TA-NEHESI: primary Old Kingdom docs

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Please excuse the 100+ year old Breasted translation.
Will replace as more current ones are found.

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Some posts appended with Lichtheim's translation.
Two posts appended with Mark Vygus' translation.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

KING SNEFRU

Year x+2

Hacking up TaNehesu.
Bringing of 7,000 living prisoners, and 200,000 large and small cattle.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

KING SAHURE

Year 13

Punt, 80,000 measures of myrrh, 6,ooo - - - of electrum, 2,600 - - - staves, - - - .

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Weny under Pepi I

War against the Bedwin

	His majesty made war on the Asiatic Sand-dwellers (`am-hryw-sha) and
14	his majesty made an army of many ten thousands: in the entire South, southward to Elephantine and northward to Aphroditopolis; in the Northland on both sides entire
15	in the stronghold, and in the midst of the strongholds, among the Irthet (yrtt) Nehesu, the Mazoi (mdj') Nehesu, the Yam (ym'm) Nehesu,
16	among the Wawat (w'w'. t) Nehesu, among the Kau (k'w) Nehesu, and in the land of Temeh (t mh).

His majesty made an army of many tens of thousands, from all of Upper Egypt, south to Yebu, north to Medenit, from Lower Egypt, to "Two-sides-of-the-House" (the Delta) from Sedjer to Khen-sediru from the Irtjet-Nubians, the Medja-Nubians, the Yam-Nubians from the Wawat-Nubians, from the Kaau-Nubians,from Tjemeh-land.

His majesty sent me at the head of this army

trans by Mark Vygus

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

REIGN OF MERNERE

Northern Inscription

The coming of the king himself, standing behind the hill-country, while the rulers of Mazoi, Irthet, and Wawat, did obeisance and gave great praise.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Weni under Mernere

Second Expedition to Southern Quarries

	His majesty sent to dig five canals
46	in the South and to make 3 cargo-boats and 4 tow-boats of acacia wood of Wawat. Then the foreign rulers of Irthet (yrrtt), Wawat, Yam (y'm) and Mazoi
47	drew timber therefor, and I did the whole in only one year.

His majesty sent (me) in order to dig 5 canals in Upper Egypt and in order to build 3 barges and 4 tow-boats of acacia wood of Wawat the rulers of the Medja hills Irtjet, Wawat, Yam, Medja were cutting the wood for them. (I) did it entirely in one year, floated and loaded with very large granite (blocks) for the pyramid 'Mernere-appears-in-splendor'. Indeed, I made a saving for the Palace with all these 5 canals.

trans by Mark Vigus (Vygus)

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Three journeys under Mernere

First Journey

	... my lord, sent me, together with my father, the sole companion, and ritual priest, Iri, to Yam, in order to explore a road to this country.
5	I did it in only seven months and I brought all (kinds of) gifts from it - - - . I was very greatly praised for it.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Three journeys under Mernere

Second Journey

	His majesty sent me a second time
6	alone; I went forth upon the Elephantine road, and I descended from Irthet (yrtt), Mekher (m'khr), Tereres (trrs), Irtheth (yrtt), being an affair of eight months. When I descended
7	I brought gifts from this country in very great quantity. Never
8	before was the like brought to this land. I descended from the dwelling of the chief of Sethu (stw) and Irthet (yrtt),
9	after I had explored these countries. Never had any companion or caravan-conductor who went forth to Yam
10	before this, done.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Three journeys under Mernere

Third Journey

	His majesty now sent me a third time to Yam;
11	I went forth from - - - upon the Wehat (wh'.t) Road, and I found the ruler of Yam
12	going to the land of Temeh (tmh) to smite Temeh
13	as far as the western corner of heaven. I went forth after him to the land of Temeh,
14	and I pacified him, until he praised all the gods for the king's sake.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Three journeys under Mernere

Supplement to Third Journey

1	- - - t, Yam who followed - - - - - - in order to inform the majesty of Mernere, my lord,
2	- - - after the ruler of Yam. Now when I had pacified that ruler of Yam
3	- - - below Irthet and above Sethu, I found the ruler of Irthet, Sethu, and Wawat
4	- - - . I descended with 300 asses laden with incense, ebony, heknu, grain,
5	panthers, - - -, ivory, throw-sticks, and every good product. Now when the ruler of Irthet, Sethu,
6	and Wawat saw how strong and numerous was the troop of Yam, which descended with me to the court, and the soldiers who had been sent with me, then
7	this brought and gave to me bulls and small cattle, and conducted me to the roads of the highlands of Irthet, because I was more excellent, vigilant, and - - -
8	than any count, companion or caravan-conductor, who had been sent to Yam before.

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

One journey under Pepi II

LETTER OF PEPI II

Date, Introduction, and Acknowledgment of Harkhuf's Letter

1	Royal seal, year 2, third month of the first season, third month, day 15.
2	Royal decree to the sole companion, the ritual priest and caravan-conductor, Harkhuf (hr-khwf).
3	I have noted the matter of this your letter, which you have sent to the king, to the palace, in order that one may know that you havet descended
4	in safety from Yam with the army which was with you. You have said this your letter, that you have brought
5	all great and beautiful gifts, which Hathor, mistress of Imu, has given to the ka of the
6	king of Upper and Lower Egypt Neferkere, who lives forever and ever. You have said in this your letter that you have brought a dancing dwarf
7	of the god from the Land of Spirits, like the dwarf which
8	the treasurer of the god, Burded, brought from Punt in the time of Isesi. You have said to my majesty: "Never
9	before has one like him been brought by any other who has visited Yam."

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

One journey under Pepi II

LETTER OF PEPI II

Harkhuf's Rewards

Each year - - - you
doing that which your lord desires and praises; you spend day and night with the caravan in doing that which	10
your lord desires, praises and commands. His majesty will make	11
you many excellent honors to be an ornament for the son of your son forever, so that all people will say	12
when they hear what my majesty does for you: "Is there anything like this which was done for the sole companion, Harkhuf,	13
when he descended from Yam, because of the vigilance which he showed, to do that which his lord desired, praised and commanded!"	14

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

One journey under Pepi II

LETTER OF PEPI II

King's Instructions

Come northwards to the court immediately; - - -	15
you shall bring this dwarf with you, which you bring living, prosperous and healthy from the Land of Spirits,	16
for the dances of the god, to rejoice and gladden the heart of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Neferkere, who lives forever.	17
When he goes down with you into the vessel, appoint excellent people, who shall be beside him	18
on each side of the vessel; take care lest he fall into the water. When sleeps at night appoint excellent people,	19
who shall sleep beside him in his tent; inspect ten times a night.	20
My majesty desires to see this dwarf more than the gifts of Sinai and	21
of Punt (pwnt). If you arrive at court this dwarf being with you	22
alive, prosperous and healthy, my majesty will do for you a greater thing than that which was done for the treasurer of the god, Burded,	23
in the time of Isesi, according to the heart's desire of my majesty to see this dwarf.	24
Commands have been sent to the chief of the New towns, the companion, and superior prophet, to command that sustenance be taken	25
from him in every store-city and every temple, without stinting therein.	26

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

First Nubian Expedition

The majesty of my lord sent me, to hack up Wawat and Irthet. I did
so that my lord praised me. I slew a great number there consisting of rulers' children and excellent commanders of - - - . I brought	6
a great number of them to the court as living prisoners, while I was at the head of many mighty soldiers as a hero.	7
The heart of my lord was satisfied with me in every commission with which he sent me.	8

[Tukuler al~Takruri]

Second Nubian Expedition

Now, the majesty of my lord sent me to pacify these countries.
I did so that my lord praised me exceedingly, above everything. I brought the two rulers of these countries to the court in safety,	9
bulls and live goats which they - - - to the court, together with rulers' children, and the two commanders of - - -, who were with them.	10
- - - that which the lords of the South do, because I was excellent in watchfulness and because I did that which my lord desired.	11