This is one of a series of connected Egyptian stories, which are known to modern scholars as the Inaros cycle or the Pedubastis cycle. The stories are notable for their distinctive descriptions of warfare, and there has been much debate amongst scholars as to how much they were influenced by Greek literature and in particular by the epic poems of Homer; see for instance, J.E. Jay, "Orality and Literacy in the Demotic Tales", chapter 3 ( Google Books ). In the story of Petekhons, there are obvious similarities between the warrior women and the Amazons of Greek legend; see F. Hoffmann, "Warlike Women in Ancient Egypt" ( PDF ).
Translations of most of the Inaros Cycle can be found in M. Chauveau & D. Agut-Labordère, "Héros, magiciens et sages oubliés de l'Égypte ancienne" (2011); and in F. Hoffmann & J.F. Quack, "Anthologie der demotischen Literatur" (2018). The first half of the translation shown here is adapted from M. Lichtheim, "Ancient Egyptian Literature", vol. 3, pp.151-156.
[2] Petekhons [arrived] in the land of the women with his army. The stone fence of the [camp] was set up, [as well as] the stone fence of the prince's tent in the centre of the camp. Its posts [were erected], its [masts decorated with] sistrum heads on the ground, while its interior of white linen . . . tied with [strips] of wool dyed the best purple was studded with stars . . . [while a lining had been placed on] its entire external face in order to protect it from the rain . . . It was decorated in every point and in every detail in the same manner as the palace of Pharaoh. The tents of the army commanders, [of . . . and] of the chiliarchs were also erected to the left and to the right of the tent of prince Petekhons and [the tents (?) of the soldiers] were ranged all around.
Sarpot, the queen of the land of the women, sat . . . of her tent, [with the leaders] of the land of the women standing to the left and right of her. She raised her face [and looked at] the numerous [troops] who [were approaching] 10 the fortress of the land of the women. She said: "Give me help, O Isis, my [mistress], great goddess, and Osiris, great god! Do you not see as I do how this army has made camp ?"
. . . she called Ashteshyt, her younger sister, and said: "Do not delay [to go to the place] where those millions of troops [are encamped], so as to learn the situation inside the camp. Take [men's clothing] . . . the manner [of the] the army. Learn every matter and every purpose for [which] the troops have come. [Learn the name of] the chief at their head and the [circumstances under] which he has come."
Ashteshyt, the younger sister of Sarpot, the queen of [the land of the women], went out immediately. She changed [her mode of dress] and went out among the army. They did not notice [what] she was doing, nor that she was a woman. [She learned] the nature of everything that was happening in the camp. She learned that it was the Egyptian [prince] Petekhons [who was] at their head. She inquired how he had come alone against the fortress [of the land of the women]. She learned [the facts] of everything, without anyone on earth (?) recognising her.
She returned to the place where Sarpot was. 20 She [told] her the nature of everything she had seen and the [facts about prince] Petekhons . . . without altering anything. As soon as Sarpot, [the queen of the land of] the women, had heard these things [she said: "Give] me help, O Isis, great goddess, and Osiris, great god and all the great gods! [Where does the] evil [serpent] of Egypt . . . Lo, for many days we have heard of his deeds! [He has gone to war] against the king . . . [of] the land of Khor. He has fought with one chief one day and has battled with another [the next day: a chief] whose gods [were not] able to withstand him. But we will know how to withstand him, we will, we will! The right plan is that we should attack them. [It is better to attack] them than to let them attack us. I shall marshal the army on the battlefield [against the army] of the Egyptian. [Let] the trumpet [sound], let the horn sound in the land of the women in [all] its regions, [and let it be] said, 'Make your [preparation] for combat against a foreign people, which is standing outside. Hurry! Do not [delay] . . .' "
A short [time] after this, the army of all the women from the regions of the land of [the women was assembled]. They came 30 [to the] fortress . . . the great bulwark (?) of the land of the women, with their army . . . [to prepare for] battle. Sarpot [went] among the army; she inspected the women [equipped with their] armour and their weapons [of combat]; . . . those who were mounted on [horses ?], [those who were mounted on] . . ., and those who harnessed . . . , bearing armour . . . bull's-head helmets . . . their breastplates, . . . while they lined up in ranks, inspiring fear as they stood . . . their manner of fighting. Sarpot made her own preparation . . . she saw how they were setting up camp, and her heart was happy . . . .
[She said]: "May you not suffer the evil eye! The army is very good. The recruits . . . . Osiris, the great god, our good bull, our good Mnevis, he will not . . . ."
40 . . . [They said: "Sarpot, our queen] is with us; she will not abandon us. . . . what is fitting . . . with the queen . . . . [We shall show] Petekhons how we come among the . . . ."
. . .
Sarpot said: ". . . who are at the gate of the fortress . . . the leaders outside the camp 50 . . . [no one] at all go out of their camp . . . of fighting . . . ."
They acted according to every word that [3] Sarpot had commanded. . . . They went to the place where [prince Petekhons was] . . . of the fight against the . . . . Prince Petekhons sent . . . . [They called out] curses and taunts, the speech of [warriors] . . . from the first to the last. . . . . [Sarpot went] out into the army of the [enemy,] a multitude. She destroyed . . . suddenly against them. Those who resisted . . . she slaughtered . . . . 10 [The slaughter made (?) by a bird of prey] among the birds [was what Sarpot did among] . . . . [The raging] of Apopis was what Sarpot did . . . that day. Petekhons . . . uttered a loud cry . . . of the Assyrians . . . .
. . .
20 [Petekhons said]: "I have not striven . . . . [Tomorrow will] be happy, after the bitterness [of today], . . . to the battlefield today . . . to the battlefield in order to . . . [from] the land of the women without . . . You shall find glory . . . . you shall do it tomorrow. The army of [the women will (?) suffer] a harsh death which shall be painful to [them]."
The Assyrians went to their tents [encouraged] very much. Prince Petekhons went to his tent. He drank like a hero and ate . . . the ways of warfare [were established] in his eyes. When the morning of the next day came 30 [prince] Petekhons [donned] his armour and took up his weapons . . . of a warrior . . . from the first [to the] last. He took . . . a scimitar [fit] for a warrior . . . of fighting, his head bent to the shafts of his lances. He gave . . . doing battle. He was like a roaring lion, like a bull bursting with strength, announcing attack.
It was reported and announced at the fortress, at the place where Sarpot was, [saying:] "A single Egyptian [has come] to the battlefield today."
She said: "Give me help, my mistress [Isis, great goddess]! Save me from the slaughter of this evil serpent of an Egyptian!"
Ashteshyt, her younger sister, stepped [up to her] and said: "You did much fighting yesterday. [Now let me go] to the battlefield to fight with this Egyptian today!"
[Sarpot said]: "That does not suit me! It is the cowardly manner of the Assyrians . . . 40 begin on the battlefield today. You know their [manner, you have fought] against them. By Isis, the great goddess, the mistress of the land of the women, it is I who shall don [armour and go] to the battlefield against the evil serpent of an Egyptian today!"
She [got up and] left her without another word. They brought her armour and weapons to [her]. [She] donned her armour, she took up the warrior's weapons . . . according to her custom. They opened the bolts in front of her, she went out, she announced . . . combat Petekhons. Each was ready to meet the other. They spread their [lances ?] out in front of them. They beat the engraved work of their ornate shields. [They called out curses and] taunts, the speech of warriors. They took death to themselves as a neighbour, considering it greater than life. . . . duel, their blows were beautiful, their strokes (?) deceptive . . . 50 They rushed to the [slaughter] like vultures . . ., [4] they attacked like panthers, they made . . . like . . . Sobek. The ground resounded . . . They made feints, they struck, they jumped. [Neither gave way] to the other, his opponent. . . . Neither gave way to the other, [his opponent]. . . . [from the] time of [the dawn] of the morning until the [setting of the sun] in the evening.
[Sarpot, the queen of the] land of the women, called to prince Petekhons [saying]: "My brother, you fighter of [Egypt] . . .[the sun] has gone down; it will rise over us again tomorrow."
Prince [Petekhons] said: ". . . one does not fight in the dark."
Sarpot, [the queen of the land of the women], said to him: "[My brother Petekhons, if the sun] has gone down and rests, [we must] rest . . . ." 10 . . . Sarpot . . . my mistress, the queen, Isis the great, the mother of the [gods] . . . my brother [Petekhons] . . . [will not] fight tonight . . . [Sarpot said: "My brother Petekhons, why have you come] here to the regions of [the land of the women, (?) to face the] fate of combat . . ." 20 . . .
[As soon as Sarpot, the queen of the land of the women, looked at him] she did not know where on earth [she was, owing to] the great love that had entered [into her] . [As soon as] prince [Petekhons] himself [looked] at her [he did not know] where on earth he was . [He said] to her: "My sister Sarpot . . . [the feelings] that you feel, do not . . . in the country of women . . . an evil thing after me for 30 . . . I will go to the field [of battle] . . .
". . . [5] to ward off my misfortune? Have I come then to [. . . the] devastation of the evil serpent of the Egyptian?"
. . . [The dawn of] the next day came, and prince Petekhons rose; he put on his cuirass . . . Sarpot also rose, she put on her cuirass . . . She reviewed her troops in the fortress, she lined them up [for battle] . . .
. . . They fought against the . . . to the fortress . . .
Petekhons [questioned Sarpot about] the country of women, she told [him . . . He said to her:] " 10 I know your wisdom in action, I also [admire] your absence of fury . . . women who have not been pregnant . . ."
. . .
[6] . . . [They] came up and they drank. Their hearts were glad in this same kiosk.
. . . Petekhons sank into sleep, and he saw himself in a dream with . . . he spoke to him . . . : ". . . 10 while you are here, while you . . . What are you doing then? The great goddess Isis [looks at you] as you stand among . . . Make . . the libations . . . keep you out of misfortune . . ."
Petekhons [awoke] at that very moment, while he was in . . . Sarpot, the queen of the land of women . . . ". . . the great goddess Isis and the great god Osiris . . . good prince Inaros, my [lord, who] has set himself there . . ."
[As soon as Sarpot] heard these words, [she felt] the greatest wonder in the world [for] a long time. [As] she had heard the name of the noble prince Inaros, she said: "There is no god [like him] in the . . . [nor] 20 in Egypt, the land of his people. Is there then any advantage for the foreigner while we . . . He who dies .. . . fire, he whose father and mother are very old . . . the animals, while they bring wrappings, royal linen, incense and ointments for the man who dies in Egypt, as if for a god? Why then is there no . . . in the country . . . for the noble prince Inaros? We were told that he was a son of the king of the country of Egypt, Onnophris Maâkherourê."
She then had cattle, fowls, myrrh of the first quality, and all kinds of sweet-smelling incense, brought before prince Petekhons. He made a great sacrifice from them in burnt offerings and libations, which became through him the greatest wonder on earth. Their thanksgivings continued [for a long time, for] the spirit of the Osiris, king Inaros.
Sarpot then said to him: "You are a god before me, Egyptian! Who has brought you to this place without doing us harm and without causing harm to our city? While we know . . ."
{ The last section of the text describes how Petekhons and Sarpot fought against an army of Indians; but most of this section is too poorly preserved for continuous translation. A few excerpts are shown here. }
[7] . . . ". . . [the enemies] who entered the city by killing [its defenders], they have left absolutely no one alive in the city."
. . . "See! These are the things that are suitable to be done by us. Let the trumpet be sounded in the city to announce: 'Let no one in the world fight against these warriors.' Sarpot is on her way to the battlefield to fight against them, because she knows their way of fighting. I myself will put on my breastplate and go 40 to the battlefield. I will call for them and I will make them stop. I will make them abandon the fight."
She then replied: "What you say is right." They put on their breastplates and they went out to fight . . .
. . .
. . . [11] . . . one army against the other outside of . . . India, the [army of the regions of the land of] women with the army of the regions of India. 10 Then . . . They [sounded . . . (?) and the horn] so that people would hurry [to the] battlefield. Sarpot said: "Let them put my [weapons] and my armour in front of me! . . ." They brought her (?) . . . each one individually, saying: "We will open the battlefield." . .. Sarpot, the queen of the [land of women], donned her armour. She stood by the battle array and spoke, in a loud voice : "Behold the battlefield, and the army of the regions [of] India! I (?) am Sarpot, the queen of the land [of women] . . ."
[12] She brought out a . . . lance; heavy was . . . [She] threw it out into the distant mass (?) of the army. She was like a . . . [among the] cattle of Upper Egypt. Those who stood to fight her: she caused their places [of fighting to be places of falling down] . . . They brought out their faces from destruction, since slaughter was in her eye and killing was in [her] heart. [The]. . . [done] by [a] fierce [bird of prey (?)] among the birds was what Sarpot, the queen of the land of women, . . . did among . . . [of] India. . . .
20 [When] the leader of the Indians [heard these] words, he opened his mouth to the ground in a loud cry: ". . . Sarpot is the one who is destined to destroy my life . . ."
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