Chapter VI The Inscriptions of the New York Obelisk
I. Inscriptions of Thothmes III.
The inscriptions of Thothmes III. comprise the four sides of the pyramidion and the central columns of the four faces of the obelisk.
The Pyramidion.
The pictures of the four sides of the pyramidion here given are reproduced from the squeezes taken under the direction of Mr. Gorringe as published in his “Egyptian Obelisks”. They are, however, given in their correct form, as the squeezes seem to have been taken by an inexperienced hand and a person unacquainted with Egyptological subjects. The figures seated in the squares are the gods Râ-Hor-Khuti and Tum, representing the rising and the setting sun. The former is the hawk-faced god seated on a throne, holding in his right hand the staff of power (us “power”), and handing it to the king with the usual sign (ânkh “life”). Besides this the disk of the sun (râ “sun”) reclines on his head. The god Tum, on the other hand, is represented in his human form, bearded and wearing a king’s head-dress, and holding in his hands the identical symbols of “life” and “power”. In front of the gods we find in each case the king represented as an androsphinx () in the act of offering libation to the divinity. It must be noted that this kind of sphinx being human-faced and bearded, is always the representation of Pharaoh as the essence of the godhead.
East Face of the Pyramidion.
The three vertical columns to the left above and the two below the sphinx refer to the sphinx-king, the remainder to the god Râ-Ḥor-khuti (i. e. “the sun, Horus in the horizon”) and the libation in the hands of the sphinx.
The three columns above the sphinx are:
| nuter | nefer | neb | taui | Men-kheper-Râ | du | ânkh | zeta |
| The god · good · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. · giving · life · forever. |
| nuter | nefer | neb | taui | Men-kheper-Râ |
| The god · good · lord (of · the) two countries · Thothmes III. · |
| du | ânkh | zeta |
| giving · life · forever. |
i. e. This is Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives eternal life.
Below the sphinx we read:
| qa | nekht | khâ | em | Us | sa | Râ | Men-kheper-Râ |
| The bull · powerful · glorious · in · Thebes · son (of) · Râ · Thothmes III. |
i. e. This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III.
The term neb taui “lord of the two countries” is the usual title of Pharaoh. The two countries referred to are Upper and Lower Egypt, which are still and have been from time immemorial the two provinces of Egypt. The word seems, however, to imply still more. In the pompous wording of the Pharaonic monuments it expresses the grand title of the Roman emperors: lord of the Universe.—The du ânkh zeta “who gives eternal life” calls attention to the king’s power over the life and death of all his subjects. As he himself received life from the gods, so he bestowed it on his people at pleasure.— qa nekht “the powerful bull” is a truly Oriental expression for “the mighty hero”, the bull being a symbol of strength and power. The same king is addressed by the deity in his victory-stelé, already alluded to on page 31, in the following words: du·ȧ ma sen hen·k em qa renp men ȧb sput âbui nen han·tu·f “I let them behold your majesty like a young and stout-hearted bull whetting his horns; none can escape him.”— Us “Thebes” was the capital of Upper Egypt and the seat of government at that time.— sa Râ “the son of Râ” is the usual title of Pharaoh which has already been explained on page 31.
The four columns to the right above the god bear the following legend:
| du | ânkh· | f | neb | Râ-Ḥor-khuti | nuter | â | neb taui (neb ta neb ta) |
| giving · life · him · all · Râ-Hor-Khuti · the god · great · lord (of the) two countries. |
| du | ânkh· | f | neb | Râ-Ḥor-khuti |
| giving · life · him · all · Râ-Hor-Khuti |
| nuter | â | neb taui (neb ta neb ta) |
| the god · great · lord (of the) two countries. |
i. e. This is Rā-Hor-Khuti, the great god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives him [the king] all life.
Between the god and the sphinx-king we read these words referring to the libation brought by the king:
| er | du·t | ȧrp |
| for · a gift · wine. |
i. e. As a gift (the king brings an offering of) wine.
Râ-Ḥor-khuti “the sun, the hawk of the horizon” is the name of the sun-god when in his full power at noon (see page 30).—The names of all kings are always written in oval rings called cartouches, to distinguish them more readily from other words and names in the inscriptions. The usual “divine” title of Thothmes III. is Men-kheper-Râ (the first sign being read last), which means “the stable and creative sun”. His family name, in its simplest form, is Deḥuti-meses “child of Thoth”. There are as many as 12 variants (or different readings) of this cartouche, prominent and somewhat odd among them being the following:
| Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu | Deḥuti-meses-ḥeq-Us | Deḥuti-mes |
| Thoth’s child, of beautiful form. | Thoth’s child, lord of Thebes. | Thoth’s child. |
| Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu | Deḥuti-meses-ḥeq-Us |
| Thoth’s child, of beautiful form. | Thoth’s child, lord of Thebes. |
Deḥuti-mes
Thoth’s child.
The most singular cartouche of Thothmes III., however, is found on our New York Obelisk on the East Face and central column (see page 56).
South Pace of the Pyramidion.
The three columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and are identical with those of the East pyramidion (page 47): nuter nefer neb taui Men-kheper-Râ du ânkh zeta “This is Thothmes III., the gracious god, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives eternal life”.
The hieroglyphs below the sphinx-king are totally destroyed, but must have been the same as those on the East pyramidion (page 48): qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ “This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III”.
The four columns above to the right refer to the god Tum, the setting sun, seated on a throne beneath. The inscription is:
| du | ânkh· | f | neb | Tum | neb | taui | ḥeq | Ȧn | nuter | â | neb | ḥa·t |
| Giving · life · him · all · Tum · lord (of · the) two countries · prince (of) · Heliopolis · the god · great · lord (of · the) temple. |
| du | ânkh· | f | neb | Tum | neb | taui | ḥeq | Ȧn |
| Giving · life · him · all · Tum · lord (of · the) two countries · prince (of) · Heliopolis · |
| nuter | â | neb | ḥa·t |
| the god · great · lord (of · the) temple. |
i. e. This is Tum, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], the prince of Heliopolis, the great god, the lord of his temple, who gives him [the king] all life.
ḥeq Ȧn “the prince of Heliopolis” signifies as much as “the tutelary divinity of Heliopolis”. This famous city was the capital of the XIIIth nome or province of Lower (Northern) Egypt bearing the same name. The name it received from the Greeks and Romans means “City of the Sun”.— Tum “Tum” was the god of the setting sun. The word is derived from the Egyptian verb tum “to close, finish”, and when referring to the sun “to set” (cf. page 27). A fuller form of the name is Atum.— ânkh neb literally “all life” is a very concise expression for “all manner of life” and embraces every visible act of life, such as breath, animation, motion, thought, speech, pleasure, &c. The hieroglyph, always pronounced neb, has, as can be seen from this sentence, two different meanings, “all” and “lord”, which result from the primitive idea of “possession”.
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is destroyed with the exception of the letter [r] at the top. It must have been, however, the same as on the East pyramidion, namely: er du·t ȧrp “As a gift (the king brings an offering of) wine”.
West Face of the Pyramidion.
The four columns above to the right (the last one being destroyed) refer to the sphinx-king and read as follows:
| nuter | nefer | ḥeq | Ȧn | suten kaut? | neb |
| The god · | gracious · | prince of · | Heliopolis · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · | lord (of · |
| taui | Men-kheper-Râ | du | ânkh | zeta |
| the) two countries · | Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | forever. |
| nuter | nefer | ḥeq | Ȧn |
| The god · | gracious · | prince of · | Heliopolis · |
| suten kaut? | neb | taui |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | lord (of · | the) two
countries · |
| Men-kheper-Râ | du | ânkh | zeta |
| Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | forever. |
i. e. This is the gracious god, the prince of Heliopolis, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Thothmes III., who gives eternal life.
suten-kaut (pronunciation doubtful!) “the king of Upper and Lower Egypt” is the official title of the Egyptian kings and conveys the same meaning as the neb taui “the lord of the two countries” mentioned so frequently above. Another name of the king, and one that has been embodied into our language, is per â “Pharaoh”, which is, literally translated, “the great house”; a title bearing the closest resemblance to the modern “Sublime Porte” of the Turkish sultan.
Below the sphinx is the same inscription as on the East pyramidion: qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ “This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III”.
The three columns above to the left refer to the god Tum, who is seated below, and read:
| du | ânkh | ded | us | Tum | neb | Ȧn | nuter | nefer |
| Giving · | life · | stability · | strength · | Tum · | lord of · | Heliopolis · | the god · | gracious · |
| du | ânkh | ded | us | Tum | neb |
| Giving · | life · | stability · | strength · | Tum · | lord of · |
| Ȧn | nuter | nefer |
| Heliopolis · | the god · | gracious · |
| â | neb | en | ḥa·t |
| great · | lord · | of · | the temple. |
i. e. This is Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, the gracious and great god, the lord of his temple, who gives life, stability, and strength.
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king differs from that of the preceding pyramidions; it is:
| er | du·t | qebeḥ | ȧr | ef | du | ânkh |
| For · | a gift · | libation · | to make · | him · | give · | life. |
i. e. The king pours out a libation of water in order to receive from him [the god] life.
North Face of the Pyramidion.
The four columns above to the left refer to the sphinx-king and read:
| nuter | nefer | neb | ȧr | khet | suten kaut? | neb |
| The god · | gracious · | lord · | maker of · | things · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · | lord (of · |
| taui | Men-kheper-Râ | du | ânkh | zeta |
| the) two countries · | Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | forever. |
| nuter | nefer | neb | ȧr | khet |
| The god · | gracious · | lord · | maker of · | things · |
| suten kaut? | neb | taui |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | lord (of · | the) two
countries · |
| Men-kheper-Râ | du | ânkh | zeta |
| Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | forever. |
i. e. This is the gracious god, the lord and maker of everything, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Thothmes III., who gives eternal life.
The inscription below the sphinx is identical with the one on the East pyramidion; namely, qa nekht khâ em Us sa Râ Men-kheper-Râ “This is the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes, the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III”.
The three columns above to the right refer to the sun-god Râ seated below, and read:
| du | ânkh | ef | neb | Râ-Ḥor- | khuti | neb | taui |
| Giving · | life · | him · | all · | Râ-Horus | in the horizon · | lord (of · | the) two countries. |
| du | ânkh | ef | neb | Râ-Ḥor- | khuti |
| Giving · | life · | him · | all · | Râ-Horus | in the horizon · |
| neb | taui |
| lord (of · | the) two countries. |
i. e. This is Rā-Hor-khuti, the lord of the two countries [Egypt], who gives him [the king] all life.
Râ-Ḥor-khuti “Râ-Horus in the horizon” is the title of the morning-sun, to which attention has already been called on page 30. The last sign is very frequently written khu·t, the showing the disk of the sun between two mountains and in the act of rising, and the signifying “a house” or “a place”. The whole group means “the house of the rising sun” or “the source of light”, which is usually translated by the general term “horizon”. The whole title, therefore, stands for the rising or eastern sun (cf. the picture on page 28).
The inscription between the god and the sphinx-king is partially destroyed, leaving, however, enough traces to show that it must have been identical with the one on the West pyramidion: er du·t qebeḥ ȧr·f du ânkh “The king pours out a libation of water in order to receive from him [the god] life”.
The Obelisk Proper.
On the obelisk proper the inscriptions of Thothmes III. are contained in the central column of each face. At the top of each column, immediately below the pyramidion, we find the sign, literally pet “heaven”, which may either be taken with the next sign Ḥor “Horus” so as to signify “the heavenly Horus”, or else it may be regarded to express the wish of the Pharaoh, that heaven would protect his obelisk and proclaim its inscriptions as of heavenly origin.
East Face [central column].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | khâ | em | Us | neb mut or sheta
neb ârâ or meḥen·t |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | glorious · | in · | Thebes · | lord of the Vulture diadem
lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · |
| ûaḥ | suten | ma | Râ | em | pet | Tum | neb·t | en | Ȧn |
| placed · | king · | like · | Râ · | in · | heaven · | Tum · | lord · | of · | Heliopolis · |
| meses | sa | en | kha·t | ef | meses | nef | Deḥuti | qema | en |
| begotten · | son · | of · | womb · | his · | born · | him · | Thoth · | created · | by · |
| sen | em | ḥat-â | em | neferu | ḥâu | sen | rekh | enti | ȧr·f |
| them · | in · | great-temple · | in · | beauty of · | limbs · | their · | knowing · | what · | he should do · |
| sutenî·t | ûaḥ | kher | neḥeḥ | suten-kaut? | Men-kheper-Râ |
| kingdom · | placed · | for · | eternity · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · | Thothmes III. |
| Tum | nuter | â | ḥenâ | pau·t | nuteru· | f | merî | du | ânkh |
| Tum · | god · | great · | with · | circle · | (of) gods · | his · | beloved · | giving · | life · |
| ded | us | neb | ma | Râ | zeta |
| stability · | strength · | all · | like · | Râ · | forever. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | khâ | em | Us |
The heavenly
Horus · | bull · | powerful · | glorious · | in · | Thebes · |
neb mut or sheta
neb ârâ or meḥen·t | ûaḥ | suten | ma | Râ | em |
lord of the Vulture diadem
lord of the Uræus-snake
diadem · | placed · | king · | like · | Râ · | in · |
| pet | Tum | neb·t | en | Ȧn | meses |
| heaven · | Tum · | lord · | of · | Heliopolis · | begotten · |
| sa | en | kha·t | ef | meses | nef | Deḥuti |
| son · | of · | womb · | his · | born · | him · | Thoth · |
| qema | en | sen | em | ḥat-â | em | neferu | ḥâu |
| created · | by · | them · | in · | great-
temple · | in · | beauty
of · | limbs · |
| sen | rekh | enti | ȧr·f | sutenî·t | ûaḥ |
| their · | knowing · | what · | he should do · | kingdom · | placed · |
| kher | neḥeḥ | suten-kaut? | Men-kheper-Râ |
| for · | eternity · | king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Thothmes III. |
| Tum | nuter | â | ḥenâ | pau·t | nuteru· | f |
| Tum · | god · | great · | with · | circle · | (of) gods · | his · |
| merî | du | ânkh | ded | us | neb |
| beloved · | giving · | life · | stability · | strength · | all · |
| ma | Râ | zeta |
| like · | Râ · | forever. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes.2 He is the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems3, and his kingdom is established as firmly as the sun in the heavens. His name is4: “He whom Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, has begotten, and who is the son of his loins, whom Thoth has brought forth”5, who was created by them [the gods] in the great temple of Heliopolis in the beauty of their limbs, and who knew beforehand what he would do to establish for himself an eternal kingdom. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of the great god Tum and his circle of gods, who gives all life, stability, and strength now and for ever!
South Face [central column].
Almost the entire column on this side is in a very poor condition, the hieroglyphs being hardly discernible. The following, however, may prove to be a correct restoration of the inscription.
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| Men-kheper-Râ | ȧr | nef | em | mennu· | f | en | tef | neb |
| Thothmes III. · | made · | by him · | for · | monument · | his · | for · | father · | lord of · |
| Ȧn | s·âḥâ | nef | tekhenui | ûrui | benben·t | em |
| Heliopolis · | caused to erect · | by him · | two obelisks · | large · | the pyramidion · | of · |
| usem | em | sep | tep | sed-ḥeb | .......... | nen |
| gold-metal · | at · | time · | first (of) · | the thirty-year-period · | ... illegible!... · | not · |
| ȧr nef | sa Râ | Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu | Râ-Ḥor-khuti | merî | zeta |
| (as) done by him · | the son of Râ · | Thothmes III. · | Râ-Hor-Khuti · | beloved · | forever. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | Men-kheper-Râ | ȧr | nef | em |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Thothmes III. · | made · | by him · | for · |
| mennu· | f | en | tef | neb | Ȧn |
| monument · | his · | for · | father · | lord of · | Heliopolis · |
| s·âḥâ | nef | tekhenui | ûrui | benben·t |
caused to
erect · | by him · | two obelisks · | large · | the pyramidion · |
| em | usem | em | sep | tepb |
| of · | gold-metal · | at · | time · | first (of) · |
| sed-ḥe | .......... | nen | ȧr nef |
| the thirty-year-period · | ... illegible!... · | not · | (as) done
by him · |
| sa Râ | Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu |
| the son of Râ · | Thothmes III. · |
| Râ-Ḥor-khuti | merî | zeta |
| Râ-Hor-Khuti · | beloved · | forever. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, who has made this to be his monument in honor of his father Tum, the lord of Heliopolis, and who has set up for him two6 large obelisks, the pyramidion being covered with gold-metal,7 on the first day8 of the thirty-year festival9..........10 No one has ever done what he did, the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III., the beloved of Rā-Hor-Khuti, who lives forever.
West Face [CENTRAL COLUMN].
The abrasion caused by the sand of the Libyan desert has effaced almost every hieroglyph on this side of the obelisk. All that can be seen is given below.
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | khâ | em | Us | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | glorious · | in · | Thebes · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| Men-kheper-Râ | s·menkh | per | en | meses | ȧm · | f |
| Thothmes III. · | causing to be adorned · | the house · | of · | birth · | there · | his · |
| .......... | sa | Râ |
| ..........illegible!.......... · | the son of Râ · |
| Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu | Râ-Ḥor-khuti | merî | zeta |
| Thothmes III. · | Râ-Hor-Khuti · | beloved · | forever. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | khâ | em | Us |
The heavenly
Horus · | bull · | powerful · | glorious · | in · | Thebes · |
| suten-kaut? | Men-kheper-Râ | s·menkh | per |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Thothmes III. · | causing to
be adorned · | the house · |
| en | meses | ȧm · | f | .......... |
| of · | birth · | there · | his · | ..........illegible!.......... · |
| sa | Râ | Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu |
| the son of Râ · | Thothmes III. · |
| Râ-Ḥor-khuti | merî | zeta |
| Râ-Hor-Khuti · | beloved · | forever. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful and glorious bull [king] in Thebes. He is the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Thothmes III., who has embellished the house where he was born,.........., the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III., the beloved of Rā-Hor-Khuti, who lives forever.
North Face [CENTRAL COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | ḥez | qa | Râ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | the white crown · | lifting · | Râ · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| Men-kheper-Râ | Ḥor-nub | har | nekht |
| Thothmes III. · | the golden Horus · | rejoicing in · | strength · |
| ḥu | ḥequ | men·tu? | peḥu | su | khatf | utu | nef |
| smiting · | the princes (of) · | the countries · | distant · | they · | because · | ordered · | for him · |
| tef | Râ | nekhtu | er | ta | neb | dem·t | ent | khepesh | em |
| father · | Râ · | victories · | over · | land · | all · | completeness · | of · | power · | at · |
| ru | dedui· | f | er | s·usekh | tash·tu |
| the end of · | the two hands · | his · | in order to · | cause to be extended · | the boundaries of · |
| Qem·t | sa | Râ | Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu du | ânkh | neb | zeta |
| Egypt · | the son of · | Râ · | Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | all · | forever. |
| Ḥor-pet | ḥez | qa | Râ | mer |
The heavenly
Horus · | the white crown · | lifting · | Râ · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | Men-kheper-Râ | Ḥor-nub |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Thothmes III. · | the golden Horus · |
| har | nekht | ḥu | ḥequ | men·tu? |
| rejoicing in · | strength · | smiting · | the princes
(of) · | the countries · |
| peḥu | su | khatf | utu | nef | tef | Râ |
| distant · | they · | because · | ordered · | for him · | father · | Râ · |
| nekhtu | er | ta | neb | dem·t | ent | khepesh |
| victories · | over · | land · | all · | completeness · | of · | power · |
| em | ru | dedui· | f | er |
| at · | the end of · | the two hands · | his · | in order to · |
| s·usekh | tash·tu | Qem·t | sa | Râ |
cause to be
extended · | the boundaries of · | Egypt · | the son of · | Râ · |
| Deḥuti-meses-nefer-kheperu du | ânkh | neb | zeta |
| Thothmes III. · | giving · | life · | all · | forever. |
i.e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, who has crowned11 himself with the white crown12, beloved of Rā. He is Thothmes III., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus13, rejoicing in his strength, the vanquisher of the princes of the countries which are distant. He did this because his father Rā had so commanded him, and had then given him victories over the entire world, and had placed an abundance of power on his arm, so that he [the king] might enlarge the boundaries of Egypt. This was done by the Sun’s offspring, Thothmes III., who gives all life forever.
II. Inscriptions of Ramses II.
The inscriptions of Ramses II. are found in the two vertical columns to the right and left of the central column of each face and the two horizontal lines at the base of each face of the obelisk. The inscriptions are in a much better condition than those of Thothmes III., and can be more readily deciphered. They were engraved on the stone not quite three centuries after the pyramidions and the central columns were inscribed. Even a casual observer will notice that the hawk at the top of each central column is larger than those to the right and left of it, these being crowded into the remaining space.
East Face [NORTHERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Râ | meses | nuteru | ger | taui |
| Ramses II. · | the Sun · | born of · | the gods · | possessing · | the two worlds · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | ḥun | shepes | merîti | mȧ | Ȧten |
| the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | a child · | glorious · | beloved · | like · | Aten · |
| pesed· | f | em | khu·t | neb | taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ |
| shines · | he · | in · | the horizon · | lord · | of the two countries · | Ramses II. · | son of Râ · |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer |
The heavenly
Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Râ |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · | the Sun · |
| meses | nuteru | ger | taui | sa Râ |
| born of · | the gods · | possessing · | the two
worlds · | the son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | ḥun | shepes | merîti |
| Ramses II. · | a child · | glorious · | beloved · |
| mȧ | Ȧten | pesed· | f | em | khu·t | neb |
| like · | Aten · | shines · | he · | in · | the horizon · | lord · |
| taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | khu | en | Râ | du | ânkh |
| of the two countries · | Ramses II. · | son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | the glory · | of · | Râ · | giving · | life. |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | khu | en | Râ | du | ânkh |
| Ramses II. · the glory · | of · | Râ · | giving · | life. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Ramses II.14, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Sun himself, and the child of the gods. He is master of the two countries [Egypt], the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II.15 He is a youth glorious and beloved like Aten16, when he shines in the horizon. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II.14, the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II.15, the glorious image of Rā, who gives life.
East Face [SOUTHERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | kheperȧ | sa | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Khepera’s · | son · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Ḥor-nub | user | renpe·tu | â | en |
| Ramses II. · | the golden Horus · | abounding in · | years · | great · | in · |
| nekhtu | sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | per | en | ef | em |
| victories · | the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | going out · | by · | him · | from · |
| kha·t | er | shep | khâu | en | Râ | meses | su | er | neb | uâ |
| womb · | to · | obtain · | diadems · | of · | Râ · | begetting · | himself · | as · | lord · | only · |
| neb | taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| lord of · | the two countries · | Ramses II. · | son of Râ · | Ramses II. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | kheperȧ | sa |
The heavenly
Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Khepera’s · | son · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Ḥor-nub |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · | the golden
Horus · |
| user | renpe·tu | â | en | nekhtu | sa Râ |
| abounding in · | years · | great · | in · | victories · | the son
of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | per | en | ef | em |
| Ramses II. · | going out · | by · | him · | from · |
| kha·t | er | shep | khâu | en | Râ | meses |
| womb · | to · | obtain · | diadems · | of · | Râ · | begetting · |
| su | er | neb | uâ | neb | taui |
| himself · | as · | lord · | only · | lord of · | the two countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Ramses II. · | son of
Râ · | Ramses II. | the glory · | of · |
| khu | en | Râ | ma Râ |
| the glory · | of · | Râ · | to-day (literally: like Râ). |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Khepera17. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years and is great in victories. He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., who issued from the Sun’s loins to receive the diadems of Rā. It is he who brought forth himself18 as sole ruler and lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., the glorious image of Rā, now and forever.
South Face [EASTERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Mâ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Truth · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | neb | ḥeb | mȧ | tef · | f | Ptaḥ-tathunen | sa Râ |
| Ramses II. · | lord of · | festival · | like · | father · | his · | Ptah-tatunen · | the son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | nuter | nuteri dûa | taui | rekh | hapu |
| Ramses II. · | god · | morning star of · | the two countries · | knowing · | the laws · |
| shef·t | em | ȧrî·tu | neb | taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ |
| awe inspiring · | in · | (his) works · | the lord of · | the two countries · Ramses II. · son of Râ · |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Mâ | mer |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Truth · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ |
| king of Upper and Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · |
| neb | ḥeb | mȧ | tef · | f | Ptaḥ-tathunen |
| lord of · | festival · | like · | father · | his · | Ptah-tatunen · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | nuter |
| the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | god · |
| nuteri dûa | taui | rekh | hapu |
| morning star of · | the two countries · | knowing · | the laws · |
| shef·t | em | ȧrî·tu | neb | taui |
| awe inspiring · | in · | (his) works · | the lord of · | the two
countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ |
| Ramses II. · | son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | du | ânkh |
| Ramses II. · | giving · | life. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Mā.19 He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of festivals, who is like his father Ptah of Memphis.20 He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., a god himself, the morning-star of the two countries, who is well versed in the laws and awe inspiring in his works. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring Ramses II., who gives life.
South Face [WESTERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ neb mut or sheta | neb ârâ or meḥen·t |
| Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture diadem · | lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · |
| mâk | Qem·t | uâf | men·tu? | sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| protector of · | Egypt · | smiter of · | the countries · | the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · |
| suten | menkh | mȧ | Râ | .......... | neb taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ |
| king · | kind · | like · | Râ · | illegible! · lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | ma Râ |
| the son of Râ · Ramses II. · to-day (literally: like Râ). |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | neb mut or
sheta |
king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · lord of the Vulture diadem · |
| neb ârâ or meḥen·t | mâk | Qem·t | uâf |
lord of the
Uræus-snake diadem · | protector of · | Egypt · | smiter of · |
| men·tu? | sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | suten |
| the countries · | the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | king · |
| menkh | mȧ | Râ | .......... | neb taui |
| kind · | like · | Râ · | illegible! · | lord of the two
countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ |
| Ramses II. · | the son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | ma Râ |
| Ramses II. · | to-day (literally: like Râ). |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt and smites the foreign nations. He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., a kind ruler like Rā,.......... the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., now and forever.
West Face [NORTHERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Râ | meses | nuteru | ger | taui |
| Ramses II. · | the Sun · | born of · | the gods · | possessing · | the two countries · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | .......... |
| the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | .......... illegible!.......... |
| nen | ȧr | ȧr· | f | em | per | tef· | f | neb | taui |
| not · | (was) done · | (what) did · | he · | in · | the house of · | father · | his · | lord of · | the two countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | du | ânkh |
| Ramses II. · | son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | giving · | life. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | mer |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Râ |
king of Upper and
Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · | the Sun · |
| meses | nuteru | ger | taui | sa Râ |
| born of · | the gods · | possessing · | the two
countries · | the son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | .......... |
| Ramses II. · | .......... illegible!.......... |
| nen | ȧr | ȧr· | f | em | per |
| not · | (was) done · | (what) did · | he · | in · | the house of · |
| tef· | f | neb | taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ |
| father · | his · | lord of · | the two
countries · | Ramses II. · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | du | ânkh |
| son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | giving · | life. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, who is the Sun himself and child of the gods. He is master of the two countries [Egypt], the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II........... No one has done what he did in his father’s [Tum’s] house. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., who gives life.
West Face [SOUTHERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Ḥor-nub | user | renpe·tu | â | en | nekhtu |
| Ramses II. · | the golden Horus · | abounding in · | years · | great · | in · | victories · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | .......... |
| son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | .......... illegible!.......... |
| neb taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su ma Râ |
| lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · | son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | to-day. |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · |
| suten-kaut? User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | Ḥor-nub |
king of Upper and
Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · | the golden Horus · |
| user | renpe·tu | â | en | nekhtu | sa Râ |
| abounding in · | years · | great · | in · | victories · | son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | .......... |
| Ramses II. · | .......... illegible!.......... |
| neb taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ |
| lord of the two countries · | Ramses II. · |
| sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | ma Râ |
| son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | to-day. |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the golden Horus, who abounds in years and is great in victories. He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II.,.......... He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., now and forever.
North Face [EASTERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Mâ | mer | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Mâ · | beloved · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | neb | ḥebu | mȧ | tef· | f | Ptaḥ | sa Râ |
| Ramses II. · | lord of · | festivals · | like · | father · | his · | Ptah · | son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | meses | en | Râ | er | s·ḥeb | Ȧn |
| Ramses II. · | begotten · | by · | Râ · | in order to · | cause to be glad · | Heliopolis · |
| er | s·zef | peru | meses | su | neb | taui |
| in order to · | cause to be filled · | the sanctuaries · | begetting · | himself · | lord of · | the two countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | du |
| Ramses II. · | the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · | giving · |
| ânkh | neb | ma Râ |
| life · | all · | to-day (literally: like Râ). |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Mâ | mer |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Mâ · | beloved · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | neb |
king of Upper and
Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · | lord of · |
| ḥebu | mȧ | tef· | f | Ptaḥ | sa Râ |
| festivals · | like · | father · | his · | Ptah · | son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | meses | en | Râ | er |
| Ramses II. · | begotten · | by · | Râ · | in order to · |
| s·ḥeb | Ȧn | er | s·zef |
| cause to be glad · | Heliopolis · | in order to · | cause to be filled · |
| peru | meses | su | neb | taui |
| the sanctuaries · | begetting · | himself · | lord of · | the two
countries · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Ramses II. · | the son of Râ · | Ramses II. · |
| du | ânkh | neb | ma Râ |
| giving · | life · | all · | to-day (literally: like Râ). |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, beloved of Mā [Truth]. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the festivals like his father Ptah. He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., whom Rā has begotten in order to gladden Heliopolis and fill her sanctuaries with treasures. It is he who brought forth himself as lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now and forever.
North Face [WESTERN COLUMN].
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa | suten-kaut? |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · | king of Upper and Lower Egypt · |
| User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | neb mut or sheta | neb ârâ or meḥen·t |
| Ramses II. · | lord of the Vulture diadem · | lord of the Uræus-snake diadem · |
| mâk | Qem·t | uâf | men·tu? | sa Râ | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| protector of · | Egypt · | smiter of · | the countries · | son of Râ · | Ramses II. · |
| suten | qen | ȧr | em | dedui· | f | khatf | ḥer | ta | neb |
| king · | triumph · | made · | at · | the two hands · | his · | in · | the face of · | the land · | all · |
| dem | neb taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ sa Râ Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| entire · | lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · | son of Ra · | Ramses II. · |
| du | ânkh | neb | ma Râ |
| giving · | life · | all · | to-day (literally: like Râ). |
| Ḥor-pet | qa | nekht | Râ | sa |
| The heavenly Horus · | bull · | powerful · | Râ’s · | son · |
| suten-kaut? | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ |
| king of Upper and Lower Egypt · | Ramses II. · |
| neb mut or sheta | neb ârâ or meḥen·t | mâk |
lord of the Vulture
diadem · | lord of the Uræus-snake
diadem · | protector of · |
| Qem·t | uâf | men·tu? | sa Râ |
| Egypt · | smiter of · | the countries · | son of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | suten | qen | ȧr | em |
| Ramses II. · | king · | triumph · | made · | at · |
| dedui· | f | khatf | ḥer | ta | neb |
| the two hands · | his · | in · | the face of · | the land · | all · |
| dem | neb taui | User-Mâ-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ |
| entire · | lord of the two countries · Ramses II. · | son of Ra · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su | du | ânkh | neb | ma Râ |
| Ramses II. · | giving · life · all · | to-day (literally:
like Râ). |
i. e. Behold Pharaoh! He is the heavenly Horus, the powerful bull, the son of Rā. He is Ramses II., the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, the lord of the Vulture and Uræus diadems, who protects Egypt and smites the foreign nations. He is the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., a king whose hands have done warlike deeds in full view of the entire world. He is the lord of the two countries [Egypt], Ramses II., the Sun’s offspring, Ramses II., who gives all life now and forever.
The Base [EAST, SOUTH, WEST, NORTH].
At the bottom of each of the four faces of the obelisk are two horizontal lines of almost totally destroyed hieroglyphs. They bear the cartouches of Ramses II., and are so written as to read from the centre each way. The inscription is
| Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User | nefer | nuter | ânkh | nuter | nefer | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User | nefer | nuter | ânkh | nuter | nefer | Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Ramses II. · | gracious · | god · | life · | god · | gracious · | Ramses II. |
| Ramses II. · | gracious · | god · | life · | god · | gracious · | Ramses II. |
| Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Râ-en-sotep-Râ-Mâ-User nefer nuter ânkh nuter nefer Ȧmen-mer-Râ-meses-su |
| Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II. |
| Ramses II. · gracious · god · life · god · gracious · Ramses II. |
i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.!
i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.!
i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.!
i. e. Long life to the gracious god, Ramses II.!
III. Inscriptions of Osarkon I.
Besides the three columns of hieroglyphs on each face of our obelisk, all chiseled in large and bold characters, we find at the lower end of each face near each edge inscriptions by a later king. The hieroglyphs of these inscriptions are so minute and so mutilated as to be scarcely legible. They seem to have started at the first of the lower cartouches and to have extended to the two horizontal lines at the bottom of the obelisk. As each face has two of these columns, there are eight of these inscriptions on the obelisk. The last half of the inscriptions is destroyed in each case and may have been different on every column. The eastern column on the south face is the most legible one and presumably reads thus
| suten-kaut? | kherp-kheper-Râ-sotep-en-Râ | sa Râ |
The king of Upper
and Lower Egypt · | Osarkon I. · | the son
of Râ · |
| Ȧmen-mer-Ûsarken | .......... |
| Osarkon I. · | ..........illegible!.......... |
i. e. The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Osarkon I., the Sun’s offspring, Osarkon I.,..........
IV. Inscriptions of Augustus.
There is no name of any other Egyptian ruler, except the three mentioned above, inscribed on our obelisk. When the emperor Augustus, however, had the London and New York Obelisks transported to Alexandria in 12 B. C., he caused his name to be engraved on the crabs which supported them. Only two of these crabs have come down to us and are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Central Park. On the only remaining claw of one of the crabs are two inscriptions; on the one side in Greek and on the other in Latin, which give the names of the emperor, prefect or governor, and architect. Prof. Augustus Merriam of Columbia College has devoted some time to the study of these inscriptions and has made some very remarkable discoveries, which fix the eighteenth year of the reign of Augustus as the time of the reërection of the London and New York Obelisks in Alexandria. The inscriptions are herewith given in fac-simile.
The Greek inscription reads which looks like this in regular Greek types:
| L ΙΗ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ | In the year · 18 · of Cæsar |
| ΒΑΡΒΑΡΟΣ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕ | Barbarus · erected (it). |
| ΑΡΧΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΟΥΝΤΟΣ | The architect being |
| ΠΟΝΤΙΟΥ | Pontius. |
i. e. The governor Barbarus erected this obelisk in the eighteenth year of the reign of the emperor Augustus (12 B. C.). Pontius was the architect.
The Latin inscription reads which is in regular Latin types:
| ANNO XVIII CÆSARIS | In the year · 18 · of Cæsar |
| BARBARVS PRÆF | Barbarus · the prefect |
| ÆGYPTI POSVIT | of Egypt · erected (it). |
| ARCHITECTANTE PONTIO | The architect being · Pontius. |
i. e. Barbarus, governor of Egypt, erected this obelisk in the eighteenth year of the reign of the emperor Augustus (12 B. C.). Pontius was the architect.
The Greek letter Psi (Ψ) in the first line of the Latin text seems to have been the initial of the engraver’s name, who must have been a Greek, if we can draw this inference from the beautiful Greek and the poor Latin form of the letters in the inscriptions.
The full translation of the obelisk.
As a recapitulation of the translation of the Egyptian inscriptions on our obelisk, which has been given in the preceding pages, we now place the complete translation of each face of the obelisk in a very compact and simple form before our readers. The English translation will be found to correspond to the hieroglyphs, and each word can be easily picked out on the three columns of the original. All the words in Italics are to be found in the Egyptian text, while those in common Roman types are supplied so as to render the inscriptions intelligible to the reader.