
represented
bybya man
donadoni
b bbycould
bynot identify the
by phonetic
a manby determinative represented
man
qd
b
b represented b represented by a man
represented a man represented a man represented by a represented
man byrep
a
b by a man building the wall band his two legs touching the ground (gardiner
b represented
represented by a man a man
b
a35) as it is represented in the original copy; instead he draws . . (Gardiner N (Gardine
N 27) withou
in the second line, donadoni copied the sign (gardiner n 27) wi-
(Gardiner 27) witho
Axt
(Gardiner
(Gardiner N 27) without (GardinertheN N
27)27)
sun without
without thethe
sun su
d d (Gardiner N 27) without the
(Gardiner sun N (Gardiner
26). N 26).
thout the sun disk between the two mountains (gardiner n 26).
(Gardiner N 27) (Gardiner
without
d d the sun d N
the 27)
(Gardiner
sun withoutN 27) the sun
without the
(Gardiner N 26). (Gardiner sun
(Gardiner (Gardiner
NN 26). N 26). (Gardiner N 27)
26). N 27) without the sun (Gardiner N without th
(Gardiner(Gardiner N 27)the
Nd27) without without
sun (Gardiner
rdiner N (Gardiner
26). N 26).
(Gardiner N (Gardiner
26). d N 26). (Gardiner N 26).
N 26). d (Gardiner N 26).
in the third line, donadoni identified, wrongly, the first sign in the word
d (Gardiner N 26).

mrw . he copiedAaa 13)(Gardiner (gardiner aa13)

13)(Gardiner
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
Aa instead
instead 13)ofinstead
Aa (Gardiner
Aa 13)of instead (gardiner
Aa of
follow u
of13) instead
(Gardiner 7) of U
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
U 7)
(Gardiner
7)
asUfollow
7) as
as follow
follow U
. I
7) asas follows .. ain addition, in the wordof mnmnt , donadoni ascould not
(Gardiner instead of U 7) as . In
ner Aa 13)
(Gardiner Aa (Gardiner
instead
13) of instead Aa of 13)
(Gardiner instead
U a 7)
(Gardiner of
as follow
U 7) (Gardiner
a
as follow.
(Gardiner U
In 7)Aaas . follow
13)In instead of . In (Gardiner U 7) as follow
also identify the signs (gardiner X1) and the determinative of plurality
ead of (Gardiner U 7) as follow (Gardiner . In Aa 13) instead of (Gardiner U 7) as follow . In
t
f
Gardiner (Gardiner
U 7) asa Ufollow follow . Ina (Gardiner Aa 13) instead (Gardiner
(Gardiner Aa U13)7)instead followof . In
(Gardiner U 7) a
( ( (Gardiner Z2) (Gardiner
respectively Z2)aa
(gardiner z2) respectively above and below the bull. Moreover, in the
( aa ( ( a ( (Gardiner
(Gardiner
(Gardiner Z2) respectively above and (Gardiner
Z2)
Z2) Z2)
respectively respectively
respectively above
above and an
a(Gardiner
b Z2) respectively above and
word sHb he did not recognize the phonetic sign (gardiner v 28) after the
b
H
ardiner(Gardiner(Gardiner
Z2) respectively Z2)
above b (Gardiner
respectively
b Z2)( (respectively b above
and ( above
andb and Z2) (respectively above and (GardinerZ2)
(Gardiner (Gardinerabove
Z2)respectively
respectively Z2)
above respectively
and Z2)above
and
(Gardiner resp
phonetic
S29). signS29). s (gardiner s29). (Gardiner S29).
b b (( ( (Gardiner
(Gardiner S29).
S29). (Gardiner S29).
( b ( ( b (Gardiner
(Gardiner S29).
S29).
S29). S29).(Gardiner (Gardiner ( S29). (Gardiner S29).
in the fourth line, the upper part of the sign Dr was neglected in the copy
).(Gardiner
diner (( ( (GardinerS29).
(Gardiner (Gardiner S29). was ne
was
was neglected in
in the
of donadoni. the fifth line was perfectly copied by donadoni.
waswas neglected
neglected neglected
in inthethecopy
copy the
of o
was DD
neglected in theD was
copy neglected
of in the copy of
was
was neglected
was neglected neglected
in the copy D
in the D in the
of copy of was
copy neglected
of in the copy of was neglected inwas
the neglected
copy
was neglected in the copy of was neglec of in the cop

in the sixth line, before the cartouche, the traces of bread (gardiner X1) are
DD D D
clearly visible, but missed by donadoni. Moreover, in the cartouche of throne
name in the same line, the signwas mAa.t was
was written
written without the
was written
without the existing
without
aexisting aaanx
the existing a
wassign
thehold over the sitting lady’s knees in donadoni’s aacopy .. without
was written withoutwaswritten
the was
written written
a thewithout
without
existingwithout the
existingthe
existing existing
a
twritten written without
a the existing a without
awithout
was
the existing
xisting a the
written existing
without aexisting was
was written
written was
without written
the
the without
existing
existing was the existing
written a the existing a

 
  
   
   
  

   
  
 “Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 109

Comparative study with parallel texts

there are five known stelae containing almost the same text as it is on the
«blessing of Ptah» stela from shedet. these texts have been collected and stu-
died by kitchen7. the documents are as follow:
1. «blessing of Ptah», abu simbel stela (fig. 13). it was carved on the rock
between the two westernmost pillars (pillars 3 and 4), in the main hall of the
great temple of abu simbel. it dates back to the reign of ramses ii8. this stela,
which is the better preserved one, shows ramses ii sacrifices northern and sou-
thern captives before the god Ptah-tatenen who leads to him various captive
districts. captives’ names are inscribed behind the god Ptah’s image. this scene
is followed by 37 lines of a hieroglyphic text written from right to left.

2. «blessing of Ptah», karnak stela9. it was engraved on the southern face

of the western wing of the ninth pylon in karnak great temple of amun-re. it
represents ramses ii smiting captives before the god amun. the scene is fol-
lowed by the «blessing of Ptah» upon ramses ii, written on 34 lines of hiero-
glyphic text.

3. «blessing of Ptah», amarah West10. this document was found in the outer
court before the temple, on the southern wall and on the east side of a niche11.

7
cf. k.a. kitchen, Ramesside Inscriptions, Translated & Annotated Translations. Vol. II,
Ramesses II, Royal Inscriptions, oxford 1998, pp. 99-110 (= RITA), and KRI ii, pp. 258-281.
8
this stela was published by e. naville, Le décret de Phtah Totunen en faveur de Ramsès
II et de Ramsès III, «trans. soc. bibl. arch.» 7 (1882), pp. 119-138. thereafter it is mentioned
in b. Porter-r.l.b. Moss, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts,
Statues, Reliefs and Paintings, vii, oxford 1952, p. 106. then it was collected and studied by
kitchen in KRI ii, pp. 258-281 and RITA ii, p. 99-110.
9
cf. RITA, pp. 99-110; KRI ii, 258-281; PM ii, oxford 1972, p. 181 (541) (= PM); P. bar-
guet, Le temple d’Amon-Rê à Karnak: essai d’exégèse, le caire 1962, p. 254, k.r. lePsius,
Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien, Text iii, leipzig 1897, p. 49.
10
amara West was the seat of the egyptian administration of upper nubia, or kush, from
the reign of seti i (1306-1290 bc) onwards, and came to be known as the «house of ramses
beloved of amun». excavations by the egypt exploration society in 1938-1939 and 1947-1950
found a stone temple decorated in the reign of ramses ii with later additions. the british Mu-
seum recommenced archaeological fieldwork at amara West in 2008 with the permission of the
national corporation of antiquities and Museums in sudan. For further information, cf. [www.
britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/amara_west_research_project.aspx].
11
about this stela, cf. KRI ii, 258-281; PM vii, p. 159 (2); J.h. breasted, Second Prelimi-
nary Report of the Egyptian Expedition, The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Lite-
110 Walid shaikh al arab

it contains the «blessing of Ptah» above the representation of ramses ii with

asiatic and nubian captives. only the last 21 lines of text are preserved.

4. «blessing of Ptah», aksha temple12 (fig. 14). this text was inscribed in
aksha (serra West) temple on the southern tower of the pylon. there is only
one inscribed block in situ13. the upper part containing the «blessing of Ptah»
upon ramses ii inscribed in 35 lines of hieroglyphic text.

5. «blessing of Ptah», Medinet habu (fig. 15). this stela is on the façade
of the southern tower of the first pylon in the great funerary temple of ramses
iii14. it presents ramses iii sacrifices the captives before the god Ptah-tatenen
who leads to him various captive districts. captives’ names are inscribed be-
hind the god Ptah image and under the scene. this scene is followed by the
«blessing of Ptah» upon ramses iii, inscribed in 53 lines of hieroglyphic text.

the content of the document in each case is divided into two registers: the
first one is occupied by an elaborate scene of triumphant king striking down
his foes before Ptah-tatonen, accompanied by a topographical list. below the
proper scene, was carved the main text of this record falling into two parts: the
address of Ptah to the king, and the king’s reply15.

it is significant that this type of document which occurs on matching large

scale, as it is obvious at karnak, at aksha, at amarah West and at abu simbel
always appears paired-off with the main account of the First hittite Marriage.
at Medinet habu, ramses iii paired-off his copy (of his year 12) with a poe-
tical stela on his libyan war of year 1116.

ratures XXv, 1 (1908), p. 101; e.a.W. budge, The Egyptian Sûdân: Its History and Monuments,
i, london 1907, pp. 466, 468, 637; h.W. FairMan, Preliminary Report on the Excavations at
Sesebi (Sudla) and ‘Amārah West, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, 1937–8, «Jea» 24 (1938), p. 155.
12
this site, north of Wadi halfa, in nubia contained a temple and various chapel of ramesses
ii. the temple was dedicated to amun, re and ramses himself in deified form, cf. a.d. ro-
drigo, Aksha (Serra West). El templo de Ramsés II. Las inscripciones de los pilares del patio,
«revista de estudios de egiptología» (1994), pp. 25-50; lePsius, Denkmäler cit., abt. iii, band
7, leipzig 1897, pl. cXci.
13
cf. KRI ii, 258-281, J. vercoutter, Preliminary Report of the Excavation at Aksha by
the Franco-Argentine Archaeological Expedition, 1961, «kush» 10 (1962), pp. 109-117 et pl.
XXXii-XXXvii.
14
about this stela, cf. RITA ii, pp. 99-110; kRI ii, pp. 258-281; The Epigraphic survey, Me-
dinet Habu. Volume II, Later Historical Records of Ramses III, chicago 1932, pl. civ-cvi.
15
cf. s. donadoni, Un frammento di stele cit, p. 100, note 7; cf. RITA ii, pp. 160-161.
16
cf. davoli-MohaMMed, On Some Monuments cit., p. 84; RITA ii, p. 160.
 “Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 111

the surviving part of shedet stela contains the rest of the last six horizontal
lines of the text, which is almost identical to the text on abu simbel, karnak,
amarah West and aksha stelae. it differs in some points with the text carved
on the Medinet habu stela.
the comparison between the text inscribed on shedet stela and the parallel
ones will highlight similarities and differences between them.
a few signs could only be identified in the first survived line of shedet stela
(line X+1). the content of this line has a parallel with that of line 31 on abu
simbel stela, line 27 on karnak stela, line X+13 on amarah stela, line 30 on
aksha stela and line 44 on Medinet habu stela (fig. 7). the difference between
shedet stela and other parallel texts lies in the written form of the signs of plu-
rality which are part of the suffix pronoun =sn: they are realized with y are three
grains of sand or pellet (gardiner n 33) in the shedet stela , but with
three strokes (gardiner z 2) in the other ones . . then, the phonetic
r

determinative qd is realized with a man building the wall and his two legs are
touching the ground (Gardiner
(gardiner
E 1)a35) in shedet and abu simbel stelae, but
in the other documents the man who builds the wall put his right leg in the wall
and that of plurality three strokes .

and the left one on the ground .

F and H

the rest of

the second  surviving line of shedet stela (line X+2) has the same
f

text like the line 33 on abu simbel stela, part of the 28 and 29 lines on karnak


 

text, X+15 line on amarah stela, line 32stela

on aksha text to
andthat
parts
of of 45 andparts
46 of 45 and 46 lines on
 1 1 1 1
in Shedet is similar Amarah and
lines on Medinet habu text (fig.88). the written form of the word Axt in
  
A
shedet stela is similar tointhat of amarah isand aksha stelae, but it differs andfrom
in Shedet in stela is
Shedet  similar
stela is to  thattoofthat
similar Amarah of Amarah and  and

Ais Asimilarthat to ofAabu of simbel

Amarahand Medinet
it washabu stelae in which the sign of duality was of Amarah and
Shedet  instead of the
A A  instela
Shedet
in Shedet
similar
stela intosimilar
is
stela
that ofto
Shedet
is similar
Amarah
stelathat in
to isthat Shedet
ofsimilar
Amarah
of Amarah tostela andis
that ofsimilar
and Amarah to that
inandShedeof
 A s stela Aas clearly done
in Shedet stelain isShedet
inA the stela other isparallel
similar texts,
to that
added
A to the spelling ofinthis wordtext.
n Shedet that and similar to that A of Amarah and
is
 written with
 phonetic complements, while it is
A i Aksha  . The signs in word s 
inwas
shedet stela,with
the word  pt  is written with phonetic signs isand
w in the other texts. In the same line, the word r
p complements,
,t

written with phonetic co
the phonetic determinative of theissky the, with
while it written
is realized only iswith the pho-
realized the phonetic letter is r written with phonetic  while it is
is written with
wwritten phonetic complements, while it is in the other
it is texts. is Inwritten
itthe
is sam
netic determinative ofitthe sky inthethe other texts. in the same line, the word
 isin(Gardiner
written other phonetic
is
with
D
texts. phonetic
36), Inbut complements,
thewithitcomplements,
same was written
phonetic done
line, while
the with
complements,
withwhile
word it phonetic
ris complemen
while
w w in the other texts. In the same line, the word r
and w was realized (Gardiner
with the phonetic letter r
in shedet stela was inscribed with the phonetic letter , the mark
written withp w phonetic complements,
w while wis in the other istexts.
written
inwIn
thethe with
other
same phonetic
texts. win
line, Inthecomplements,
the
the other
word
same itrtexts.
is In
line, while
the the
wordit inisrthe
same line, th
rdit r
w was realized
was with
realizedis the
written
with phonetic with phonetic
letter
phonetic r
letter complements,
r while and and othe
A texts. was realized with the phonetic
(Gardiner letter
Z t 2). r In Shedet stela, the scribe also and
might (Gardiner D 36),
of feminization and thephonetic
phonetic determinative D of36),Dthe forearm (gar-
the other In theandsamew
with phonetic
line, the determinative
word of the forearm in the
with other
hand texts.
holding In the same
canonical line,
loaf the word r
t with
w t t r
was realized withinthewas realized
thephonetic with
other texts.was
the realized
letterphonetic
(Gardiner
Inrthe with
same
(Gardiner letter
D 36), the
line,r phonetic
but
D donethe itword
36), was was
but letter
r done
realized
it rand
was with with
and
wasthe
done realized
withphonetic and
withlett
netict letter (Gardiner
pwithinthe D 36), but it(Gardiner
rwas with
pD 36),diner d
pit 36), but itinwas done with phonetic thedeterminative of theitdeterminative
forearm and the
f r t tp p twas realized was t the
realized Amarah
letter phonetic
(Gardiner
r(Gardinerstela.
t letter The content
but
36), it
t was
but of
Dit this
36),
done
was line
but
done
and withit with
was done and with (G
p d p and with(Gardiner
phonetic ofwastheloaf
forearm with hand
mark of with
feminization abu simbel
indeterminative andforearm
theaksha stelae and with phonetic
(Gardiner
t and t butand with
was
and phonetic
done
with with determinative
phonetic
Abu determinative
Simbel stela of
(Gardiner
and offorearm
in with
Dpforearm
theAksha 36), hand
but
text. with D 36),done
holding
pwas
hand but
holding it
canonical
with canonicaldone with
loaf
withand
phonetic determinative of the forearm with hand holding canonical loaf in Amarah stela. c
ddeterminative andofwiththe loaf
forearm with hand holding canonical loaf (gardiner
p p andwith phonetic anddeterminative
phonetic with phonetic and with
ofdeterminative
the
of phonetic
forearm
in Amarahofindeterminative
with thehand
with
Amarah forearm
holding
hand
stela. of
with
holding
The
stela. the
canonical
content
The hand forearm
holding
canonical
of
and
content loaf
this
with with
loaf
ofline hand
line holding
canonical
phonetic
this loaf
determin
ind Amarah stela. The content of this line
d dstela.dThe 37) and mark of feminization t in amarah stela. the content d of this line
of the forearmT with d handand holding
with canonical
phonetic phonetic
determinative determinative
of the forearm ofwith
in Amarah
in the
Amarah forearm
stela.
hand inThe
stela. with
Amarah
holding hand
content
The holding
of in
stela.
content
canonical this
The Amarah
ofloaf canonical
line
content
this of loaf
linestela. Theline
this contein
d in Amarah
differs from that of the parallel text in Medinet habu stela including
d
content of this line d d in Amarah stela. The content of this line

« on Shedet stela is(…) (…):Amarah (…) like andthe

d
the tA Axt as n Rathatwbn m dwAyt
horizon of ra, rising at dawn (…) ».
same of Abu Simbel,
A in Shedet stela differ
f
( (Gardiner Z 7) and three
d (Gardiner T 14),
(Gardiner U6) and the phonetic complement r pintail duck alighting is(Gardiner
the sameG41), in the
pp (Gardiner Y1). This last word is followed by the
d with spelling
(Gardiner U6)like and thatthe ofphonetic
Aksha stela. (Gardiner
The
complement samerword U6) isand the same
followed
is the phonetic in the complement r
(Gardiner(GardinerU6) and U6) (Gardiner
the and phoneticU6) and
complementthe phoneticr phoneticcomplement
isand the same r in same
the is the same in the
b p (Gardiner in AbuU6) (Gardiner
the
and
Simbel the pstela.
phonetic
U6)phonetic
The(Gardiner
and complement
thecomplement
content U6)
of r
this r the
complement
surviving is phonetic
the
is r
the
(Gardiner
passage complement
same in U6) the
is
in the
the same
(Gardiner
and the in the
r phonetic
U6) isand
thec
p is followed by a phonetic determinative of the
 was realized with wastherealized
phonetic
was realized letter
with wasthe rrealized
with phonetic
wthe with therletter
letter
phonetic r letter randwas realized
phonetic isinwritten
andother
the with
andtex
as
ed w realized
with is
is written
with
thetwritten thewith
phonetic phonetic
is
with phonetic
written
wletter rw letter
is t written
phonetic with rphonetic
with
complements,
complements, incomplements,
phonetic
while
t the complements,
other
while
it is is and
it texts. Int while
while
in
(Gardinertheitand
the w
isin
other
same istexts.
itDthe line,
36), In the
the
was
other
but
(Gardiner wordsame
texts.
it D r36),
realized
In
was line,
with
the
done the
same
butwith
(Gardiner word
phonetic
itline,
D
was r36),
the letter
word
done
in but
(Gardiner
with
r
with
the rit the
was
other
phD
texdr
is inwritten
the with
other t phonetic
(Gardiner
texts. In Dthe complements,
36),
same but
line,it was
thewhiledone
word p it is
with
r rletter r letter (Gardiner
t r was D 36),
realized but
with it
thewas done
phonetic with
letter
inpthe texts.
other In (Gardiner
texts. inprealized
thethe
In D
other
same 36),
texts. but
line,
was In it word
the
the was
same
realized done
r line, rwith
the word
t phonetic (Gardiner D 3
in the other in thewas
the same
other line,
texts.
p r with
the
In the
the psame
word line,with
phonetic
rwas letter
realized the
the word withr the tphonetic and withpphonetic wasand realized with the
determinative
and
ofphonetic
the forearm and
letterwit
(Gard r
s realized
was
ith with
t therealized
phonetic the
with phonetic
tand
the
letter phonetic
rof with letterletter rdeterminative
phonetic
tforearm (Gardiner
ofand the pforearmD 36),and (Gardiner
with buthand
and it the
wasDforearm
holding36),canonical
done
(Gardiner but
with
D it hand
36), was
loaf done
but holding
it was withdone with
phonetic
honetic
realized letter
with ther
determinativephonetic the
letter r with and
handwithand phonetic
holding determinative
canonical and t
loaf of
pand with phonetic determinative with canonical
in (Gardi
Amarahloaf
determinative
p of (Gardiner
(Gardiner
thepforearm
D 36),
with
Dp(Gardiner
but
(Gardiner
hand D
(Gardiner
36), it but
in Amarah was
DThe
itholding
36),
done
36),
D 36),
was
stela.
canonical
but
done
with
but
The
it with
but
it of
was
was
content
loaf
it wasdone
donein this
of
donewith
dAmarah p with
withline stela.inTheAmarahcontent
in ofand
stela.
Amarah this
inThe
with
stela.line
Amarah
phonetic
of the
The stela.
content content
determinative
forearm
The
of this with of
content
ofline
thisforear
line
h
in Amarah and stela.
with phoneticcontent this
determinative line of the forearm and
with with
hand phonetic
holding determinative
canonical in
loaf of the
Amarah ste
d and with phonetic d determinative
and d withof the forearm
phonetic with
determinative hand holding
of the canonical
forearm withloaf
hand holding canonical
anddwith phonetic determinative of the forearm loaf
112forearm with hand holdingWalid
d
shaikhloaf al arab
honetic determinative of the forearm withwith hand holding canonical
dcanonical loafThein Amarah stela. The content in Am
hminative
ve phonetic
of the of determinative
the forearm
forearm
netic determinative of the with of
with
hand the forearm
hand
holding holding
canonical hand
canonical
loaf in
holding Amarah
loaf
canonical
stela. loaf content of this
in Amarah line
stela. The of this line
content of this line in Am
d d stela. The in Amarah stela. The content of this d
line line
in Amarah stela. inThe
Amarah
content stela. The
of this content
line of this
in Amarah indAmarahcontent of this
stela. Thelinecontent of this lined

the surviving words from the third line in shedet stela (line X+3) convey the
same theme as well as the line 34 of abu simbel stela, X+17 line of amarah stela,
line 33 of aksha stela and parts of lines 47 and 48 of Medinet habu text (fig. 9).
the script of this line is similar to some extent to that of aksha stela. Firstly, the
spelling of the word mrw, is differently done in the six parallel texts. its first part
mr , consisting of the phonetic sign of the hoe mr (gardiner u6) and the
phonetic (Gardiner complementU6) and r
(Gardiner , is
the(Gardiner the
phonetic
U6) same in
(Gardiner
and the the
complement parallel
U6)
phonetic rand texts.the
complement however,
isphonetic
the same r itscomplement
second
in
r isthethe is samerthe in theis thethe sam
part,p including mainly p the determinatives, differs from one text (Gardiner to another. that
rdiner U6) and the
U6) and the phonetic complement r phonetic complement ris the same in the p U6) and the phonetic complement (Gardiner U6)same andinthe pr
p (Gardiner U6) and the phonetic complement
on shedet stela is slightly comparable withinthat on aksha stela;(Gardiner in shedet U6) stela,and the is
(Gardiner U6) and p (Gardiner
the phonetic U6) and thep phonetic
complement complement
r phonetic is the psamer in the U6)
is the same and the
in samephonetic
the comp
(Gardiner U6) and the complement r is the phoneticin the comp
theisfirst part ofbythe rterm mrw is the is followedin theby p aisphonetic determinative ofdeterminative
the
diner
Gardiner
nd p the U6) and
U6)
phonetic the
and phonetic
the
complement
p phonetic complement
r complementis r
the r
same is
in the
is
the same
the same thep
in the followed by a
phonetic complement
ner U6) and the phonetic r p
complement is the same in the same
channel cfilled with c water (gardiner n 36) and the determinative
followed a phonetic determinative of the followedis by
followed a is followed
phonetic
by a phonetic by a phonetic
determinative of determinat
the of the
is followed by a phonetic determinative of the c is followed by a ph
of seated man and woman with plural strokes (gardiner a1). otherwise, in
c
is followedcby a phonetic is followed by acphonetic
determinative
is followed by (Gardiner
determinative
ofa the
phonetic A1),
determinative theoneisis
of on followe
ofhand.
the On
followed
(Gardiner (Gardiner A1), on one
(Gardiner hand. A1),
(Gardiner On
c on the
A1), one other
onhand. hand,
one On
hand.in
the Aksha
Onother
the stela
hand,
other in
hand,Aksha in stela
Aksha stela
onbyA1), on aone
is followed hand. byOn aby the
phonetic other hand,
determinative instela
Akshaofstela the
aksha stela this portion is(Gardiner
followed byOnthe onphonetic sign of flowering reed
(Gardiner is followed
A1), one by
hand. is followed
cphonetic
On the a phonetic
determinative ofdeterminative
the t thecof the (Gardiner A1), on one (Gardiner A1
c is followed c a is
phonetic
followed by other
determinative
a phonetic hand, in
theAksha
ofdeterminative of (Gardiner A1),
hand. On the
on one han
t t t(Gardiner (Gardiner A1), one (Gardiner M 17), the
(Gardiner M 17),(Gardiner
the M
A1), on
(Gardiner oneM 17), hand. tM
(Gardiner
the the
d17), A1),hand.
other
the hand,
on one On intthe
Aksha
hand. other
Onstela hand,
the otherin Aksha
hand, instela
(Gardiner Aksha
A1), on stela
one han
(gardiner MOn 17), the determinative ofdPalme branch planted in bread (gardiner
rdiner (Gardiner
A1), d (Gardiner A1), on
A1), one
dotheron
theonehand. On
hand. the
Ond in other
theAksha
otherhand, hand,in Aksha
in Aksha stela t stela
A1), t on oneon hand.one Onhand.
t onthe On other
hand, hand,
in Aksha stela stela (Gardiner Msign17), the
(Gardiner A1), one thand. the other hand, in Aksha stela t (Gardiner dM 17),hieroglyphic
the (Gardiner M 17), the
d M 5)dand it inends Mwith the same Mdeterminative ( )) like on shedet stela.
(Gardiner M (Gardiner
17), (Gardiner
the M 17), M 17),thed the in Shedet stela is
in identical
Shedet stela
in Shedet stela isin Shedet
identical stela is
is identical
d (Gardiner Shedet in(Gardiner
17), Shedet
theis
stela stela
identical is
17), identical
t thed
then, the t term AHtt in shedet stela is
t identical to that and on aksha and Medinet
t t     t
ttis identical
in Shedet instela is identical
t habu stelae. stelait is written on the three stelae with phonetic
and t signs A , H and t
in Shedet stela Shedet stela is identical
and t and t
in Shedet
and t stelaand is tidentical t
t in Shedet stela isin Shedet
identical stela is identical and t
, in addition to two determinatives; the determinative of the tongue
in tShedet isinidentical
Shedet stela is identical t
and t , and t (Gardiner (Gardiner
Z 2). T Z 2). and(Gardiner
t Z 2).(Gardiner Z 2). (Gardi
(Gardiner Z(Gard
2).
of (Gardiner
land Z(gardiner 21) and Tthe determinative of
T plurality Z 2). three (Gardiner
T T T and t (Gardiner Z 1) inandAbu
(Gardiner t Simbel
Z 1) stela
in(Gardiner
Abu Simbel Z 1) in
stela Abu Sim
dt T (Gardiner 1) in Abu Z 1) Simbelin Abu stela Simbel stela
. (Gardiner(Gardiner Z 1) in Abu Z 2).Simbel stela
(Gardiner Z(Gardine
2).
T strokes (gardiner z 2).(Gardiner
Zthis last Z determinative was realized inwith one
. . . . (Gardiner TZ 2). Abu Simbel
T T (Gardiner (Gardiner
2).(Gardiner . Z 2).
2).TZ 1). in(Gardiner
.Z 1)stela
(Gardiner Abu
Z 1) Simbel
in Abustela Simbel stela
stroke (gardiner aszAmarah,
1) in onabu simbel stela . with
. (Gardiner
. Z (Gardiner
1) (Gardiner
in Abu Z 1)
SimbelZ in1) Abu
in
stela Simbel
Abu Simbel stela stela was drawn with the same signs (
(Gardiner Z 1) in. Abu was Simbel drawn stela with the drawn
same signs
was drawn waswith drawn thewith
samethe signssame as signs
that on that Amarah, was
Aksha and was
Aksha M drawn and as
with was
the thatdrawn
same on signs
the Amarah,
withas
same the
signs Aksha
that same andon as
signs
asonthat
Amarah, Amarah,that
Aksha onAksha
Amarah,
and
wassigns drawn andw A

the word mnmnt with the on same

shedetsigns stela cwas written withsame the same signs as on
thatAmarah, Aksha and (G
M was drawn with the same as t
M M M - p. 112,
was drawn with the same
on camarah, aksha cand Medinet habu stelae. in such stelae, this word was Y built
was drawn M drawn
was as that on Amarah,
with the MAksha and
c drawn with the
was same c signs as
(Gardinerthat on Y Amarah,
5) and Aksha
the phonetic and (Gardiner
M Y 5) signsand the
(Gardiner
as that
(Gardiner
was
phonetic
5) and drawn phonetic
(Gardiner
Y 5)the
withY the
and the
same
5)phonetic
and thes
with repetition of the tgroup mn consisting of the5)phonetic sign Yof5)draught-
drawn
M was
with with
the csame was
the drawn
same
signs as with
signsthat the
as
Mon same
that on
(Gardiner
Amarah, signs
Amarah,
YAksha as
5) that
and Aksha
and on
the Amarah,
and
phonetic c c Aksha and c (Gardiner N35), the mark of
(Gard fe
drawn with thecsame signs as that
(Gardiner c on
N35), Amarah, the
(Gardiner Aksha
mark N35), and
of M feminization
(Gardiner
the mark N35), of t the mark
feminization of t feminization t
c (Gardiner c
N35), the mark of feminization
board-snt, (gardiner y 5) and the phonetic complement (gardiner
c(Gardiner N35), c the ofmark of feminization t t
mn n
diner N35), the mark c feminization c (Gardiner cthe
(Gardiner and Ythe (Gardiner
phonetic of N35),
cc Y and phonetic
(Gardiner
(Gardiner N35), 5)the
and  phonetic
mark
the femin
 the 
n35), the mark oftfeminization tt  t , and two
cdeterminatives; that of the(Gardinerbull(Gardiner
 (GardinerY N35),
(Gardiner (Gardiner
5) and Y 5)
phonetic and phonetic  
c c
 (Gardiner cY 5) and (Gardiner
the phonetic
(Gardiner the
Y 5) and mark N35),
-(Gardiner of
p the phonetic the
feminization
N35), mark oft feminization
the mark of feminization t tN35),   the mark o
the (gardiner ofe 1) and that of plurality three strokes . Finally, the surviving
(Gardiner
N35), (Gardiner
the N35),
mark N35),the
of themark mark
feminization of of feminization
feminization    E 1) and thatEof1)
(Gardiner
),(Gardiner
the mark N35), of feminizationmark
 t feminization (Gardiner tand E 1) and 
that  plurality
of  three strokes . 
(Gardiner E(Gardiner
(Gardiner
1) and that
E E 1)
of
1) plurality
and that
that of
of
three plurality
plurality
strokes three
three strokes
strokes . .
part of this line ends with the two first phonetic signs and
and HH fromand the H

 H s
(Gardiner E 1) and  that  of plurality three strokes F .
  F 

 term sHb .
F F and H f
 and 
  f f
 f

the few surviving words from the fourth line on shedet stela (line X+4) have
the same content of line 35 of abu simbel stela, X+18-19 line of amarah stela
and line 34 of aksha stela (fig. 10). in shedet stela, the scribe deceived himself
in writing of the word Drrw as it was clearly represented in the other texts. he
draws the group r-sy instead of thes second
instead
s part
s of the word Drrw
of the
instead theinstead ofas the as it was clearly d
insteadofofthe
it was clearly done in the other parallel texts; i in abu simbel stela
as it was c
as sit was clearly
as done
it was
in asas ititother
clearly
the was
was
done as the
clearly
clearly
in
parallelitdone
was
done
other
texts, clearly
in done
inparallel
the
the other
other in the other
parallel
parallel
texts, texts,
texts,parallel texts,
in Aksha
in Aksha text. text. The
in The
Akshasigns
te
ii i in Aksha text.
in
inAksha
in Aksha text. The signs in word s Aksha
The signs
text.in
text.in Aksha
The
The
wordsignstext.
signs
s in
in The
word
word signs
ss in word s

and wand w and w

and w and
andww and w (Gardiner
and w A A (Gardiner
(Gardiner A
(Gardiner
(Gardiner (Gardiner
(Gardiner Z 2). ZIn2). InZSh
Shedet
(Gardiner 2
A A (Gardiner Z(Gardiner
(Gardiner
2). In Shedet
ZZ (Gardiner
2).
2).stela,
In
In Z
Shedet
Shedet
the
(Gardiner Z 2). In Shedet stela, the scribe also might 2).
scribe
stela,In
stela,
f Shedet
also
the
thescribe
might stela,
scribe alsothe
also scribe
might
might also might
f f
f
in Simbel
in Abu Abu Simbel
in stela stela and
Abu and
Simbel in
steA
in Abu Simbel stela and in Aksha text.
EE(Gardiner
1)
1) and
and that E 1)
that of and
of that of
plurality
plurality three
threeplurality
strokes
strokes threeF.strokes
. F. and H (Gardiner E 1) and that of plurality
(Gardiner
(Gardinerf f EE1)1)and andthat thatofofplurality
pluralitythree threestrokes strokes . .
(Gardiner E
(Gardiner 1) and that
andEHH1)(Gardiner of and
and that H
plurality fof three
plurality
(Gardiner strokes
three E 1)strokes
and. that .plurality
FF (Gardiner F E E 1)1) and
and
(Gardiner that
that E ofof
1) plurality
(Gardinerthree
plurality
and that of Eof
three 1)plurality
strokes
andand
strokes
(Gardiner
and HH that Ethree
three of
1) strokes
. .strokes
plurality
and that three
(Gardiner . 1)strokes
of. Eplurality and th th
FF and H andthat H of plurality and
ff FF F F f (Gardiner F E 1) and andandHthree H and
strokes HH . and
ff f fF f (Gardiner E 1) and that of
(Gardinerplurality E three
1) and strokes
that of .
plurality thre
f f and H
stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 113
fF “Blessing of the God Ptah’” F and H
f f instead of the ins
ins
as itof s
s clearly
instead of donethe as it was
as it was clearly clearly done
done in the
in thedone other
other in parpa
ofwas s in the other parallel texts, as it was clearly the
and thein other
aksha text. the signs constituting thethe wordofsXpn differ asfrom one
instead
instead the
the
iitexts, instead
instead in ofofthe
in Aksha
Aksha thetext.
text. The signs
The signs in word
in word ss in w
as as it was
asi clearly
clearly done
done clearly
in thedone
in the otherinparallel
other parallel texts, parallel
texts, i instead of in Aksha text. The thesigns
document to another; in shedet stela this term is inscribed with the phonetic signs
ss asas itit was s
was clearlyclearly done done inin the instead
the otherother parallel the
parallel texts,instead
instead
texts, ofitofthe was
the
instead clearly
instead ofof done
the in theofo
instead
ha
a text.in Aksha
text. The
The text.
signs
signs inThe
in word
word
s s signs
as ss it in
was wordclearlys
as its was clearly done in
itdonethewasinother the parallel
asit other
itwas texts,
parallel
wasclearly
inclearly texts,
done inthe
sis asas it was clearly
clearly
as
Thei signs
done
done in thethedone
as itother
other
wasinparallel asthe
parallel
clearly itother
in other
texts,
texts,
done
Aksha parallel
parallel
intext.the
asThe texts,
texts,
other signsinparallel
in word ted
,, xiw i ,,inp Aksha , nw text. i, phonetic complement and ,ssigns
and two determina-
s text. signssininword was clearly done
itof was the
clearly othe
ssand itnsigns w
i ininAksha
Aksha text.The wordss instead the
i ii in Aksha text. The signs The
in in
inAksha word
signs
Aksha s
ininwordin Akshassigns text. The in word s text. instead of the
i text.
text. The
asThe
Aksha wastext. iin
and inThe
word
in
w
clearlyword signs
Aksha ,done sandin text.
in
winword The
the
Aksha sother
signs inTheword
parallel s intext.
texts,
signs word Thes
tives; that of(Gardiner
pustuleZ 2).(gardiner A aastela, 1) inandthe that oftext.
three strokes (gardiner
(Gardiner in Aksha
s A A s as it was clearly done
(Gardiner
(Gardiner asin the
itZ Z was2).
2). other clearly
In
In parallel
Shedet
Shedet done texts,
stela,
stela, in the
the
the other
scribe
scribe
i (Gardiner
(Gardiner In Shedet Aksha scribe also The mightsigns in word s
zthe 2). in shedet stela,
ww the scribe
also mightalso might forget to(Gardiner
write the suffix pronoun
and
iand w w f f in Aksha text. The and signs w in word s
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
ZZ(Gardiner
2).
2). In
In ShedetZ and
Shedet2).stela,
In Shedet
stela, the stela, the might
scribe i in Aksha text. The signs in word s
w and wscribe
scribe also
also and
andmight A
and wShedet (Gardiner (Gardiner
(Gardiner
(Gardiner Z 2). In Shedet stela,
(Gardiner th
A A=sn and(Gardiner the word after InAthe f word as itscribe
Zexists inInShedet
the other parallel docu-
and 2).wInIn and wthe (Gardiner (Gard
A nbt sXpn
AA (Gardiner
(Gardiner ZZ 2). Shedetstela, stela, thescribe
scribe
in and
inAbu also
w also
AbuSimbel might
might
Simbel stela and
stela andw
and stela inAksha
in Aksha text.
text.
(Gardiner in Abu Z 2).
SimbelIn Shedet
Z 2).stela stela,
andShedet the
in scribe
Aksha
Zstela, InInthe
(Gardiner also
text. might
Z2). 2). also might
Shedet in
stela, Abu
Inthethe Simbel and in Aksha
ff AA (Gardiner
(Gardiner andZw 2).
2).
(Gardiner Shedet
AShedet stela,
stela,
In
(Gardiner the
the scribe
scribe
Zstela,
2). also
(Gardineralso might
might
scribe
Shedet Zscribe also
2).stela,
Inalso themight
might
Shedet
(Gardiner scribeZ 2).also
stela, theSh
In ms
ments; in
infabuAbusimbel Simbelf stela
TT andand ininAksha
faksha text.
(Gardiner
l Abu
stela Simbel
and
el stela and ff stela
in and
Aksha
in Aksha f fA in
text.
text. Aksha text. w (Gardiner
T stela and T(Gardiner Ztext.2). andIn Shedetw in stela, Abu Simbel the scribe stelaalso andmight in Aksha te

f the few words from fthe surviving T fifth line in shedet stela (lineSimbelX+5) have
in Abu Simbel
fA in Abu Simbelin stela and in Aksha
ASimbel text. (Gardiner inZ 2). In Shedet stela,
(Gardiner the Z 2). scribeIn also
Shedet might
stela
inAbu Abu and Simbel inin
in Aksha
Abu Abu
stela
stela and
andtext. in
Simbel
Simbel stela
Aksha
stela Aksha
Abu and and text.
Simbeltext.ininin Aksha
Aksha
stela
Abu and text.
text. ininAksha
stela and
Abu text.
Simbel instela, stelathe
Aksha scr
text.
and
theTsame T content written in line 36inof abu simbel onstela, andX+20 inline of
theamarah
T

document, line 35 ofAAaksha text and line 51 of Medinet habu document (fig.and
T Abu Simbel stela Shedet stela Aksha
isisthe text.
sameisas asthethat ofAbu Abuthat Simbel, AA
TT on Shedet stela is the T same as that T inofAbu AbuSimbel Simbel, Ton
stela
Shedet
Amarahand
stela
and
on in Shedet
Aksha
same
stela
text.
that sameof
in as
Simbel,
of Abu
as 11). the written form of the independent pronoun stelaon shedetand stela is the
in Abu Simbel stela Aksha text.
ntk
det stela asisasthe in Shedet differ inShedet
in Shedet
the
he same
same thatsame
that of
of Abu
Abu that
Simbel,
Simbel,of
T Abu Amarah
AmarahSimbel, andAmarah
and and
A
onsame asis that of
in abu assimbel, asamarah and aksha documents. Moreover the signs
on on
T stela Shedet
Shedet stela
stela
Shedet f isis the
the
f stela differ same
same as
Tf Simbel,as that
that ofof Abu
Abu Simbel,
Simbel, Amarah
Amarah and
used for the word in shedet stela differ from that of the other
on Shedet inin Shedet
stelaShedet the stela
sameisdiffer
differ that stela
of Abu Amarah and
qmA as7in
AA Shedet stela onon the
Shedet same
Shedet( stela on onthat
is the
Shedet ofsame
isShedet
the Abu
same stela
stela Simbel,
asis
on is
asthat
the the
that ofin
same
Shedet Amarah
ofsame
inAbu
Abu as
stela
Shedet
Shedet as isand
onSimbel,
that that
Simbel, ofof
the
stela
Shedet stela Abu
same Abu
Amarah
Amarah
differ
differ
stela isSimbel,
Simbel,
as on and
that
the and Amarah
Amarah
of
same
Shedet Abu and
as Simbel,
stela thatisandof Abu
the
(Gardiner Amarah
sameSim
( ( (Gardiner Z 7) and three (Gardiner ZZ
(Ga 7
in Shedet stela differ
parallel ZZtexts. it is realized with the phonetic signs , (gardiner g 3),
A A A A A f in in Shedet
Shedet stela
stela
in in
differ Shedet
differ
Shedet stela
stela differ
differ
in Shedet stela di
q mA
ff d A ondShedet A is the (Gardiner Tof 14), pintail duck alighting in S
(Gard
(Gardiner
(Gardiner (Gardiner (Gardiner
7)
7) andT 14),
and Zdpintail
three
three 7) and duck three alighting stela (Gardiner
same
(Gardiner asG41),that T(Gardiner
14), Abu pintail
Simbel,
T 14), duck alighting
Amarah
pintail and alighting
duck (Gard

the phonetic complement , the filling sign (gardiner z 7) and three

f f f f p (
on Shedet stela is the same , as that of
(GardinerAbu Simbel,
Y1). Amarah
This last and
word is (Gard
follo
m
( ( T 14), pintail duck A alighting (Gardiner f p f G41),
Y1). Thisp last word f (GardinerfollowedZZby
is(Gardiner on Shedet
7)7)and (Gardiner
stela
andthree
the is the Y1).
three in(Gardiner same This
Shedet stelaas last
that
Y1). word
of
differ Abu is
This last wo follow
Simbe
diner
,, pintail
pintail duck
duck alighting
alighting (Gardiner
(Gardiner (Gardiner
G41),
G41), d(Gardiner Z 7) and three
d d(determinatives; throw stick (gardiner t 14), pintail duck alighting (gar-
d d ( ( ( ( A (Gardiner (
(Gardiner T d
T d 14), A
14), ( pintail
pintail duck
duck (Gardiner
alighting
alighting Zwith
with 7) and
(Gardiner
spelling
spelling
(Gardinerthree
(Gardiner (Gardiner
Z
like
like 7)that
G41),
G41),and
(Gardiner
that T
(Gardiner
of
of in 14),
three
Aksha Shedet
AkshaZ Zpintail
7) 7)
andstela
and
stela.
(Gardiner
stela. duck
threediffer
three
The
The alighting
same
Z (Gardine
same word
in
7) word
and She th
diner
iner Y1).(Gardiner
Y1). This
This lastY1).
last word
wordf isisspelling
This
with last
followedword
followed like is
byby followed
thattheof Aksha
the by the stela.
d The ( word is followed
same with spelling(Gardiner like that of Aksha stela. The s
(Gardiner T 14), pintail duck alighting p (Gardiner G41), Y1). This last word
pdiner g41)spelling
isand papyrus rolled up, tied, and sealed (gardiner y1). this last
pp d f(Gardiner T d14), pintail
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
(Gardiner
b b f T
dduck
T 14),
14),
Y1).
(Gardineralighting
Y1). pintail
pintail
This
This T duck
duck
last
14),
last
d (Gardiner
wordalighting
alighting
pintail
word
(Gardiner isis inT
in G41),
followed
duck
followed
14),
Abu
(Gardiner
Abu (Gardiner
(Gardiner
alightingby
Simbelby
pintail
Simbel the
Tthe G41),
duck
stela.
14),
stela.
(Gardiner G41), (Gardiner
alighting
The
pintail
The
(Gardiner Z content
7) duck
content
andT G41),
14),of(Gardiner
this
alighting
of
three this
pintail surviv
survivi duG
lling like thatstela.
of Aksha stela. inThe
(Gardiner Abu issameSimbel word is followed
stela. The content
b last of this surviving passage inwordAbu Simbel stela. The content of
at
atof of Aksha
Aksha
pp stela. The
Thesame
same word
word pY1).
followed
followed
(Gardiner This
oo Y1).
last dword
This
p(Gardiner
(Gardiner isY1).
followed
word
Y1). is
(Gardiner
This
(GardinerThis by
followed
last
last the
Y1). Y1).
word
word by
with
This isisthe
This lastword
spelling
isislast
followed
followed like
by
isby isfollowed
that
the followed
the of7) Aksha
by bythe the
stela. The
Y1).sam
pword is followed Abuby theddependent Thepronoun with spelling lastT like that of duck
dd ( with
with spelling like
like that
that ofof Aksha
Aksha stela.
stela. pThe
The same
same word
word followed
followed (Gardiner ZY1). This
and(Gardiner last(Gardiner
three word isT
sn
d ( (Gardiner
o T 14), pintail duck alighting (Gardiner G41),
lAbu
el stela.Simbel
stela. The
dThe
d
stela.
with
content
content The
spelling
of
of
d this
with
d
content
this like that
surviving
surviving
spelling oflike
this
of
with
with
surviving
Aksha
passage
passage
that of
spellingstela.
spelling Aksha passage
like
with The
with
like b same
stela.
that
that
spelling The
spelling
ofof word
Akshasame
Aksha
likelike
with isstela.
that followed
word
that
stela.
of
spellingof
Theis
The
Aksha followed
Aksha same
same
like stela.stela.
that word
wordin
The
of The
is
Abu is same
followed
same
Aksha followed
Simbel word
stela.word stela.
is
The is followed
The
followed
same content
word is of thi
follo
bb d ininAbu Simbel dstela. (Gardiner
The content T d 14),of
(Gardiner ofthis pintail
surviving
Y1). duck
This
(Gardiner alighting
passage word
14), (Gardiner
isspelling
pintailfollowed likeby G41), theof Aksha(G
alighting
bdaksha stela. the same word is spelling
followedlike by the of dependent inpronoun in The
Simbel stela. content this surviving passage with that
st stela.
oo bb inbAbu p Simbel
in Abu stela.
Simbel The
in in content
stela.
AbuAbu pThe
Simbel oof
Simbel inthis
content in surviving
Abu
stela. of
stela.
Abu this
TheThe
Simbel (Gardiner
Simbel passage
surviving
content
contentstela.
stela. Y1).
ofof
The passage
The
this
this This
content
surviving
content last
surviving of ofword this
passage
this
(Gardiner passage is
surviving followed
surviving
Y1). passage
This by
passagelast theword is fo
o oabu simbel stela. the content of this surviving passage of shedet stela differs
b with b that in Abu Simbel
Aksha stela. stela.
Abu The The
Simbel
same contentword of this surviving
content
is followed of this pass s
oo o
ocompletely from that ofbMedinet p habu in Abustela which contains:
b d d o with spelling like that of Aksha
with stela.
spelling
in Abu Simbel stela. The content of this surviving passage The
like same
that of word
Aksha is followed
stela. The same w

«o : [lost] ///// m rnpwt wAD ///// ra nb: [lost] /////

b Simbel stela. Theincontent Abu Simbel of thisstela. survivingThe content passageof this sur

with plants and verdure /////// daily (…) ».

o

the theme of the surviving text inscribed on the sixth line of shedet stela
(line X+6) is similar to that written on line 37 of abu simbel text, X+21 line
of amarah document, line 35 of aksha text and line 54 of Medinet habu do-
cument (fig. 12). it is important to note that the content of the surviving text in
shedet stela is almost similar to that on abu simbel text. in these two docu-
ments, the cartouches are preceded directly by the titles ny-sw.t-bity and sA-Ra
respectively. in the parallel text the cartouche of incoronation name is preceded
by « : ny-sw.t-bity nb TA.wy: king yofnbupper and lower egypt,
lord of two lands » in amarah stela and « :
tAwy: King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of T
ny-sw.t-bity
 nb
TA.wy HqA aA n Kmt nb n xAst nbt: king of upper and lower egypt, lord of
 A :n 

two lands, great ruler of  egypt, lord of every foreign country» in Medinet
   
habu stela. the other cartouches  containing king’s Personal name are preceded
  
   
 
       
 

 
 114 Walid shaikh al arab

by « : sA Ra nb xaw: son of ra, lord of crowns» in amarah stela and

« : sA Ra n xt=f mry=f nb xaw: bodly son of ra, beloved of him, lord
of crowns » in Medinet habu  stela. 

the throne name in shedet  document is almost identical to that of abu sim-
bel and amarah stelae. the only difference lies in the form of the anx sign held


over the sitting lady’s knees, part of the word mAat; it is completely straight in Shedet s
in shedet stela, but iss slightly italic in abu simbel and amarah texts. Mo-
in Shedet stela, but is in Shedet stel
reover
texts.this
in name
Shedetwas differently
s stela, but written
in isAbu Simbelin Medinet
and habu
Amarah stela
texts.which
Moreovercontains
this name thiswas differently
« : (wsr
bu Simbel and Amarah Moreover this name was in Abu
differently Simbel and Amarah texts. Moreover name was di
mAat Ra mry Imn)I».
w in Shede
in Sh
d Amarah texts. Moreover this name was differentlyw in Shedet stela, but is
in Shedet stela, but sis s
arah texts. Moreover this in addition,
was the surviving
w w portion from wramses ii’s personal name inscribed
in AbuAbu Simbel and Amarah texts.
andMoreover thisthis
name w
in Abu Simbel and Amarah texts. Moreovers thisinname Simbel
was in and
Abu
differentlyAmarah
Simbel texts. Moreover
Amarah texts. name
Moreo

in shedet stela is almost identical to that of amarah stela. inlist

these twobutdocu-
name differently
w
ments, the word mry inscribed with hoe (gardiner’s list u 6), but it iswith the canal sign
(Gardiner's U 6), it is written with the cana
(Gardiner's list U 6), but it is written
writtenwith
with the canal
canal sign (gardiner’s list n36) in abu simbel stela.
(Gardiner's list U 6), but it is written( with the canal sign
r's list U 6), but it is written ( the ( sign
(Gardiner's
(Gardiner'slistlist
U(Gardiner's
6), butbut
U 6), it is
list 6), (Gardiner's
it written
isUwritten with
but with thethe
ca
list itCis12)
w
then, O the word Imn O was briefly written only with specific phonetic deter-
(Gardiner's list U 6), but it is written
(Gardiner's list C with the canal
12). sign (Gardiner's(Gardiner's li
U 6), but it is written with the canal sign ( ( (

minative theand ideogram of theandgod amon God(gardiner’s n list c the12)specific

in the
shedet
(Gardiner'sO list C 12). and phonetic complement n without the specific determinative (Gardine
(Gardo
and phonetic complement n without determinative of this God
and(Gardiner's
amarah A stelae. O OGodin abu simbel
listACotherwise stela, it was written in a detailed
complement n without specific determinative
A phonetic
of thiscomplement without specific determinative of
12).
way; the phonetic signs i mn andand phonetic complement andwithout
nn complement without
n without the specific determinative of this O
phonetic complement
the specific determinative of this god amon. in Medinet habu stela, this cartouche
and phonetic complement n ,
without the specific determinative and phonetic
of this God n the specific
without determina
the spec
without the specific determinative A
was completely different from the above mentioned ones: «
of this God
: (Ra ms sw
A A

HqA Iwn)I: ra has fashioned him, the ruler of on».

General comments

it is evident that the granite piece of irregular shape is a small portion of a

huge monument of ramses ii. as the text suggests, it was part of a monumental
stela bearing a well-known text known as the «blessing of Ptah» that accom-
panied the so-called stela of the marriage of ramses ii. these two official texts
were displayed in major temples, probably all over the country, by the king.
the «blessing of Ptah» stela of shedet has most probably been a part of a gate
in the temple of sobek in shedet, as already noticed by davoli and nahla Mo-
hammed17. More significantly, it was placed on its left side.
T
T T

17
cf. supra, p. 110, footnote no.T16.T T
T



1 
 “Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 115

the comparison between the text inscribed on shedet stela and parallel ones
shows that the text of shedet stela is almost identical to those written during
the reign of ramses ii in its content, sentence structure, words used and ortho-
graphy. significantly, it differs to a great extent from that of Medinet habu,
which was inscribed during the reign of ramses iii.

this fragment confirms that the «blessing of Ptah» stela was erected toge-
ther with the stela that celebrates the first hittite marriage of ramses ii, pro-
bably at a gate of the temple of sobek. it constitutes another confirmation of
the kitchen’s idea that the two monuments were erected together. their pre-
sence, moreover, points to the importance of the temple of sobek of shedet
during the reign of ramses ii, who placed these official texts on monumental
architecture in the most important temples in his kingdom. also the non-local
stone used for the two stelae of shedet, the grey granite, testifies to the parti-
cular care and attention given to the temple by ramsess ii, of which some parts
were already built with red granite by amenemhat iii. so far this is the only
evidence of the «blessing of Ptah» text coming from Middle and lower egypt.

Fayoum university
Faculty of tourism & hotels, Pobox: 63514
whs00@fayoum.edu.eg
116 Walid shaikh al arab

Fig. 3: shedet stela, now at kom aushim open air storehouse

Fig. 4: shedet stela




“Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 117

Fig. 5: facsimile of shedet stela


118 Walid shaikh al arab

Fig. 6: shedet stela (text copied by donadoni 2001)

Fig. 7: first surviving line on shedet stela and its parallel ones


“Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 119

Fig. 8: second surviving line on shedet stela and its parallel ones

Fig. 9: third surviving line on shedet stela and its parallel ones





120 Walid shaikh al arab

Fig. 10: fourth surviving line on shedet stela and its parallel ones

Fig. 11: fifth surviving line on shedet

 stela and its parallel ones




“Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 121

Fig. 12: sixth surviving line on shedet stela and its parallel ones


122 Walid shaikh al arab

Fig. 13: «blessing of Ptah», abu simbel stela

(J.F. champollion, Monuments de l’Égypte et de la Nubie, i, Paris 1835-1872,
pl. XXXvii-XXXviii)

Fig. 14: «blessing of Ptah», aksha temple in situ and loose block from it
(J. vercoutter, Preliminary Report of the Excavation at Aksha by the Franco-Argen-


tine Archaeological Expedition, 1961, «kush» 10, 1962, pl. XXXv, “a-b”).

 “Blessing of the God Ptah’” stela from Shedet (Kiman Fares, Medinet El-Fayyum) 123

Fig. 15: «blessing of Ptah», Medinet habu

(The Epigraphic survey, Medinet Habu. volume ii, Later historical records of Ramses III,
chicagop1932, pls. cv-cvi.)