It is almost certain that these four statues belong to the same family; but it is more difficult to place them in their correct chronological order. According to K. Jansen-Winkeln, the most likely order is that Nes-min (A) was the father of Khnemibre-menti (B), who was the father of Nes-min (C&D). The statues have been dated, only approximately, to the early Ptolemaic period.
The translations are derived from the following sources:
[A] Cairo JE 47277
{ Top: } The god's father and prophet of Amun-Re, the Primordial One of the Two Lands, Nes-min, justified
{ Front: } A royal offering to Amun-Re, the lord of the throne of the Two Lands, the First of Karnak, the Primordial One of the Two Lands, whose holy arm lifts up the heavens, who created beings: offering everything that comes to his altar and that is offered to his ka, incense on his sacrificial table, water offerings on his altar, all the good things in which he takes pleasure at all times, when one serves his ka, when one calls out when offering praise, when one pronounces the (?) name when performing the ritual, for the ka of the god's father and prophet of Amun in Karnak, the divine purifier of Amun, the rdwj-nṯr priest of Amun, the prophet of Amun-Re, the Primordial One of the Two Lands, Nes-min, justified, son of the similarly titled Khnemibre-menti, born to the lady of the house and musician of Amun-Re Ta-sherit-Min.
{ Right: } [The god's father and prophet of Amun-Re, the primeval one of the Two Lands], Nes-min, justified, says: O prophets and god's fathers of the Lord of the gods, wab-priests of the Most Great One, those authorised to enter with a righteous heart, who may enter the secret place of the great ba, who may see the divine body, who adorn the palace of the great living god, who satisfy 'the one with great majesty' in the golden house, great ones of Thebes, who are versed in the 'horizon', nobles of the 'precinct of the gods', who reach the courtyard of the pillars together with the Chief of the Gods at his beautiful festival of the first month of the shemu season, who tread the divine [ground(?)] to protect the great god in the necropolis: long life to you the [great . . . ] ba at the top . . ., just as you bend your arms to me with flowers and pronounce my name along with the names of your worthy dead. It is fitting for me: I was one with a kind heart. I spent my entire lifetime praising God for all the statues I passed. Just as you have treated me, you will be treated by all those who will come after you.
{ Left: } The god's father and prophet of Amun-Re, the primeval one of the Two Lands, Nes-min, justified, says: O all wab-priests, all scribes and scholars who have explored the scriptures, the craftsmen of Thoth who know the scriptures, the attendants of the mansion of the Sole Ruler, who come and go at his cult site(?), the college of victorious Thebes, administrators of Karnak, god-bearers of the 'Ram that rides the sky,' who announce his majesty when he emerges, who appease his ba, who praise his power when he is brought to his food in 'heaven,' who daily sing hymns so that he is pleased with their utterances: You shall live on earth, you shall remain in his house, performing beneficial deeds for your lord, just as you say 'may he praise you' for me, pronouncing my name well. Whoever speaks excellently will not tire: it is truly effective for the one who does it.
{ Back: }
The god's father and prophet of Amun-Re, the Primordial One of the Two Lands, Nes-min, justified, says: O Amun, Lord of the Gods, Primordial One of the Two Lands, First of Karnak: May you make my statue endure at the entrance of your sanctuary, remaining there forever, without being shattered, without anyone to split it asunder, being like new forever. I know whom your ka loves: may you make his name endure on earth, may you "tie up" his seed in your city, so that he may be remembered in the offering of praise every time when entering your house. It is fitting for me: I was one who served your ka, with a truly kind heart for his Lord.
[B] Cairo JE 36918
{ on arms: } : The god's father, prophet of Amun-Re, He who belongs to the primeval times of the Two Lands, Khnemibre-menti, justified.
The god's father, scribe of the god, the chancellor of the god, the scribe of Amun's treasury, Khnemibre-menti, justified.
{ front: } : An offering that the king gives to Amun-Re, He who belongs to the primeval times of the Two Lands, He who raises the sky, who creates what exists, the august force, who was the first to come into existence, from the beginning. May He allow to emerge in the form of a ba who arises with breath, who takes a living form in the daytime and who comes to the god's offerings of šsrt cakes, to His half-cakes, to the water jug placed on His vase-stands, for the ka of the god's father, prophet of Amun in Ipetsut, the initiate of secrets, the divine purifier, the sacred nourisher of Amun, the scribe of the treasury, the scribe of the god, the chancellor of Amun, the one known to the king, the prophet of Amun-Re, He who belongs to the primeval times of the Two Lands, Khnemibre-menti, justified, son of the holder of the same titles, divine purifier of Amun, Nes-min, justified, born to the lady sistrum-player of Amun-Re, Ta-(ent)-Amun, justified.
May the god allow me to exist as a statue in the place I desire in the shadow of Ipetsut, that I may remain within it until eternity. May I join the kas of the gods. May I lean against the wall in His House. May I listen to the prayer of his servants. May I eat and drink daily from his offerings on every altar. My father placed me among his servants while I was still young, and I remained there until my old age, seeing His divine Majesty among his temple attendants going out and coming in to perform their duties. I was in the glorious place of His Holiness. I contemplated the religious rites in His mansion. He has enlarged my place among those who are in the Great Mansion, who are part of the College of priests of His House. In the sight of His Majesty during the priestly services, in accordance with what is appropriate, I had a calm step, without weakness, keeping silence in the deep shelter(?), in the presence of His Statue. His heart loves these offerings. His Majesty designated me as a great prophet. I was at the head of His Assembly of priests. He renewed their favours for me, as his ka desired. He placed love for me in the hearts of the great, the worthy and the nobles of all Upper Egypt. The priests were happy because of my condition. They have sought advice from me. May the god make my name last, from heir to heir: they are the seed that came from me. Let the priests take care of my food service, providing my portion abundantly. This is what they do as they pass by my statue (?): they invoke my name when they make the water flow; they pour it on the altar with libation vessels. May they ward off any harm that might befall me while they are here, for the duration of eternity!
{ right: } : A royal offering to Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, the great god, lord of the Styt, to Wennefer, ruler of eternity, and to all the gods and goddesses who are in Thebes, to the great Ennead who are in Karnak, giving everything that comes upon their altar, what is offered to their kas during the course of each day, after the god has satisfied himself with it, for the ka of the god's father, the initiate who may enter the sacred place, the sem-priest of the First of the House of Gold, who knows the secret in an unknown task, who carries the Sokar to (?) his barge, the scribe of the divine treasure, the prophet in the monthly service of Khonsu in Thebes, Neferhotep, the scribe of the treasury of Neferhotep the guest in Ḥwt-sḫmtj {Diospolis Parva}, the prophet of Amun-Re, the primeval one of the Two Lands, Khnemibre-menti, justified, the son of the god's father and divine purifier of Amun Nes-min, justified, the son of the god's father and divine purifier of Amun Khnemibre-menti, justified, born to the lady of the house and musician of Amun-Re Ta-(ent)-Amun, justified, the daughter of the god's father, initiate and divine purifier, the great scholar in Thebes Userkhons, justified.
May the gods make the statue of my body lasting, may it endure like a young shoot of the gods. May I remain here for the duration of eternity, without any difficulties of life and without my name being forgotten in His Presence. May I be perfumed with incense. May I breathe the myrrh gathered here before Him. May I receive the offering of bread from the abundance of Egypt as one who stands near the Lord of the gods. May I hear the praise when the priests go around the horizon of His sanctuary, at the moment when they address the litany to Him. I have been a righteous one in my heart towards Him. With calm step, without fail, I go and come on the ways that are according to His desire. I have not committed what his ka hates; I have always purified myself for Him. May the crowd of people never diminish in the place where I have been placed as an associate of His House. May the god make my heritage endure for the heir who comes after me. May my statue remain lasting in His Temple!
{ left: } : O all scribes, all scholars, attentive and skilled in their duties, those with secret tasks, all those who will see this statue, may this 'Protector' that is at the head of Wnt, Lord of Khemenu {Hermopolis}, who lives by Maat, endure for you; may your descendants exist in your place, when you say "May He favour you" to the ka of the god's father, the initiate of secrets, the divine purifier, the chief of seers in Southern Heliopolis, the one with serene step in the Great Mansion, the one who adorns the god in the Mansion of the Great One, the scribe of the god, the chancellor of the god, the prophet in the monthly service in the House of Amenope, the prophet of Amun-Re, He who belongs to the primeval time of the Two Lands, Khnemibre-menti, justified, son of the god's father, the divine purifier of Amun, Nes-min, justified, son of the god's father, the divine purifier of Amun, Khnemibre-menti, justified, born to the lady, the sistrum player of Amun-Re, Ta-(ent)-amun, daughter of the god's father, the initiate of secrets, the divine purifier, the great scholar in Thebes, Userkhons, justified.
Let your mouths not tire of saying this; it will not be a heavy burden for you! For I am a perfect dignitary, worthy of having anyone act for him. I have spent a long life on earth. I have walked in the path of the god of my region. I am just in heart, free from partiality. I am fair in applying justice. I am one who has knowledge of his city, without partiality. The other judges rely on what I say; I am one whose arrival is expected in the court because of the value of his excellent pronouncements. I have denounced insolence in the court. I have not shown partiality, neither to a humble man, nor to a noble. My heart is sympathetic in listening before pronouncing a sentence on a complaint. I have not sent anyone away, if they have come to address me. I am someone who only says what is excellent, only repeats what is most useful, someone whose lips do not utter evil words. If one were to search within myself, one would find no defect there. I achieved this because my heart was just, and I knew that I would meet God on the day of death.
{ base: } : { to the right } An offering that the king gives to Montu-Re, the Lord of Thebes, and to Amun-Re, the Bull of his Mother, who is at the head of his harem, so that they may make an offering of bread, beer, heads of cattle and poultry, ointments, and clothing for the ka of the god's father, the prophet of Amun-Re, the One who belongs to the primeval times of the Two Lands, Khnemibre.
{ to the left } An offering that the king gives to Amun-Re, lord of the throne of the Two Lands, who is at the head of Ipetsut, and to Mut the Great, lady of Isheru, and to Khonsu in Thebes Nefer-hotep, and to Amenet who is in the middle of Ipet-Sut, so that they may give all good, pure, and sweet things that a god lives on, for the ka of the god's father, Khnemibre.
{ back pillar: }
The god's father, the prophet of Amun-Re, He who belongs to the primeval times of the Two Lands, Khnemibre-menti, justified. He says: O Prophets, god's fathers who are performing their monthly service, who open the two doors in Ipetsut; when you praise your Lord Whose-name-is-hidden, at the moment when He receives the provisions from your arms, say for my sake to the Lord of the gods, "May He favour you!" Stretch out towards me your arms laden with bouquets mounted all alike, for I am someone kind of heart. I made a burial for the ancestors in their tomb which is in the necropolis. I had their bodies embalmed by the work of Anubis, in the workshop which is in a tent. I offered protection to the families, all of the men accompanied by their wives. I granted my support to the assembly (?) of priests. I extended my hand towards the poor. The reward for this, from my Lord Amun, is to reach old age in His House, following His ka; as well as a beautiful burial on the West bank of Thebes, provided by the work of my own son!
[C] Cairo JE 36693
{ left side: } O god's father of Amun in Karnak, divine purifier in the house of Amun Nes-Min, justified, be welcome, being honoured without an enemy, by your city-god . . . May you go to the temple without being turned away. May you come out in joy without fear. May you enter the earth, and may you walk through the underworld. May your ba walk behind Re. May a funeral offering be made to you in the temple of Amun by the god's fathers of Karnak. May you be given food from the remainder of the sacrificial feast on the altar of 'He Whose Name is Hidden'. May it be said to you: 'Welcome in peace, excellent venerable one, without fault!' May the entire Ennead say to you:
{ base: } O ka, meri-netjer priest Nes-Min, justified, may your ba reside with the excellent bas. May you travel through the divine land of Punt without anyone rejecting you from the Throne of Horus in the Hall of the Two Lions. May your name be mentioned alongside Shu, the son of Atum, on the day when the venerable ones are honoured.
{ back pillar: }
O god's father and priest of Amun in Karnak, divine purifier of Amun Nes-Min, justified, son of the 'chancellor' in the sacred temple Khnemibre-menti, justified, born to the lady and musician of Amun-Re, Nehemes-Rat-tawi, justified. A royal offering is made for you to Amun-Re, the foremost of his Opet, when he crosses to Djeme at the beginning of the Decade festival, so that he may cause your ba to fly up to see the sun's rays, so that he may cause your body to remain in the Beautiful West, so that he may cause your family to remain in his house, so that he may make all hearts glad for you. May [he] grant [for you to breathe in] the sweet north wind, to find your ba on the day that you desire, to travel on the river, and that libations are offered with fresh water, and the funeral priest offers bread, and the drink-offerings overflow, so that your sacrificial table flourishes with the god's food. May you enter the Hall of two-fold Ma'at. May he cause the keeper of the scales to purify you, so that you are respected and your tongue may be mighty, forever without end.
[D] Cairo JE 38686
{ back pillar: }
. . . the rdwj-nṯr priest of Amun Nes-min, justified, son of the similarly titled Khnemibre-menti, justified, lord of jmȝḫ-status, born to the lady of the house Nehemes-Rat-tawi, [justified].
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