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The Prelude to the Amarna Age
1. Statue of Amenhotep III as a Sacred Image
This life-size ftpre of the king 'IWU disccmred in 1~ along with a ntlmber of other sculpcures. buriedin a pit at thewaf sideof the ·suncourt·'Wbicb Amenbotep III builtinfront of bis temple at Lwror. Now in the Lwror Museum, the statue rep resents the king as Alum, wearing the doubk crown and standingupon a skdge of the type usedto dragsacred images in procession. Tbe vandalism that tbis piece suf fered at the bands of the Atenistsis apparent in the erasures (never repaired) of the names of Amun, botb inside the nomen of Amenbotep III and in references to the godbimself. Theinterest of tbis monument as a precursor of theAmama period lies in the kings description of bimselfin association with the sola' disk ('"Aten·) even while professing loyaltyto the Theban gods.
Base. Rigbt: Long live the Good God in true fact. the sovereign. ruler of the Nine Bows. king of the Black Land. ruler of the Red Land. who knots together the laws and sets the 1WoShores in order; the King of Upper and Lower Egypt. NEBMAATRE. the Son of Re. AMENHOTEP Ill, given life and dominion.
Base. Left: Long live the Good God. possessor of joy.Lord of Crowns who t1kes possession of the White Crown and makes many the monuments in the house of his father Amun. who created his beauty, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt. NEBMAATRE. the Son of Re. AMENHOTEP Ill, given life like Reforever.
&ek Pilla,: at the rounded top. corresponding to the lunette of a stela. Arnen botepIII kneels on the kft, with a broad fan at bis backgivingbim the protection of all life behind him. Tbeking offers a bouquet to thegodenthroned on the rigbt The Prelude to the Amarna Age 21 20 Texts from the Amame Period in Egypt
.side: Amun, Lord of the Thrones of the 'IWo Lands. ruler of Thebes, as he alabaater. incense. oil, and every good and pure thing on which a god lives gives all life and all health. Below this scene thereare fourcolumns of tat: and which are received at Min's Progress. For the Ka of the king's follower on water, on land, and on every foreign country. the standard-bearer of the Re-Harakhty. Mighty Bull who appears in Maat, Good God in true fact, company of "NEBMAATRE, the Dazzling Aten," Kamose, the sovereign. ruler of the Nine Bows, dazzling Aten for all lands. whose sacred cobra has illuminated the Two Shores, functional king. perfect in Made by the (royal)companion, great of love. royal courier upon the for monuments. master of Ltws. who sets the Two Shores in order. being one eign country; the seal-bearer of the King of Lower Egypt. the great one in who makes functional the mansions of the gods and makes festive their the palace, May.whom the housewife Takhat bore. temples; one who is great in holy and august monuments- never has the like been donel (He is) a king who is watchful toward the one who fash On the badepillar. The standard-bearer of the company of "NEBMAATRE, ioned him. who does what pleases his Ka- (namely). Amun-Re. Lord of the the Dazzling Aten" (or"Re") Kamose, Made by the troop captain May. Thrones of the Two Lands: he is the one who created his beauty. (namely. that of) the King of Upper and Lower Egypt. NEBMAATRE, who is service C. CanopicJars of CourtlAdies ably disposed toward the one who fashioned him, (i.e.) Amun-Re. the one who distinguished him from among nilllions and decreed valor and victory A number of the individuals for whom these objects were made claimaffiliation for him: the Son of Re. AMENHOTEP Ill, lord of every foreign Iand-one withan institution that is called. in itsfullest designation. The House of Dazzling who acts loyally toward the gods of Thebes,' who supplies their offerings. Aten the Great. The king. the master of joy. Lord of the TwoLands. NEBMAATRE,the Son of Re.his beloved. AMENHOTEP Ill, foremost of all living Kas. sha11 contin D. Tomb of Nefersekberu ually be manifest on the throne of his father, Amun-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands. his heart joyful as he governs the 1\vo Lands like Re for Neferseltberu MIS a palace administTator' woo played an important role in his ever continually. master's first jubilee. Among the most importanttitles listed for this man in his unfinished tomb in West Thebes is Steward of the House of NEBMAATRE.the Dazzling Aten. 2. Other References to the Aten from the Reign of Amenhotep III E.From Mortuary Temple in West Thebes A. The "Lake" Commemorariw Scarab On the base of one of the jaclca1 statues from here. the Icing is described as The image of Re,with a dazzling face. appearing like Aten-the godly falcon of Regnal year 11, third month of the Inundation season, day 1 under the variegated plumage who embraces the 1\vo Lands with his wings. Person of the Horus. "Mighty Bull who appears in Maat";1\vo Ladies "Who Establishes Laws and Pacifies the TwoLands"i Golden Horus "Whose Valor F. LuxorTemple is Great. Smiter of Asiatics"; King of Upper and Lower Egypt NEBMAAT REi the Son of Re. AMENHOTEP III, given lifei (and) the King's Chief Wife Among the many Nriants of the Icings throne name. there is one cartouehe tbat TIYI, may she live. His Person commanded the making of a lake for the names him as NEBMAATRE THE DAZZUNG ATEN. Elsewhere Amenbotep King's Chief Wife TIYl-may she live-in her town (called) Djarukha, Its III is referred to as sovereign like Aten. lasting as Aten is lasting, and a runner length is 3.700cubits and its width 700 cubits. His Person celebrated the fes like Aten. swift-footed tival of "Opening the Lakes" in the third month of Inundation. day 16.just as his Person was rowed within it in the royal barge (called)"Aten is Dazzling." G. Karnak. Temple of Montu B.Statuetteof the Standard-Bearer Kamose The Icing is one whom [Amun] placed on his throne to be ruler of what A "boon which the king gives" of Min of Coptos and Isis. mother of the Aten encircles. (of) the throne of Geb, the office of Atum and the kingship god. that they may give mortuary offerings of bread. beer. oxen, fowl. of Re andKhepri Elsewhere he is the Good God. likeness of Re who ilIumi· 22 Texts from the Amama Period In Egypt The Prelude to the Amarna Age 23 nates the Two Lands like the Horizon-dweller: master of sunbeams in the in front of his Person. He went to her at once, for he lusted after her. He fAce like Aten, because of whom everyone rejoices. caused her to see him in his godly shape after he had come right up to her, so that she rejoiced at seeing his be&uty. Love of him coursed through her limbs. and the palace was flooded
Words spoken by Amun-Re, Lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, Pre [Words spoken by Khnum ]: -As one body [ ... ] have I shaped you. [I eminent in his Inner Sanctuary, after he had made his appearance into that have given (?)] to you (?) all [ ]. You are to be king of the Black Land and of the Person of this husband
Scene VII: Tboth announces the impending birth to the hereditary princess Sce", Xl: Hatbor, followed byMut (who holds yearsand jubilees), salutes Alnun. whose charm is great, the mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt. the King's as bekisses tbt cbild. Mother MUTEMWlA. may she live and be made young like Re Iorever" Words spoken by Hathor, Lady [of Heaven]. Lady of Dendera, as she Words Spoken by Thoth, Lord of [Ashmunein]: -Amun-Re, Lord of the gives all lite. all stability and dominion. Thrones of the TwoLands. [is satisfied with]
Words spoken by Hathor. Lady of Heaven, Lady of Dendera, the Lady of &me XII: The King's Mother. MUTEMWIA. may she live like Re sits on a [ ... ]: -I have given you all lite. all health, all joy before her [sic] forever and bed, tbt goddess Sellcis bebind her, while infront of her two goddesses etl&b suclck a ever," figrm of tbe cbild, Horus NEBMAATRE. &side the bedsitninemaledeities, etl&b Oral balding a figrm of tbt infantking. Under the bed anl two bcawnI)' COWS, etl&b Words spoken by [Khoum the Potter, Lord of] Herwer: °1 have given you Oral melcling a lmeeling {rprr of tbe cbild ruler. Ablwe tbe cows, Words spoken all life, stability and dominion. and all health before me. Assuredly I shall be four times: -We nourish you as King of Upper and Lower Egypt. May you
Second Fecundity Figure:Words spoken by Nile-in-F100d:'1 have given you RE.given life like Re everlastingly. Kneeling in front of them is [ ... ]. as he all life and dominion before me.' gives all life. all health. and all joy before him.
The action of thescene is described in thelabel infront of thefigures: Presenting Sefkhet-Abwy. Mistress [of Writing]. as she gives all life and dominion. (?) AMENHOTEP III and purifying the birth-house (of) Horus and Seth. Words spoken: "Ihave given you millions of years. life and dominion: Words spoken: "The son is guided in" Hekau, the Great God. Lord of Heaven. as he gives all life. stability and Scene XIV: Underthespreading wings of thesun, a falcon-beaded deity presents dominion before
Words spoken by [Montu (?) ... ]. as he gives all life. stability and domin 4. Hymns from the Stela ion. all joy and all valor before him. of the Architects Suty and Hor
Amun-Re. Lord of Heaven. King of the Gods. Words spoken: Adoration of Amun when he rises as Horakhty by the overseer of the "I have given you life. stability. and dominion. 1have given you health. 1 works projects of Amun Suty (and) the overseer of the works projects of have given you joy. (0) my bodily son. my beloved. NEBMAATRE. whom 1 Amun Hor, They say: made as one body with me inside the palace: 1have given you all life and dominion. you having appeared as King of Upper and Lower Egypt upon the throne of Horus. May you be joyful with your Ka like ReI" First Hymn "Hail to you. (0) beautiful Re of every day who rises at dawn without Scene XV: Between two pairs of divinities (Kbnum and Anubis on tbe left. cease: (0) Khepri who tires himself with works (of creation)1 Your rays are Sefkbet-Abwy and Hekau on the rigbt) the infant king and bis Ka are first pre manifest. though one may not realize it. and even electrum is not compara sented to a kneeling deity and then proceed, fully vested with theirnames. to ban ble to your brilliance these inscribed by the goddess of writing. (You) who created yourself. gilding your (own) limbs. (0) fashioner who was not fashioned. Words spoken by [Khnum. Lord of Herwer]. Lord of Protection. Preemi Unique-natured one who sends continuity. nent in the House of Life. as he gives [benefactions to] NEBMAATRE: "(0) High above the ways. with millions under his guidance. my beloved son. AMENHOfEP Ill, given life like Rei"Khnum: "I have given As your brilliance is. so is the sky's brilliance-more brilliant your com you all life and dominion. 1 have given you all health. I have given you [all plexion than its huesl When you cross heaven all faces see you. and when joy]: you depart you are hidden from their sight. When you place yourself (in the sky) daily at dawn. your journey-in your (own) Person-succeeds: in a short Anubis. the Great God. Lord of Heaven: "[May he continue to exist] upon day you travel a path (equivalent to) river miles in countless hundreds of the Horus Throne of the Living. that he may be happy with his Ka-that he thousandsl Every day is an instant under you. and when you set it has may rule what Men encircles. that the Fenkhu-lands may serve him. as Re passed. In the same way you have arranged the night and completed its himself has ordained" hours-there is no cease in your laborsl By means of you every eye sees. and there is no fulfillment of theirs when your Person sets. When you are Abon goddesses bebind the king and bis Ka: 'We have come. so that we may moved to rise at dawn. your brightness opens the eyes of cattle; and when be protecting the bodily Son of [Amoo]. NEBMAATRE. to whom we give you set in Manu. then they sleep in the fashion of death," continuity and for whom we assemble eternity-all flatlands and all hill countries being bound together under his sandals." Second Hymn The seaud cbildren wbom these goddesses present are the Royal Ka of the Lord "Hail to you. Aten of the daytime, who has created all and made them of the Two Lands and the bodily Son of Amun, the Good God NEBMAAT- live 28 Texts from the Amama Period in Egypt
Great falcon. with variegated plumage. ~~~~~=2~~~~~= Scarab beetle who elevates himself by himself, Who brought himself into being,) who baa not biB fashioner. Elder Hol'Ul within Nut, for whom rejoicing is made at rna appear ing and rna setting alike, Mode1ler of what the ground creates, The Reign of Amenhotep IV Khnum and Amun of the Sun', People, who baa taken possession of the Two landi from great to 1ma11, Effective mother of gods and men. Patient craftsman, great one who tires himself with making them without number. Zealous herdlllWl who herds rna cattle. Their refuge, who makes their life, Harrier, runner. racer. Khepri, whose birth is distinguished. Who elevatel rna beauty in the belly of Nut. , Who iUuminatei the Two Lands with his disk (-Aten). ======PartI: Royal Documents======Primeval one of the Twolandi. who made himself by himself. Who sees aU he baa made. alone. 5. Stela of Amenhotep IV at Gebel Silsila Who reaches the end of the lands every day in the sight of those who tread upon them, This large tablet, cut intothe north clijjoj the great sandstone quarry on the east Who rises in heaven, having become Re, baM at Gebel Silsila, commemorates the preparations jor what MIS doubtless the Making the seasons of months with hear as he desires. and cool kings Jirst major buildirw projects at Kamalc. Their ostensible beneficiary. the god ness as he desires. Amun-Rt, stands on the rigbt, jacirw Amenbotep IV. The stela MIS vandalized-Jirst And when he makes bodies slack,4 he gathers them up. by the Aunist erasure oj Amun. and later when the king's names and['Pre wm Every land is in adoration at his rising every day in order to worship him," atkICked during the ortbotlos reaction-and the monument MIS newr restored. Even so, the figures oj the kirw (woo wears the distinctive White Crown) and the god can bediscerned cltarly in outline. Notes Abow Amun: Words spoken by Amun-Re, King of the Gods: (I) have given 1. Literally. -who acts upon the water of- the gods of Thebes, an idiom that is you life, stability and dominion. most characteristic of a subordinate's expression of loyalty to a superior. 2. Le, the incense that was one of that country's chief exports. Alxwt King: King of Upper and Lower Egypt. NEFERKHEPRURE 3. This c1auIe and the preceding comprile a play on the words for beetle /Im') WAENRE, bodily son of Re, AMENHOTEP IV,long in his lifetime. and "brin& into being-0Pr). ... Le, when they die. An alternative meanm" however. is that the god -embraces Main Tcrt them- when he makes them sleep in the daytime. The living Horus, mighty bull "Tall-Plumed": Two Ladies, -GreAt of King ship in [Karnak]": Horus of Gold, -Who Elevates the Crowns in Upper Egyptian Heliopolis": King of Upper and Lower Egypt. first prophet of Hor Aten. NEFERKHEPRURE-WAENRE; Son of Re, [AMENHOfEP IV].long in his lifetime-may he live forever continuallyl-
The first occasion that his Person laid a charge on [the king's scribe (?)], the general Amen[ ... ] to carry out all the works projects, starting from Ele