Hymn A is a novel adaptation of a type of hymn that was quite common in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt; modern scholars call them 'snḏ-n hymns', from the Egyptian phrase that appears at the start of each column. But the vivid language used to describe the ferocity of the lion may be derived from other sources rather than traditional religious texts. At present, not much else is known about the lion-deity worshipped at Kom Ombo.
The inscription probably dates to the reign of Ptolemy XII; B is another hymn from the same reign, which unfortunately is badly damaged. C is another hymn from Kom Ombo, dated to the reign of Ptolemy VI; it is dedicated to Sobek, one of the main gods of this temple. D is a slightly longer hymn from the reign of Ptolemy II, which shows that this type of hymn was in use throughout the Ptolemaic period.
The translations are adapted from German and French versions, as follows:
Another example of a snḏ-n hymn, addressed to Khnum at Esna, can be found online in a translation by David Klotz ( Esna 277+ ).
[A] [Words] to be spoken by the son [of Rê], the lord [of crowns], [ Ptolemy ] :
[Oh,] all you people, all you [pʿt-people], all you [rḫyt-people], all you [sun-people], etc., all (?) foreign lands . . .
2 Have reverence for The-living-lion-with-great-power, who stands in his lair, whose teeth are pointed and whose claws are sharp, who tears open the bodies of those who attack his city, who devours their flesh, sips their blood, and breaks their bones!
3 Have reverence for The-living-lion-with-great-power, who with a loud voice and a great cry . . . all the animals die when they hear it; whose profit is made from meat, whose water is made from blood, and whose wine is made from the red life-blood of the wicked!
4 Have reverence for The-living-lion-with-great-power, the one with great power and tremendous stature, the raging one with carnelian-coloured eyes, who loves carnage and who rejoices in slaughter, whose joy is the smashing of the wicked and whose heart is content with a great (?) rout!
5 Have reverence for The-living-lion-with-great-power, who comes out in the morning to slaughter, who drenches the land with blood for himself, whose roar causes millions and hundreds of thousands to flee, who instils dread in some and horror in others, when he raises his cry and makes the wicked emerge!
[B] Words to be spoken by the son of Rê Ptolemy [ living forever, beloved of Ptah and Isis ] :
O men and gods . . .
2 Have fear of Geb, you who dwell on earth, for his [renown] extends to all foreign lands and regions . . .
3 Have fear of Geb, for his renown is great . . . Phoenicia . . .
4 Have fear of Geb, . . . and takes satisfaction in overcoming evil, but who gives life to those who are faithful to him.
5 Have fear of Geb, . . . the valiant . . . his venerable pr-wr in . . .
6 Have fear of Geb, . . . who gives offerings to the gods as the king of . . .
* * *
11 Have fear of Geb, the Two Lands . . .
12 Have fear of Geb, all of Egypt is aware of his plans . . .
13 Have fear of Geb, the imposing, the primordial, lord of terror, great in renown, his enemies vanish . . .
14 Have fear of Geb, pʿt in your lands, for he protects . . .
15 Have fear of Geb, the god who loves justice, and hates partiality, who decrees Maat . . .
15 Have fear of Geb, you who are in his dwelling place, for his temple is the pavilion . . .
16 Have fear of Geb, you who are in the nome of the Two Falcons { Harawî } . . .
Oh, all you people, all the pʿt-people, all the rḫyt-people, and all the sun-people, etc., all the inhabitants of foreign lands, all the Phoenicians, and all the countries of the earth: Oh, come, let us praise His Majesty.
2 Have reverence for Sobek, the father of the gods, Hapi, who created being and founded the Two Lands, who sustains the sanctuaries and provides abundant nourishment for their ka.
3 Have reverence for Sobek, who brings forth being: for he created the earth after the primordial ocean, and he comes forth in his great name to create the produce of the fields.
4 Have reverence for Sobek, great in terror in Upper and Lower Egypt, whom the pʿt-people and rḫyt-people worship, and before whose face the sun-people rejoice as before Rê at his rising.
5 Have reverence for Sobek, the Bull of the Lake, who dwells in the Fayum, the divine image, the god-image of god-images, the magnificent being of power in the temples.
6 Have reverence for Sobek, the Lord of Ta-Seti, the ram-headed ba, who emerges from the Nun, the great god and lord of terror, with mighty power, who has seized the Two Lands with his might.
[Oh,] Ennead of Rê: Give praise to Mut-Sekhmet; for she is the one who creates humankind and gives life to the gods.
2 Oh, all you gods: have reverence for Mut-Sekhmet; for she is the one who causes Rê to sit upon his throne.
3 Oh, all you goddesses: give praise to Mut-Sekhmet; for she is the queen of all the gods.
4 Oh, you great gods: have reverence for Mut; for she is the one who slays all the enemies of her father Rê.
5 Oh, you gods who worship her by pleasing her: Praise the uraeus serpent of Rê, whose glory is created through her.
6 Oh, Great Ennead: Give praise to her, for all lands are in awe of her.
7 Oh, Lesser Ennead: Give praise to Mut, for she rests in her temple like Rê.
8 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; For she is the Princess of Awe and the Lady of Renown.
9 Have reverence for Mut, you old men in all lands; for she is the one who grants old age according to her will.
10 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who leads the Slaughterers into battle against the enemy.
11 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who causes fever to arise in her name.
12 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who lays a fiery breath {drought} on all Egypt and all foreign lands.
13 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who commands a year full of fear.
14 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who provides the year's needs for her Slaughterers.
15 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for she is the one who causes mountains and cities to arise in her name.
16 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for it is she who gives the nose its life-giving air at will.
17 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for it is she who causes Rê to be on his barque.
18 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for it is she who is loved by Amun, he is pleased when he sees her, and it is she who is loved by Ptah, who is in Inbu-Hedj { Memphis }.
19 Have reverence for Mut in all lands; for it is she who causes the glory of Rê to arise in all lands.
20 Oh, have reverence for her and praise her four-fold and eight-fold.
21 Oh, gods in heaven: Come and worship her.
22 Oh, gods on earth: Come and behold her as she rests upon her throne.
23 Oh, gods in the underworld: Come and behold Mut as she [defeats] her enemy.
24 Oh, you gods in the South, North, West and East: Come and see Mut, how she prepares good paths for you.
Attalus' home page | 07.02.26 | Any comments?