This naos was a grey granite shrine, erected at Saft el-Henna in the Nile Delta during the reign of Nectanebo I, as part of the widespread revival of temple building during the 30th Dynasty. The texts on the naos have been understood to mean that Nectanebo I restored the statues of the gods that had been hidden from or removed by invaders, but the details remain vague; see C. Fischer-Bovet, "The power of statues: constructing imperial narratives under the Ptolemies", pp.271-273 ( academia.edu ).
The translation is taken from N. Spencer, "A Naos of Nekhthorheb from Bubastis", pp.23-26 ( PDF ). A few changes have been made to section B, in line with the more recent translation by D.Klotz, "Two Studies on the Late Period Temples at Abydos", pp.153-154 ( BIFAO 110 ). There is a recent German translation of the whole monument in a dissertation by H. Hohneck, "Naoi: Königliche Steindenkmäler in den Tempeln Ägyptens", vol. 2, pp.346-413 ( PDF ).
A photograph of the naos can be found in the UCLA Library Digital Collections.
[A] { Hymn on right jamb }
[ROW] Giving praise to Sopdu by the good god, lord of the Two Lands Kheperkara, son of Ra, lord of appearances [ Nekhtnebef] . . . this . . . Thoth himself of the first time. adoring this august god . . .
[COL 1] . . . in his temple . . . his great . . . against his enemies of the day, in which he killed the Apepi-serpent, thus he opened a good year. The gods and goddesses develop jubilation and rejoicing in the great sanctuary because he captured the punished ones with his wings.
2 . . . divine falcon, the land of the East is in joy twice, once Ra (?) destroys his enemies, the West land comes out in joy, after this power went and made content Ra in his horizon. His enemies were slaughtered. He crosses heaven with beautiful winds, he approaches the beautiful West. The Westerly Ones are in jubilation 3 at seeing him, after he had approached them. They are the bodies who rejoice at seeing him. Behold, he twice is in their mouth, not one of their bodies awake, except him alone, it is one day not another, which goes by?. Behold, he reaches Bakhu, he rises 4 in that mountain, the animals of the mountain lands frolic at his presence, when his light and brilliance is upon their faces. He brings midday in the fulness of time. the secret it is in heaven. The circumpolar stars and the unwearying stars, they develop no tiredness. Horus strong-of-arm, his arms carry the harpoon, he slayed the Apepi-serpent 5 at the front of the barque. Horus carries the rudder, with it he steers in the great barque. Seshat the great, lady of writing, places the potent sayings in the god's barque. Ra has come, to kill his enemies in his manifestation as Ihty.
6 He is prepared in his own body, in this his name of Horus-Sopdu. He is filled in his moment of truth in this his name of Mahes. He is prepared in his own limbs, in this his name of 7 Horus-of-the-East. He subdued them as ashes in his forms, in his name of Horus strong-of-arm. He cuts the legs on one occasion. The corpses stretch to Asia of Bakhu, he destroyed them upon 8 this Eastern mountain, the bodies consigned to the flame. The day is with wind every day, in his name of Horus lord-of-justification, prepared every day in your name of Horus-Sopdu. How pleasant are you to the limit of heaven! Sopdu-Ra-Horakhty, created in truth
9 . . . gods and goddesses in happiness, their hearts receive joy, every day is bound with happiness and jubilation, the power of the East, Horus of the East, Ra it is, foremost of Bakhu, he traverses heaven in his [own] body . . . eastern . . . they sail every day.
[B] { left wall }
1 The good god, lord of strength, strong of arm, who defeats the foreign lands, one of useful advice, who provides for Egypt, protector of the nomes, one who drives back the Asiatic countries, who destroys the place of their rm-fighting (?), imposing of heart, who seizes the moment without turning back, who pulls back his elbow for a bow of precision, one who gives the temples the greatness of his power, what is said is instantly created, like that which comes from the mouth of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, son of Ra, Nekhtnebef [may he live for eternity].
2 This august god, Sopdu lord of the East, remembers the praised ones of His Majesty. All the gods rejoice for him for his ka, if he steps before them, for he protects the divine bodies in his time and after many years. He {Nekhtnebef} asks to see the glories of this god in the secret place, which is unknown to the inaugurated ones, as all the Ennead of the nome are hiding their bodies. The God placed it in the heart of the lord of the Two Lands, to let the beauty be known, his . . .
3 [. . . after] a great many years when the like was not known to happen. One {Nekhtnebef} sees him suddenly; it is announced in the nmit-room. There is joy, and it is said: "The ruler comes from the East, he illuminates the land with his glories. Your statue was erected as lord of triumph." The good god, by it he is called, makes ideal his throne in the Ỉmn-ḫprw of the lord of the East, of his own body. The gods follow him on his right side, the Ennead on his left side, when he comes. The Ennead is in front of him, like Ra when he rises in the horizon, like when his sanctuary is established, the lord of the [days], he loves . . .
[C] { rear wall }
1 . . . the might of the East, strong of arm, who is issued from Horus of the East, the eldest son of the Horizon-god, the one and only, one who surrounds Egypt, who makes calm the enemies in the land and the confusion within, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef, may he live eternally.
2 . . . the great god, ruler of the Ennead, the Horizon-god, who rises in the horizon, one of turquoise, one who shines with [light?], all men live when they see his brightness, Horus in Bakhu, whom the gods praise at seeing him.
3 . . . for you, your place as lord of justification. The Two Lands in their entirety are glad, since you rise in the horizon of Bakhu . . . He overthrows the foreign lands in their valleys, it is he who makes prosperous Egypt, the eye of Ra, who protects the bodies of the gods. I endowed your domain with all beautiful things. You made as my reward valour and strength like Re eternally.
[D] { right walll }
1 The [King of Upper and] Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef, he made as his monument for his father Sopdu lord of the East, the shrine of black stone of granite, the doors of black copper adorned in gold, the images upon it . . . sanctuary . . . together with that which is upon the book-roll, made as an excellent work for eternity. The rewards were a great kingship, all foreign lands under his soles, like Ra for eternity.
2 [The] good [god], lord of the Two Lands, decreed according to his own desire to make prosperous the god's body in his shrine, after which His Majesty came to Šsmt, because he satisfied this august god, Sopdu lord of the East, upon his throne as lord of justification. After many years, they saw it . . . His Majesty. He is pleased with his throne in the time of Kheperkara, his beloved son, Nekhtnebef may he live eternally.
3 The order of the king himself, was to set up these images of these gods of Šsmt, upon this naos in the time of His Majesty. Each Ennead is in its place. They were like that written in the book roll, with all their glorious images. It indicates the manner of making correct offerings, not confused by it . . . Thoth, like the astute one foremost of Ḥsrt, like these relief(?)-figures in great festival, may he live like Ra eternally.
[E] { registers on left wall }
. . .
4 . . . the shrines before Sopdu, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef may he live for eternity, beloved of Sopdu lord of the East, may he live like Ra.
5 . . . before Sopdu, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, who undertakes ritual, Kheperkara, son of Ra, of his body, his beloved, lord of appearances Nekhtnebef may he live for eternity, beloved of Sopdu lord of the East may he live, be prosperous and have all dominion like Ra for eternity.
6 The rewards for these actions for their beloved son, the good god, lord of the Two Lands, Kheperkara, son of Ra lord of appearances Nekhtnebef, may he live for eternity, is the office of Ra [and many years on the throne of] Geb, his strength like their strength, all the Two Lands, rejoicing at seeing him, like hearts rejoicing at seeing their beauty. His desire is to encompass the lands like Ra. He rises in Bakhu, terror of him is in the hearts of the Nine Bows like the terror of their {i.e. the divine forms'} Majesties amongst the Fenkhu, by the greatness of his glories amongst all the gods, may he live like Ra.
[F] registers on back wall
1 . . . book-roll, in another image, their divine forms are shown, like that upon their sanctuaries, without exception therein, under the king of Upper and Lower Egypt [ Kheperkara ] . . . in peaceful years of eternity, in stability, life and dominion; the Nine Bows are under his sandals, he repels the rulers of the Ḥȝw-nbw with his terror.
2 . . . decree, that which is upon the book-roll, making their images upon this naos, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the Majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, after the course of the stars, the width of the land surrounding the foreign lands, seizing their arms, the Doers. He conceived for him . . . illumination . . . Nekhtnebef, he made the sacred barques of all his fathers of Ỉȝt-nbs, may he live like Ra eternally.
3 . . . destroying your enemies. The gods which are resting on the shrine of Went are upon its left and right side {lit. east and west}. Set up on their sanctuaries in Ḥwt-nbs, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the Majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef may he live for eternity. The sand-mountains are in bowing at his place, awe of him reaches into distant foreign lands, may he live like Ra for eternity.
4 You are powerful and mighty, through your strength, your arms are strong so as to strike those who attack Egypt, the gods . . . son of Ra, Nekhtnebef. The gods which are resting upon the shrine of Sopdu who strikes the Asiatics, on its right and left {lit. west and east} side, those set up in their place in the temple of Sopdu, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the Majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef may he live for eternity, beloved of Sopdu, lord of the East may he live, endure, have all dominion, all health, and all joy, and arise upon the throne of Horus, like Ra for eternity.
5 The gods that are set up in their places, found in another secret sanctuary in a sacred place in Ḥwt-nbs, their divine forms are shown likewise, under the Majesty Majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, son of Ra Nekhtnebef may he live for eternity. Made by His Majesty, seeking the glories of his fathers, making sacred the statues in their proper form, so that every god is at its place, their images upon this naos, to create this town, I place (?) . . . before him, this town is established to protect the temples, the plants of the land flourish, the breath of life is placed in all of them, the horizon is at the head of it, may he live like Ra for eternity.
6 Found in another secret sanctuary inside the temple, except these. Their divine forms are shown likewise, under the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands, Kheperkara . . . brought to another book-roll of the temple from the book-roll of divine speech. Showing divine forms like that which is upon the book-roll [under] the son of Ra, lord of appearances Nekhtnebef, may he live for eternity. His Majesty made these glorious thrones. He made them in the temple of his father Sopdu lord of the East, in setting up the gods in their places, because they desired their position in his time. Establishing the throne of His Majesty, foremost of the living, like heaven and the throne of Ra endures, may he live like Ra for eternity.
[G] { registers on right wall }
1 . . . His Majesty said as a decree of the lord of Upper and Lower Egypt, because at his desire, his words were created his heart exalts at saying: begin to hack up the blank rolls, it is now found upon this shrine . . . Leading to the place of appearance, in the great temple of electrum . . .
2 . . . [their] divine forms are [shown] likewise, under the Majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, [Kheperkara], son of [ Ra Nekhtnebef ] . . . . . . these by his fathers, lords of Ỉȝt-nbs, the august tree prospers, its branches cause the green to grow well. The entire land, the sanctuary of this god prospers every day. The plants and all good things grew, Šsm is created prosperous, because all people of Egypt are in his time.
3 So the ruler Kheperkara, it is the statue of Ra, it is the heir of Horus of the East Sopdu-Shu, in the temples, it is great of monuments . . . in these nome, satisfying his fathers, lords of Ỉȝt-nbs, Egypt is made excellent in rites, Ỉȝt-nbs is made true, prospering in its entirety, the whole land in jubilation and everyone in correctness, since one made it as stated in the holy writings, Ra of the people, the land of Ḥwt-nbs prospers.
4 You see these, which were made for you by your beloved son, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, son of Ra, Nekhtnebef, may he live for eternity. All the gods and goddesses . . . Ra is satisfied because of them, the people admire the powers, which he made in the horizon of Bakhu. He made plentiful your offering tables with every beautiful thing, he presents the daily offering, no-one stops it, and the glorious fields cover your altars. May your reward for him for this be the rule of Upper and Lower Egypt, Upper and Lower Egypt are seized by his power like Ra for eternity.
5 His Majesty made these thrones of the Glorious Ones. They see what he has made in their temple, their son that is on their throne, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheperkara, son of Ra, Nekhtnebef, may he live for eternity in . . . he [endowed] the domains. Sed-festivals of Tatenen and appearances as ruler of the lands were given to him. The officials and people were in adoration at his face, the whole land bowing to His Majesty, because of the greatness of his reputation before them, the water issues forth at his time, glorious because of its perfection, because he satisfied their hearts in doing Maat, the land living on it every day.
6 These that His Majesty made for your ka, lords of Ỉȝt-nbs, his rewards being the office of Atum and the lifetime of Ra, as ruler of the living. All hearts, they are united with him, all foreign-lands . . . his staff of office is over their great ones, it is as protection for Egypt, healing the eye of Ra to protect it, Kheperkara it is, who protects its pupil that is the offices of all the gods' temples in their entirety for eternity, because it is your beloved son, glorious of monuments in Ḥwt-nbs, the son of Ra Nekhtnebef, may he live like Ra for eternity.
[H] { registers on interior right wall }
1 The gods which are resting, all divine forms are hidden, justified, on the left {lit. east} of this august god . . . beloved of . . . may he live like Ra.
2 The gods which rest on the northern sanctuaries, their divine forms are shown likewise, under their son, whom they love . . .
4 The gods which are set up in their sanctuaries, their divine forms are shown under the Majesty of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt [ Kheperkara ] . . . . . . Ḥwt-nbs, since the time of the ancestors, the enemies come to fall on the two banks. The images are set up on account of . . . in the time of Ra, the Majesty of . . .
Attalus' home page | 06.11.26 | Any comments?