Download - Sphinx Stela of Thutmose IV
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Sphinx stela of Thutmose IV1Year I, third month of the first season, day 19, under
the majesty ofHorus: Mighty-Bull-[Begetting (?)]-
Radiance; Favorite of the Two Goddesses: Enduring-
in-Kingship-like-Atum; Golden Horus: Mighty-of-Sword, Repelling-the-Nine-Bows; King of Upper and
Lower Egypt; Menkheprure (mn-xpr[w]ra), Son of
Re: [Thutmose (IV), Shining]-in-Diadems; beloved of
///, given life, stability, satisfaction, like Re, forever.
2Live the Good God, son of Atum, Protector of
Harakhte, living image of the All-Lord, sovereign,
begotten of Re; excellent heir of Khepri; beautiful of
ace like his father; who came forth [///] equipped
with the form of Horus upon him; a king who /// the
gods; who /// favor with the ennead of gods; who
purifies Heliopolis, 3who satisfies Re; who beautifiesMemphis; who presents truth to Atum, who offers it to
Him-Who-is-South-of-His-Wall; who makes a
monument by daily offering to Horus; who does all
things, seeking benefits for the gods of South and
North; who builds their houses of limestone; who
endows all their offerings; son of Atum, of his body,
Thutmose (IV), Shining in Diadems, like Re; 4heir of
Horus upon his throne, Menkheprure, given life
When his majesty was a stripling like Horus, the youth in Khemmis, his beauty was like theprotector of
his father, he seemed like the god himself. The army rejoiced because of love for him, the king's-children
and all the nobles. Then his strength overflowed him, and he 5repeated the circuit of his might like the
son of Nut.
Behold, he did a thing that gave him pleasure upon the highlands of the Memphite nome, upon its
southern and northern road, shooting at a target with copper bolts, hunting lions and wild goats,
coursing in his chariot, his horses being swifter6than the wind; togetherwith two of his followers, while
not a soul knew it.
Now, when his hour came on for giving rest to his followers, (it was always) at the [shoulder (?)] of
Harmakhis, beside Sokar in Rosta, Renutetin [/// ///] in heaven, Mut /// /// of the northern /// the
mistress of the Wall of the South, Sekhmet7presider (fem.) over Khas (xAs) [/// ///] the splendid place ofthe beginning of time, over against the lords of Khereha (xr-axa), the sacred road of the gods to the
necropolis west of On (Heliopolis). Now, the very great statue of Khepri, rests in this place; the great in
prowess, the splendid in strength; upon which the shadow of Re tarries. The quarters of Memphis and all
the cities which are by him come to him, (raising) their hands for him in praise to his face, 8bearing great
oblations for his ka
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One of those days it came to pass that the king's-son, Thutmose, came, coursing at the time of midday,
and he rested in the shadow ofthis great god. A [vision (?)] of sleep seized him at the hour (when) the
sun was in the zenith, 9and he found the majesty of this revered god speaking with his own mouth, as a
father speaks with his son, saying: "Behold thou me! See thou me! my son Thutmose. I am thy father,
Harmakhis-Khepri-Re-Atum, who will give to thee my kingdom 10on earth at the head of the living. Thou
shalt wear the white crown and the red crown upon the throne of Keb, the hereditary prince. The land
shall be thine in its length and breadth, that which the eye of the All-Lord shines upon. The food of the
Two Lands shall be thine, the great tribute of all countries, the duration of a long period of years. My
face is thine, my desire is toward thee. Thou shalt be to me a protector11(for) my manner is as I were
ailing in all my limbs [///]. The sand of this desert upon which I am, has reached me; turn to me, to have
that done which I have desired, knowing that thou art my son, my protector; [come hither (?)], behold, I
am with thee, I am 12thy leader
When he had finished this speech, this king's-son [awoke (?)] hearing this /// ///; he understood the
words of this god, and he kept silent in his heart. He said: "Come, let us hasten to our house in the city;
they shall protectthe oblations for this god13which we bring for him: oxen [///] and all young
vegetables; and we shall give praise [to] Wen-nofer, /// /// /// Khaf[re], the statue made for Atum-
Harmakhis 14/////////
The text on the stela is not original but was redrawn during the first millennium BCE.
Horus:.... concerning the pharaonic titles seeThe pharaoh - man, ruler and god.
who came forth [///] equipped with the form of Horus upon him: Breasted: He was born with the royal insignia
upon him, as in Papyrus Westcar.Him-Who-is-South-of-His-Wall:Ptah, the main god of Memphis
Khemmis: capital of the 9th nome of Upper Egypt, modern Akhmim.
protector of his father: Breasted: Harendotes, a title of Horus.
shooting at a target with copper bolts: according to C. el Mahdy [1] he was shooting at a target of copper.
lions: the Nubian lions became extinct in Egypt about 200 years ago.
with two of his followers: according to C. el Mahdy he had just one companion.
while not a soul knew it: at times royalhuntswere rather like army operations where the aim was to slaughter
as many animals as possible.
Rosta: C. el Mahdy: cemetery
Renenutet: harvest goddess
[/// ///] in heaven: According to C. el Mahdy Tamut in the region of the pyramids.
[/// ///] the splendid place: C. el Mahdy: Seth, the eldest magician, in the hallowed place.
necropolis: C. el Mahdy: horizon.
this great god: Breasted: the sphinx
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My face is thine: C. el Mahdy thinks that the god's face is turned towards Thutmose.
Thou shalt be to me a protector: according to el Mahdy: You are mine.
turn to me: el Mahdy: I have waited
this king's-son: i.e. Thutmose
they shall protect: el Mahdy: we shall dedicate