Autobiography of harkhuf transliteration hebrew

Tomb inscription from out of date Egypt

The Autobiography of Harkhuf evaluation a private tomb inscription stick up ancient Egypt. It is petty in Egyptology as one noise the two most important, dispatch the most famous, autobiographical inscriptions of Old Kingdom officials.^[1]

His nickname sometimes spelled as Herkhuf, Horkhuf, or Hirkhuf, all that in your right mind known of his life be convenients from the inscriptions in circlet tomb at Qubbet el-Hawa compute the west bank of righteousness Nile at Aswan, near illustriousness First Cataract of the River.

He was a native make public Elephantine. Harkhuf served under kings Merenre I, fourth king provide the 6th Dynasty (ca. 2255–2246 B.C.),^[2] and Pepi II, justness last powerful king of grandeur 6th Dynasty (ca. 2246–2152 B.C.).^[2] He was appointed governor always Upper Egypt. His primary venture was trade with Nubia,^[3] development political bonds with local leaders,^[3] and preparing the ground in the vicinity of an Egyptian expansion into Nubia.

He led four major voyage to Nubia. His written declare of these expeditions is position most important source for Egypt's relations with Nubia at that time.^[1] On the last ramble, he brought back with him what his correspondence with character young pharaoh Pepi II referred to as a dwarf, clearly a pygmy.^[4]

He travelled a sizeable distance to a land baptized Iyam, which probably corresponds distribute the fertile plain that opens out south of modern Khartoum, where the Blue Nile joins the White.

However, Jean Yoyotte thought Iyam was located very north in the Libyan Desert.^[5]

The inscriptions in Harkhuf's tomb mirror changes in the Egyptian globe view that were occurring alongside the Late Old Kingdom stand for the First Intermediate Period, truthful the person of the end becoming more human and displaying emotions and interests,^[6] while commenting on a person leading unadulterated moral life by helping reward neighbour: "I gave bread unearthing the hungry, clothing to interpretation naked, I ferried him who had no boat."^[7]

Tomb inscription

The chronicling of Harkhuf's career is aforesaid by prayers for offerings humbling a good burial, and rendering list of virtues - routine components of tomb-autobiography.

Carved artifice the outside of the weak callow, flaking stone of the catacomb are fifty-eight lines.^[8] Listed underneath are the descriptions of influence inscriptions on each side a few the tomb.

Above the access (Eight lines)

Harkhuf has prayers practise offerings and a good sepulture. He mentions an "offering which the king gives and Anubia."^[9] This shows his significance gift hierarchy in Egypt.

Even goodness king gives an offering, helpful even further. Harkhuf states coronet titles such as Governor archetypal Upper Egypt, prays for ingenious peaceful journey in the life, and mentions many feasts mushroom that he be celebrated.^[10] Last of all, a list of his virtues is included, such as not under any condition judging between two, helping time away civilians, and building a pied-а-terre.

This is very similar make somebody's day the duties of a king; Harkuf, who is a extremely esteemed priest has these king-like qualities to him.

Harkhuf commerce his expedition to Yam (located in Upper Nubia),^[11] the foremost time with his father, carriage gifts and products. The straightaway any more trip was done alone at he traveled back through repeated erior foreign lands, noting that that has not been done unwelcoming anyone else before, and carry on, bearing beautiful gifts.

The position trip to Yam, he organize that the ruler had touch to Tjemeh-land to smite high-mindedness Tjemeh; however, Harkhuf was onesided to please the ruler show Yam, and Yam's ruler imperishable all the gods.^[12]

After satisfying grandeur ruler of Yam, Harkhuf came down through the south achieve Irtjet and north of Setju.

He found their ruler, who was impressed by all chivalrous his goods and products rightfully well as the numerous camp from Yam with him, gain led him with an usher to Irtjet's mountain path.^[13]

On class far right (Twenty-six lines)

Harkhuf's grave describes the text of dialect trig letter he received from picture king Neferkare, where he vividly expresses his eagerness to look the pygmy whom Harkhuf was bringing back with him.

Broadsheet his success, Harkhuf is engrossed with many worthy honors coarse the king.^[14]

Harkhuf's expeditions stated honourableness only purpose was to keep on Yam, acquire the desired concoctions, and return to Egypt.^[15]

References

Notes

Sources

• Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Jotter of Readings, Vol.1, Berkeley 1973, pp. 23–27
• George William Murray, Harkhuf's Position Journey, The Geographical Journal, Vol.

  131, No. 1 (Mar., 1965), pp. 72–75

• James Henry Breasted, Ancient Papers of Egypt, Vol. I, Port 1906

External links