Text: Cairo JE 38545
Provenance: Tell Faraon (Imet) Date: 154-130 B.C. Language: Hieroglyphic Translated by: O. Neugebauer & R. A. Parker ; Ph. Derchain Format: see key to translations Most of this translation is taken from the English translation by O. Neugebauer & R. A. Parker, "Egyptian Astronomical Texts" (1969), iii, pp.214-215; the last part is adapted from the French translation by Ph. Derchain (CDE, 1989). See also M. Clagett, "Ancient Egyptian Science: A Source Book", no. III.18 ( Google Books ). Various dates within the Ptolemaic period have been proposed for the statue; the date shown here is deduced from the reference to the heliacal rising of Venus in the first column of the text. |
1 Hereditary prince and count, sole companion, wise in the sacred writings, who observes everything observable in heaven and earth, clear-eyed in observing the stars, among which there is no erring; who announces rising and setting at their times, with the gods who foretell the future, for which he purified himself in their days when Akh {decan} rose heliacally beside Benu {Venus} from earth and he contented the lands with his utterances; who observes the culmination of every star in the sky, who knows the heliacal risings of every . . . in a good year, 2 and who foretells the heliacal rising of Sothis at the beginning of the year. He observes Sothis on the day of her first festival, knowledgeable in her course at the times of designating therein, observing what she does daily, all she has foretold is in his charge; knowing the northing and southing of the sun, announcing all its wonders {omens?} and appointing for them a time (?), he declares when they have occurred, coming at their times; who divides the hours for the two times [day and night] without going into error at night . . . ; 3 knowledgeable in everything which is seen in the sky, for which he has waited, skilled with respect to their conjunctions and their regular movements ; who does not disclose [anything] at all concerning his report after judgement, discreet with all he has seen, (?) no-one can refute what he speaks to the Lord of the Two Lands; he who renders harmless the children of Serket, he who knows the escape holes of serpents, he who keeps them away. . ., he who seals the mouth of what is in them, he who stirs their venom out of the body, he who protects the royal house,
4 who cleanses its impurity, who protects its waterways and makes its way safe; the director of priests in service for . . . protecting the house (?), he who speaks auspicious words - may they rejoice in his interpretations - he who does what his god loves, the sorcerer of Serket Harkhebi, son of the one honoured before Wadjet the perfect, may favour come from her.
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