The epitaphs of the high priests of Memphis who lived in the third and second centuries B.C. do not contain much personal information about the priests, and it is unusual that we know some of the significant dates in the life of Anemhor. There is one puzzling aspect to the dates: Anemhor died in 217 B.C., but the epitaph of his son Djedjor, the final part of which is shown in B, says that Djedjor died first, in 223 B.C. The role of high priest of Memphis was passed on from father to son, but there is no other evidence that a son could use the official title 'Chief of Artificers' before his father died. It seems that for some reason (perhaps his father's relatively old age) Dhedhor was given special promotion to use the title; see the discussion by Chris Bennett.
The translations are taken from E.A.E. Reymond, "From the Records of a Priestly Family from Memphis", nos. 4 and 7. The spellings of personal names have been adjusted to match the spellings used by Chris Bennett.
[A] A boon which the King offers to Osiris, pre-eminent in the West, that he may grant the "coming forth at appeal" to benefit from bread and beer, oxen and fowl, ointment, clothing and also the greatly beautiful repose, all things good, pure, pleasant and sweet which heaven gives, 2 which Earth creates and on which the god lives, to the ka of the Deceased God's Father, beloved of the god, sem-priest, servant of Ptah, follower of Him-who-is-great-of-power, and pleasant-of-scent, the khaʿr-priest, prophet of the Gods Euergetai and the Gods Philopatores, prophet of Ptah, lord of the Southern Lake, prophet 3 of the gods in the Domain of Ptah, lord of the Southern Lake, as well as that of the gods in the Domain of Ptah, lord of the Northern Lake, prophet of Khnum, pre-eminent in his wa, prophet of the gods in the Domain of Khnum, pre-eminent in his wa, registered with 4 all third priestly orders of Ptah in the temple of Memphis, servant of the King's daughter, King's sister, King's wife, mistress of the Two Lands, Arsinoē, the Goddess Philadelphos, in the temple of 5 Arsinoē which is in the Residence, prophet of Nectanebo-the-Falcon, royal scribe who reckons all the possessions of the temple in the Sarapieion, minister in the record office 6 for the fifteen days of-the-temple-service of all first priestly orders in the temple of Memphis, servant of Ptah, Lord of kas in the temple of Memphis, overseer of store-houses in the temple of Memphis, servant of Renenet in the Domain of Ptah, servant of Nefertum in the Enclosure of 7 Takhelhet, servant of Sakhmet in the Seat-of-the-Land, royal scribe who reckons all the possessions of the temple of Memphis and the temple of Arsinoe Philadelphos, prophet of She-who-reared Harpokrates 8 residing in Sakhebet, prophet of the window-of-appearance, servant of Horus of the window-of-appearance, Superintendent of confidential affairs in the Domain of Ptah, Superintendent of confidential affairs in Rostaw, learned in secret writings of the Inaccessible Chamber, prophet 9 of the Living Apis, herald of Ptah, King of all sacred animals, Hereditary Prince, overseer of servants of gods and goddesses of Upper and Lower Egypt, Chief of Artificers, sem-priest 10 of Ptah, in charge of all royal adornments Anemhor, justified, son of the Prince, sem-priest, Chief of Artificers Nesisti, justified, born to Nefersobek, justified.
11 Anemhor, the royal companion, he was born in year 16, the 3rd day of Pamenhotep, of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt Chosen-of-Rê-beloved-of-Amun, son of Rê, 12 Ptolemy {May 289 B.C.}. He died in year 5, the 26th day of Pharmuti, of the reign of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Heir-of-the-Gods-Euergetai, Chosen-of-Ptah-rich-in-kas-of-Rê-Living-Image-of-Amun, 13 son of Rê, Ptolemy, living for ever, beloved of Isis {June 217 B.C.}.
His life-span upon the earth was 72 years, 1 month, 23 days.
[B] Prince, sem-priest, Chief of Artificers Djedhor justified, son of the man of the same profession, 10 the God's father, beloved of the god, sem-priest, servant of Ptah, follower of Him-who-is-great-of-power and pleasant-of-scent, prophet of the Living Apis, overseer of prophets of all gods and goddesses of Upper and Lower Egypt, Chief of Artificers, royal companion, in charge of all royal adornments Anemhor, 11 born to the Lady, the fair sistrum-player of Ptah, Herankh justified.
The life-span upon the earth of the owner of this stela was 43 years, 6 months and 29 days.
{ Demotic docket }
12 The stela of the Chief of Artificers Djedhor, son of Anemhor, the sotmy-priest, who was born to Herankh. He was born 13 in year 18, the 29th day of Epep {September 267 B.C.}. The day on which he departed his house was in year 24, the 23rd day of Mekhir {April 223 B.C.}. The day on which 14 he was laid to rest was in year 24, the 16th day of Pakhons. His life-span was 43 years, 6 months and 29 days. May these things remain for Everlasting Eternity!
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