The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor: Full Text with Hieroglyphs
By AmroPublished on 24 min read
This article was written in Arabic; the English below is a rendering of the same text, made from the Egyptian with the help of the standard editions.
The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor is one of the most charming stories of ancient Egyptian literature, written in Middle Egyptian, the classical language of the Middle Kingdom (about 2000 to 1700 BCE). It is a tale within a tale: a returning expedition member tries to calm his anxious master, who fears facing the king, by telling how his own ship once sank and left him alone on a wondrous island.
The text survives in a single manuscript, papyrus Petersburg 1115 (pPetersburg 1115), kept in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. It was copied in hieratic during the Middle Kingdom, and in the colophon the scribe names himself: Ameny, son of Amenyaa, a rare case where we know the copyist. Vladimir Golenischeff published it first, in 1913.
The story in brief: the expedition has just docked safely at the Residence, and the capable follower tells his prince to rejoice and advises him to speak boldly before the king. To encourage him, he tells of his own mission to the mines, the storm that smashed the ship and drowned the whole crew, the island where he washed up alone, and the huge golden serpent, lord of Punt, who comforts him, tells his own tragedy, and promises that a ship will come to take him home. The sailor returns laden with gifts, yet the prince is not convinced.
The tables follow the sentences of the original, one sentence per row. Each row shows the hieroglyphs, the transliteration, the transliteration in Arabic letters, the Arabic translation in colloquial Egyptian, and the English translation. Under each row, the Source toggle gives the manuscript line number and the link to the sentence in the Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, plus any remark about damaged or restored text. The section headings are our own and not part of the original.
If you are just starting out, try the last section of dictionary article four, a short practice taken from this story. For another complete Egyptian narrative, see the Tale of Sinuhe.
1. The Frame: The Follower Reassures the Prince
The expedition has reached the Residence, and the follower tells his prince to rejoice.
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖 𓌞𓅱𓀀 𓇋𓈎𓂋𓏛 | Dd.in Sms.w iqrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 1 – TLA | Then the able follower said: |
| 𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛 𓄣𓏤𓎢 𓄂𓂝𓀀 | wDA ib.k HA.t(i)-aSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 2 – TLA | Rejoice, prince! |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓄖𓂻𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐 | m.k pH.n.n XnwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 3 – TLA | Look, we have reached the Residence! |
| 𓊏𓊪𓂝 𓐍𓂋𓊪𓏲𓆱 | Szp xrpwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 3 (cont.) – TLA | The mallet has been taken up, |
| 𓎛𓀝𓀜 𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓊧𓆱 | Hwi mni.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 4 – TLA | the mooring post has been driven in, |
| 𓄂𓏏𓏏𓍢 𓂋𓂝𓏏 𓁷𓏤 𓇾𓈇𓏤 | HA.tt rdi.t(i) Hr tASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 5 – TLA | and the bow rope lies upon the land. |
| 𓂋𓂝 𓎛𓎢𓈖𓏌𓏲𓀁 | rDi Hkn.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 5 (cont.) – TLA | Praise has been given, |
| 𓇼𓄿𓀢𓀁 𓊹 | dwA nTrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 5 (cont.) – TLA | god has been thanked, |
| 𓊃𓀀𓏤 𓎟 𓁷𓏤 𓎛𓊪𓏏𓂘𓂝 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓆑 | z nb Hr Hpt sn.nw.wy.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 6 – TLA | and every man embraces his companion. |
| 𓇩𓅱𓏏𓀀𓏥𓏏𓈖𓏥 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻 𓎙𓂧𓏏𓏛 | iz.wt.n iy.t(i) ad.t(i)SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 7 – TLA | Our crew has come back unharmed; |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓈖𓉔𓅱𓅪 𓈖 𓀎𓀀𓏥𓈖𓏥 | nn nhw n(.i) mSa.nSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 8 – TLA | there is no loss among our troop. |
| 𓄖𓂻𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓄖𓅱𓏭 𓍯𓍯𓏏𓈉 𓊃𓈖𓏕𓂻𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓊃𓈖𓅐𓏏𓈉 | pH.n.n pH.wi wAwA.t sni.n.n snm.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 9–10 – TLAWawat is Lower Nubia; Senmut is the island of Biggeh, south of Aswan. | We reached the far end of Wawat and sailed past Senmut. |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓂋𓆑 𓈖𓏥 𓇍𓇋𓂻𓈖𓏥 𓅓 𓊵𓏏𓊪𓏛 | m.k r.f n iy.n m HtpSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 11 – TLA | Look at us, we have returned in peace, |
| 𓇾𓈇𓏤𓈖𓏥 𓄖𓂻𓈖𓏥 𓇓𓏲 | tA.n pH.n swSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 11 (cont.) – TLA | and we have reached our own land. |
2. Advice and a Promise of a Story
The follower advises the prince how to speak before the king, then promises a story.
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓄔𓅓 𓂋𓎢 𓈖𓀀 𓄂𓂝𓀀 | sDm r.k n.i HA.t(i)-aSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 12 – TLA | Listen to me, prince! |
| 𓏌𓎢𓀀 𓆄𓏲𓅪 𓅓 𓇉𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥 | ink Swi <m> HAwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 13 – TLA | I am a man free of exaggeration. |
| 𓇋𓂝𓈗𓂝 𓏏𓏲 | iai twSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 13 (cont.) – TLA | Wash yourself, |
| 𓇋𓐝𓅓𓂝 𓈗 𓁷𓏤 𓂭𓏥𓎢 | imi mw Hr Dba.w.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 14 – TLA | and put water on your fingers. |
| 𓇋𓐍𓏛 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓀁𓎢 𓅱𓄞𓂧𓏏𓀁𓎢 | ix wSb.k wSd.t(w).kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 15 – TLA | Then you may answer when you are addressed. |
| 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓎢 𓈖 𓇓𓏏𓈖𓅆 𓄣𓏤𓎢 𓅓𓂝𓎢 | mdwi.k n nswt ib.k m-a.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 16 – TLA | Speak to the king with your heart in your hand, |
| 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓀁𓎢 𓂜𓈖 𓈖𓇋𓏏𓇋𓏏𓀁 | wSb.k nn nititSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 17 – TLA | and reply without stammering. |
| 𓇋𓅱 𓂋𓏤 𓈖 𓊃𓀀𓏤 𓈖𓈞𓅓𓂝𓆑 𓇓𓅱 | iw r n(.i) z() nHm.f swSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 18 – TLA | A man's mouth can save him, |
| 𓇋𓅱 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓆑 𓂝𓆑 𓅷𓄿𓅓𓋳 𓈖𓆑 𓁷𓏤 | iw mdw.f Di.f TAm n.f HrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 19 – TLA | and his speech can win him mercy (lit. make the face cover itself for him). |
| 𓁹𓂋𓎢 𓅓 𓐍𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓄣𓏤𓎢 | irr.k m xr.t-ib.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 20 – TLA | But you, when you act, you act as your own mind dictates. |
| 𓋴𓅨𓂋𓂧𓅪 𓊪𓏲 𓆓𓂧 𓈖𓎢 | swrd pw Dd n.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 21 – TLA | It is wearisome to speak to you. |
| 𓋴𓆓𓂧𓀀 𓂋𓆑 𓈖𓎢 𓏇𓇋𓏏𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭 𓆣𓂋 𓅓𓂝𓀀 𓆓𓊃𓀀 | sDd.i r.f n.k mi.tt-ir.i xpr m-a.i Ds.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 22–23 – TLA | I will tell you something similar that happened to me myself. |
3. The Voyage, the Storm and the Wreck
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓃀𓇋𓈞𓄑𓈉 𓈖 𓆊𓆊𓅆 | Sm.kw r biA n(.i) itiSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 24 – TLA | I had gone to the ruler's mine, |
| 𓉔𓄿𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 𓅓 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓈖𓏏 𓎔𓂝 𓍢𓎆𓎆 𓅓 𓄫𓏲𓋴 𓎔𓂝 𓅓 𓋴𓐍𓅱𓎺𓋴 | hAi.kw r wAD-wr m dp.t n.t mH 120 m Aw.s mH 40 m sxw.sSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 25–26 – TLA | and had gone down to the sea in a ship 120 cubits long and 40 cubits wide. |
| 𓋴𓐪𓂧𓀀 𓍢𓎆𓎆 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓅓 𓍉𓏛 𓈖 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 | sqd 120 im.s m stp n(.i) km.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 27–28 – TLA | One hundred and twenty sailors were aboard, the pick of Egypt. |
| 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓊪𓏏𓇯 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓅓𓂝𓎢𓄿𓂝 𓄣𓏤𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓂋 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓅱𓄛𓏥 | mA.sn p.t mA.sn tA makA ib.sn r mA(i).wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 29–30 – TLA | Whether they looked at the sky or looked at the land, their hearts were bolder than lions. |
| 𓊃𓂋𓃩𓀁𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓆓𓂝𓊡 𓂜 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻 𓈖𓈙𓈖𓏭𓃩𓀜 𓂜 𓆣𓂋𓏏𓆑 | sr.sn Da n ii.t nSni n xpr.t.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 30-31–32 – TLA | They could foretell a storm before it came, and a tempest before it broke. |
| 𓆓𓂝𓊡 𓉐𓂋𓂻 𓇋𓅱𓈖𓏥 𓅓 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 𓁶𓏤𓂝𓏤 𓃃𓏛𓈖𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 | Da pri iw.n m wAD-wr tp-a sAH.n tASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 33–34 – TLA | A storm burst out while we were still at sea, before we had neared land. |
| 𓆑𓄿𓏏𓀋𓂝 𓊡𓅱 𓁹𓆑 𓄙𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓀁 | fAi.t TAw iri.f wHmy.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 35 – TLA | The wind rose, and it raged again and again. |
| 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓏲𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈗 𓇋𓅓𓆑 𓈖𓏏 𓎔𓂝 | nwy.t im.f n.t mH 8SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 36 – TLA | In it was a wave eight cubits high. |
| 𓇋𓈖 𓆱𓏏𓏤 𓎛𓎛𓀝𓀜 𓈖𓀀 𓋴 | in xt H<wi> n.i s(i) | It was the mast that broke it for me. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓅓𓏏𓏱 | aHa.n dp.t m(w)t(.ti)SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 38 – TLA | Then the ship perished. |
| 𓈖𓏏𓅂𓏥 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓂜 𓊃𓊪𓊗 𓌡𓏲𓂝𓀀𓏤 𓇋𓅓 | nti.w im.s n spi wa imSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 39 – TLA | Of those who were in it, not one remained. |
4. Alone on the Island
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓂋𓂝𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓇋𓈖 𓍯𓄿𓅱𓈗 𓈖 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 | aHa.n.i rDi.kw r iw in wAw n(.i) wAD-wrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 40–40-41 – TLA | Then a wave of the sea cast me onto an island. |
| 𓁹𓈖𓀀 𓉔𓂋𓅱𓇳 𓌡𓏲𓂝𓏤𓅪𓎢𓏲𓀀 | iri.n.i hrw 3 wai.kwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 41 – TLA | I spent three days alone, |
| 𓄣𓏤𓀀 𓅓 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓀀 | ib.i m sn.nw.wy.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 42 – TLA | my heart my only companion. |
| 𓊃𓇥𓂋𓁀𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐𓈖 𓎢𓄿𓊪𓐡𓉐 𓈖 𓆱𓏏𓏤 𓈎𓈖𓇋𓂘𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓆄𓏲𓇋𓇋𓏏𓇳 | sDr.kw m-Xnw-n kAp n(.i) xt qni.n.i Swy.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 43–44 – TLA | I slept in the shelter of a tree, embracing its shade. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂧𓃹𓈖𓂻𓈖𓀀 𓂋𓂧𓂾𓂾𓀀 𓂋 𓂋𓐍𓏛 𓂝𓏏𓀀 𓅓 𓂋𓏤𓀀 | aHa.n dwn.n.i rd.wy.i r rx Di.t.i m r.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 45–46 – TLA | Then I stretched out my legs to find something to put in my mouth. |
| 𓅠𓅓𓈖𓀀 𓂧𓄿𓃀𓇭𓈒𓏥 𓇋𓄿𓂋𓂋𓏏𓁺𓈒𓏥 𓇋𓅓 𓇋𓄿𓈎𓏏𓆰𓏫 𓎟𓏏 𓀻𓋴𓏏𓏛 | gmi.n.i dAb.w iArr.t.w im iAq.t nb.t Sps.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 47–48 – TLA | There I found figs and grapes, and all kinds of fine vegetables. |
| 𓎢𓄿𓅱𓈒𓏥 𓇋𓅓 𓎛𓈖𓂝 𓈖𓈎𓅱𓏏𓈒𓏥 𓊏𓊪𓏏𓈒𓏥 𓏇𓇋 𓁹𓏏𓋴 | kA.w im Hna nq.wt sSp.t.w mi iri.t(w).sSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 49–50 – TLA | There were sycamore figs, both unripe and notched, and cucumbers, as if they had been cultivated. |
| 𓂋𓅓𓏲𓆟𓏥 𓇋𓅓 𓎛𓈖𓂝 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅯𓏥 | rm.w im Hna Apd.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 51 – TLA | There were fish and birds there too. |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓈖𓏏𓏏 𓂜𓈖 𓋴𓏏 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓆑 | nn n.t.t nn st m-Xnw.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 52 – TLA | There was nothing that was not in it. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓋴𓋴𓐟𓄿𓀁𓈖𓀀 𓅱𓀀 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓂋 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓈖 𓅨𓂋 𓁷𓏤 𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓀀 | aHa.n ssAi.n.i wi rDi.n.i r tA n wr Hr a.wi.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 53–54 – TLA | Then I ate my fill, and set down on the ground what was too much for my arms. |
| 𓄞𓂧𓏏𓂝𓀀 𓍑𓄿𓏴𓆱 | Sd.t.i DASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 54 (cont.) – TLA | Then I took up the fire drill, |
| 𓋴𓆣𓂋𓈖𓀀 𓐍𓏏𓊮 𓁹𓈖𓀀 𓊄𓅪𓈖𓏴𓏏𓊮 𓈖 𓊹𓏤𓏥 | sxpr.n.i x.t iri.n.i zbi-n-sD.t n nTr.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 55–56 – TLA | kindled a fire, and made a burnt offering to the gods. |
5. The Serpent Appears
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓄔𓅓𓈖𓀀 𓐍𓂋𓊤𓃭𓅱𓀁 𓈎𓂋𓇋𓃩𓀜 | aHa.n sDm.n.i xrw qriSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 57 – TLA | Then I heard a thundering noise, |
| 𓇋𓃀𓃙𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓍯𓄿𓅱𓈗 𓊪𓏲 𓈖 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 | ib.kw wAw pw n(.i) wAD-wrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 58–59 – TLA | and thought: it is a wave of the sea. |
| 𓆱𓏏𓏤𓏥 𓁷𓏤 𓅠𓅓𓅠𓅓𓏴 | xt.w Hr gmgmSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 59 (cont.) – TLA | The trees were splintering, |
| 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓁷𓏤 𓏠𓈖𓏠𓈖𓂻 | tA Hr mnmnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 60 – TLA | and the earth was shaking. |
| 𓎢𓆑𓋳𓈖𓀀 𓁷𓏤𓀀 𓅠𓅓𓈖𓀀 𓎛𓆑𓄿𓅱𓆙 𓊪𓅱 𓇋𓅱𓆑 𓅓 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻 | kfi.n.i Hr.i gmi.n.i HfA.w pw iw.f m iy.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 61–62 – TLA | I uncovered my face and saw that it was a serpent coming towards me. |
| 𓈖𓄓𓇓𓏲 𓎔𓂝 𓎆𓎆𓎆 | n(.i)-sw mH 30SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 63 – TLA | He measured thirty cubits; |
| 𓐍𓃀𓊃𓅱𓏏𓁸𓆑 𓅨𓂋 𓋴 𓂋 𓎔𓂝 | xbs.wt.f wr s(i) r mH 2SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 64 – TLA | his beard was longer than two cubits; |
| 𓎛𓂝𓄹𓏥𓆑 𓊃𓐍𓂋𓅱𓌕𓀜 𓅓 𓋞𓈒𓏥 | Ha.w.f sxr.w m nbwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 65 – TLA | his limbs were overlaid with gold; |
| 𓇋𓆛𓈖𓂃𓏭𓆑𓏭 𓅓 𓐍𓋴𓃀𓂧𓈒𓏥 𓌳𓐙𓂝𓆀𓏛 | in<H>.wy.fi m xsbd mAaSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 66 – TLA | his eyebrows were of true lapis lazuli; |
| 𓂝𓂋𓈎𓍼𓏛 𓇓𓅱 𓂋𓏃𓈖𓏏 | arq sw r-xntSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 66 (cont.) – TLA | and he reared up, bent forward. |
| 𓇋𓅱 𓄋𓊪𓏴𓈖𓆑 𓂋𓏤𓆑 𓂋𓀀 𓇋𓏲𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓆑 𓆓𓂧𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | iw wpi.n.f r.f r.i iw.i Hr X.t.i m-bAH.f Dd.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 67–69 – TLA | He opened his mouth to me while I lay on my belly before him, and said to me: |
| 𓈖𓅓𓂝 𓏎𓈖 𓏏𓅱 𓊗 𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀 | (i)n-m ini tw zp-2 nDsSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 69 (cont.) – TLA | Who brought you? Who brought you, little one? |
| 𓈖𓅓𓂝 𓏎𓈖 𓏏𓅱 | (i)n-m ini twSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 70 – TLA | Who brought you? |
| 𓇋𓂋 𓅱𓂧𓆑𓅯𓂻𓎢 𓅓 𓆓𓂧 𓈖𓀀 𓏎𓈖 𓏏𓅱 𓂋 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓀀 𓂋𓐍𓏛𓎢 𓏏𓅱 𓇋𓅱𓎢 𓅓 𓊃𓊃𓊮 𓆣𓂋𓏏 𓅓 𓈖𓏏𓏭 𓂜 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓏏𓆑 | ir wdf.k m Dd n.i ini tw r iw pn rDi.i rx.k tw iw.k m ss<f> xpr.t(i) m n.ti n mA.t(w).fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 71–73 – TLAThe scribe left a sign out of the word for “ashes”; the editors supply it. | If you delay in telling me who brought you to this island, I will make you find yourself as ashes, become one who is never seen. |
6. The Serpent Asks, the Sailor Tells
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓇋𓅱 𓌃𓂧𓅱𓀁𓎢 𓈖𓀀 | iw mdwi.k n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 74 – TLA | You speak to me, |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄔𓅓𓀀 𓋴𓏏 | nn wi Hr sDm. stSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 75 – TLA | but I do not hear it. |
| 𓇋𓅱𓀀 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓎢 𓐍𓅓𓂜𓈖𓀀 𓅱𓀀 | iw.i m-bAH.k xmi.n.i wiSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 76 – TLA | I am before you, and I do not know myself. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓆑 𓅱𓀀 𓅓 𓂋𓏤𓆑 𓎁𓏏𓀜𓆑 𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓊨𓏏𓉐𓆑 𓈖𓏏 𓋴𓇛𓅓𓀔 | aHa.n rDi<.n>.f wi m r.f iTi.f wi r s.t.f n.t snDmSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 77–78 – TLA | Then he took me into his mouth and carried me to his resting place. |
| 𓍯𓄿𓎛𓎝𓀜𓆑 𓅱𓀀 𓂜𓈖 𓂧𓏇𓇋𓏏𓂝𓀀 | wAH.f wi nn dmi.t.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 79 – TLA | He set me down without my being harmed. |
| 𓅱𓍑𓄿𓏛𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂜𓈖 𓎁𓏏𓏏𓀜 𓇋𓅓𓀀 | wDA.kw nn iTi.t im.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 80 – TLA | I was unharmed, and nothing had been taken from me. |
| 𓇋𓅱 𓄋𓊪𓏴𓈖𓆑 𓂋𓏤𓆑 𓂋𓀀 𓇋𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓆑 | iw wpi.n.f r.f r.i iw.i Hr X.t.i m-bAH.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 81–82 – TLA | He opened his mouth to me while I lay on my belly before him. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | aHa.n Dd.n.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 83 – TLA | Then he said to me: |
| 𓈖𓅓𓂝 𓏎𓈖 𓏏𓏲 𓊗 𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀 | (i)n-m ini tw zp-2 nDsSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 84 – TLA | Who brought you? Who brought you, little one? |
| 𓈖𓅓𓂝 𓏎𓈖 𓏏𓅱 𓂋 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓈖 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 𓈖𓏏𓏭 𓐞𓏤𓆑𓏭 𓅓 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓏲𓇋𓇋𓈗 | (i)n-m ini tw r iw pn n(.i) wAD-wr n.ti gs(.wi).fi m nwy | Who brought you to this island in the sea, whose two sides are in the water? |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏴𓀁𓈖𓀀 𓈖𓆑 𓋴𓏏 | aHa.n wSb.n.i n.f stSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 86–87 – TLA | Then I answered him. |
| 𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓇋𓇋𓀀 𓐍𓆼𓄿𓅓𓂢 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓆑 𓆓𓂧𓀀 𓈖𓆑 | a.wi.y xAm m-bAH.f Dd.i n.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 88 – TLA | My arms were bent in reverence before him as I said to him: |
| 𓏌𓎢𓀀 𓊪𓅱 𓉔𓄿𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓃀𓇋𓈞𓄑𓈉 𓅓 𓄋𓊪𓅱𓏏𓂻 𓆊𓆊𓅆 𓅓 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓈖𓏏 𓎔𓂝 𓍢𓎆𓎆 𓅓 𓄫𓏲𓋴 𓎔𓂝 𓅓 𓋴𓐍𓅱𓎺𓏛𓋴 | ink pw hAi.kw r biA m wpw.t iti m dp.t n.t mH 120 m Aw.s mH 40 m sxw.sSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 89–92 – TLA | This is how it was: I went down to the mine on a mission for the ruler, in a ship 120 cubits long and 40 cubits wide. |
| 𓋴𓐪𓂧𓀀 𓍢𓎆𓎆 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓅓 𓋴𓏏𓊪𓅱𓍉𓏛 𓈖 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 | sqd 120 im.s m stp.w n(.i) km.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 93–94 – TLA | One hundred and twenty sailors were aboard, the pick of Egypt. |
| 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓊪𓏏𓇯 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓅓𓂝𓎢𓄿𓀜 𓄣𓏤𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓂋 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓅱𓄛𓏥 | mA.sn p.t mA.sn tA makA ib.sn r mA(i).wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 95–96 – TLA | Whether they looked at the sky or looked at the land, their hearts were bolder than lions. |
| 𓊃𓂋𓃩𓀁𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓆓𓂝𓊡 𓂜 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻𓆑 𓈖𓈙𓈖𓏭𓃩 𓂜𓂜 𓆣𓂋𓏏𓆑 | sr.sn Da n iy.t.f nSni n xpr.t.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 97–98 – TLA | They could foretell a storm before it came, and a tempest before it broke. |
| 𓌡𓏲𓂝𓀀𓏤 𓇋𓅓 𓎟 𓅓𓂝𓎢𓄿𓀜 𓄣𓏤𓆑 𓈖𓆱𓐍𓏏𓀜 𓂝𓏤𓆑 𓂋 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓆑 | wa im nb makA ib.f nxt a.f r sn.nw.wy.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 99–100 – TLA | Each one of them was bolder of heart and stronger of arm than his companion. |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓅱𓐍𓆼𓄿𓅪𓀀 𓅓𓁷𓂋𓄣𓋴𓈖𓏥 | nn wxA m-Hr(.i)-ib.snSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 101 – TLA | There was no fool among them. |
| 𓆓𓂝𓊡 𓉐𓂋𓂻 𓇋𓅱𓈖𓏥 𓅓 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 𓁶𓏤𓂝𓏤 𓃃𓂻𓈖𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 | Da pri iw.n m wAD-wr tp-a sAH.n tASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 102–103 – TLA | A storm burst out while we were still at sea, before we had neared land. |
| 𓆑𓄿𓏏𓀋𓂝 𓊡𓅱 𓁹𓆑 𓄙𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏𓀁 | fAi.t TAw iri.f wHmi.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 104 – TLA | The wind rose, and it raged again and again. |
| 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓅱𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈗 𓇋𓅓𓆑 𓈖𓏏 𓎔𓂝 | nwy.t im.f n.t mH 8SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 105 – TLA | In it was a wave eight cubits high. |
| 𓇋𓈖 𓆱𓏏𓏤 𓎛𓎛𓀝𓂝 𓈖𓀀 𓋴 | in xt H<wi> n.i s(i) | It was only the mast that broke it for me. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓅓𓏏𓏱𓏏 | aHa.n dp.t m(w)t.t(i)SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 106 (cont.) – TLA | Then the ship perished. |
| 𓈖𓏏𓅂𓏥 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓂜 𓊃𓊪𓊗 𓌡𓏲𓂝𓀀𓏤 𓇋𓅓 𓁷𓏤 𓐍𓐍𓐍𓀀 | n.ti.w im.s n spi wa im Hr x.w.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 107–108 – TLA | Of those who were in it, not one remained except myself. |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓅱𓀀 𓂋𓐞𓏤𓎢 | m.k wi r-gs.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 108 (cont.) – TLA | And here I am, beside you. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓏎𓈖𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓇋𓈖 𓍯𓄿𓅱𓈗 𓏤 𓈖 𓇆𓅨𓂋𓈘 | aHa.n ini.kwi r iw pn in wAw wa n(.i) wAD-wrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 109–110 – TLA | I was brought to this island by a wave of the sea. |
7. Words of Comfort and the Promise of Return
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓆓𓂧𓇋𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | Dd.in.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 111 – TLA | Then he said to me: |
| 𓅓 𓅾𓀁 𓅓 𓊗 𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀 | m snD(.w) m(i) zp-2 nDsSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 112 – TLA | Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, little one! |
| 𓅓 𓄿𓏏𓅱𓀜 𓁷𓏤𓎢 𓊪𓎛𓄖𓈖𓎢 𓅱𓀀 | m A(i)t.w Hr.k pH.n.k wiSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 113 – TLA | Do not let your face turn pale, now that you have come to me. |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓊹𓏤 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑 𓋹𓈖𓐍𓎢 𓏎𓈖𓆑 𓏏𓅱 𓂋 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓈖 𓂓𓏤 | m.k nTr rDi.n.f anx.k ini.f tw r iw pn n(.i) kASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 114 – TLAThe ka is the vital spirit; “island of the ka” suggests an island of unseen vital powers. | Look, it is god who has let you live, bringing you to this island of the ka. |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓈖𓏏𓏏 𓂜𓈖 𓋴𓏏 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓆑 | nn n.tt nn st m-Xnw.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 115 – TLA | There is nothing that is not in it; |
| 𓇋𓅱𓆑 𓎔𓏛 𓌨𓂋 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥 𓎟𓏏 | iw.f mH Xr nfr.t nb.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 116 – TLA | it is filled with every good thing. |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓏏𓅱 𓂋 𓁹𓏏 𓇹𓇼𓂧𓇳𓏤 𓁷𓏤 𓇹𓇼𓂧𓇳𓏤 𓂋 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓏛𓎡 𓇹𓇼𓂧𓇳 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐𓈖 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 | m.k tw r iri.t Abd Hr Abd r km.t.k Abd 4 m-Xnw-n iw pnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 117–119 – TLA | Look, you will pass month after month until you have completed four months on this island. |
| 𓇋𓅱 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓂋 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻 𓅓 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐 | iw dp.t r iy.t m XnwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 120 – TLA | A ship will come from the Residence, |
| 𓋴𓐪𓂧𓅱𓀀𓏥 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓂋𓐍𓏛𓈖𓎢 | sqd.w im.s rx.n.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 121 – TLA | with sailors on it whom you know. |
| 𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎢 𓎛𓈖𓂝𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓂋 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐 | Sm.k Hna.sn r XnwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 122 – TLA | You will go with them to the Residence, |
| 𓅓𓏏𓏱𓎢 𓅓 𓊖𓏏𓏤𓎢 | m(w)t.k m n.t.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 123 – TLA | and you will die in your own city. |
8. The Serpent's Own Story
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓂋𓈙𓂉𓀁𓅱𓏭 𓋴𓆓𓂧𓀁 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓄓𓀁𓈖𓆑 𓊃𓈖𓏕𓂻 𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓅪 | rS.wi sDd dp.t.n.f zni<.n> (i)x.t m(H)rSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 124 – TLA | How happy is the one who can tell of what he has tasted, once the misery has passed! |
| 𓋴𓆓𓂧𓀁𓀀 𓂋𓆑 𓈖𓎢 𓏇𓇋𓏏𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭 𓆣𓂋𓅱 𓅓 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓃹𓈖𓀀 𓇋𓅓𓆑 𓎛𓈖𓂝 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓀀 𓄡𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥 𓅓𓈎𓄿𓃀𓄲𓋴𓈖𓏥 | sDd.i r.f n.k mi.tt-ir.i xpr.w m iw pn wn.i im.f Hna sn.w.i Xrd.w m-qAb.snSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 125–127 – TLA | I will tell you something similar that happened on this island, where I lived with my brothers and sisters, my children among them. |
| 𓆎𓅓𓏛𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓎛𓆑𓄿𓏲𓆙 𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆𓎆 𓅓 𓄟𓋴𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓀀 𓎛𓈖𓂝 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓀀 | km.n.n HfA.w 75 m ms.w.i Hna sn.w.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 128 – TLA | Together with my children and my brothers and sisters, we numbered seventy-five serpents. |
| 𓂜𓈖 𓋴𓐍𓆼𓄿𓀁𓀀 𓈖𓎢 𓅭𓏏𓁐 𓎢𓏏𓏏𓅪𓁐 𓏎𓈖𓏏 𓈖𓀀 𓅓 𓊃𓆷𓄿𓄃𓏛 | nn sxA.i n.k zA.t kt.t ini.t n.i m sSASourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 129 – TLAThe ending of this sentence is uncertain; “through prayer” is one proposal. | I will not mention to you a little daughter who was brought to me through prayer. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓋴𓃀𓄿𓇼𓇳 𓉔𓄿𓏲𓂻 | aHa.n sbA hAi.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 130 – TLA | Then a star fell, |
| 𓉐𓂋𓂻𓈖 𓈖𓄿 𓅓 𓐍𓏏𓊮 𓅓𓂝𓆑 | pri.n nA m x.t m-a.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 130 (cont.) – TLA | and they went up in flames because of it. |
| 𓆣𓂋𓈖 𓂋𓋴 𓂜𓈖 𓅱𓀀 𓎛𓈖𓂝 | xpr.n r.s nn wi HnaSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 130 (cont.) – TLA | It happened while I was not with them; |
| 𓄿𓅓𓊮𓈖𓏭 𓂜𓈖 𓅱𓀀 𓅓𓁷𓂋𓄣𓋴𓈖𓏥 | Am.ni nn wi m-Hr(.i)-ib.snSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 131 – TLA | they burned while I was not among them. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓅓𓏏𓏱𓎢𓏲𓀀 𓈖𓋴𓈖𓏥 𓅠𓅓𓈖𓀀 𓋴𓏏 𓅓 𓆞𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓐎𓏥 𓌡𓏲𓂝𓏏𓏤 | aHa.n.i m(w)t.kw n.sn gmi.n.i st m XAy.t.w wa.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 132 – TLA | I nearly died for grief over them when I found them as a single heap of corpses. |
9. Hope, Promises and the Serpent's Laughter
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓇋𓂋 𓈎𓈖𓀜𓈖𓎢 𓌗𓀜 𓄣𓏤𓎢 𓎔𓏛𓎢 𓈎𓈖𓇋𓂘𓎢 𓅓 𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎢 | ir qni.k rwD ib.k mH.k qni.k m Xrd.w.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 133 – TLA | But if you are brave and your heart is firm, you will fill your arms with your children, |
| 𓋴𓈖𓂉𓀁𓎢 𓈞𓏏𓁐𓎢 | sn.k Hm.t.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 134 – TLA | kiss your wife, |
| 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓎢 𓉐𓏤𓎢 | mA.k pr.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 134 (cont.) – TLA | and see your home. |
| 𓄤𓆑𓂋 𓋴𓏏 𓂋 𓐍𓏏𓏛𓏥 𓎟𓏏 | nfr st r (i)x.t nb.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 134 (cont.) – TLA | That is better than anything. |
| 𓊪𓎛𓄖𓂻𓎢 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐 | pH.k XnwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 135 – TLA | You will reach the Residence, |
| 𓃹𓈖𓎢 𓇋𓅓𓆑 𓅓𓈎𓄿𓃀𓄲𓂻𓈖 𓌢𓈖𓏌𓅱𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎢 | wn.k im.f m-qAb-n sn.w.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 136 – TLA | and be there among your kin. |
| 𓃹𓈖𓎢 𓂋𓆑 𓂧𓌳𓄿𓍖𓏛𓎢𓏲𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀 𓂧𓏇𓇋𓂢𓈖𓀀 𓊃𓅭𓄿𓏏𓅱𓈇𓏥 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓆑 | wn.k<w> r.f dmA.kw Hr X.t.i dmi.n.i zAtw.w m-bAH.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 137–138 – TLA | I remained stretched out on my belly, having touched the ground before him. |
| 𓆓𓂧𓀀 𓂋𓆑 𓈖𓎢 | Dd.i r.f n.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 138 (cont.) – TLA | I said to him: I wish to tell you something. |
| 𓋴𓆓𓂧𓀁𓀀 𓅢𓏛𓏥𓎢 𓈖 𓆊𓆊𓅆 | sDd.i bAw.k n itiSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 139 – TLA | I will tell the ruler of your power, |
| 𓂝𓀀 𓊃𓈙𓄿𓏛𓆑 𓅓 𓉻𓂝𓄿𓏛𓎢 | Di.i sSA.f m aA.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 140 – TLA | and I will make him learn of your greatness. |
| 𓂝𓀀 𓏎𓈖𓏏 𓈖𓎢 𓇋𓃀𓃙𓇋 𓎛𓎢𓈖𓏌𓏲𓈒𓏥 𓂻𓅱𓂧𓈖𓃀𓈒𓏥 𓄡𓊃𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈒𓏥 𓌢𓈖𓏏𓂋𓆵𓈒𓏥 𓈖 𓐞𓏤𓏥𓉐𓏥 𓋴𓊵𓏏𓊪𓅱𓏛 𓊹𓏤 𓎟 𓇋𓅓𓆑 | Di.i ini(.t).t(w) n.k ibi Hknw.w iwdnb.w XsAy.t.w sntr.w n gs.w-pr.w sHtp.w nTr nb im.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 141–142 – TLAThe exact identification of several of these aromatic substances remains uncertain. | I will have ladanum, sacred oil, incense and balsam brought to you, and temple incense with which every god is appeased. |
| 𓋴𓆓𓂧𓀁𓀀 𓂋𓆑 𓆣𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥 𓁷𓏤𓀀 𓅓 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓏏𓏥𓈖𓀀 𓅓 𓅢𓏛𓆑 | sDd.<i> r.f xpr.t.w Hr.i m mA.t.w.n.i m bAw.<k>SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 143 – TLAThe manuscript has “his power”; the editors emend it to “your power.” | I will tell what has happened to me, and what I have seen of your power. |
| 𓇼𓄿𓀢𓏏𓅱 𓈖𓎢 𓊹 𓅓 𓊖𓏏𓏤 𓐍𓏏𓆑𓁷𓏤 𓈎𓈖𓃀𓏏𓊋𓀀𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓂋𓇥𓂋𓆑 | dwA.tw n.k nTr m n.t xft-Hr qnb.t.w tA r-Dr.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 144 – TLA | God will be thanked on your account in the city, before the council of the whole land. |
| 𓊃𓆑𓏏𓌪𓀜𓀀 𓈖𓎢 𓂸𓃒𓏤𓏥 𓅓 𓊄𓅪𓈖𓏴𓏏𓊮 𓅱𓈙𓈖𓅿𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓈖𓎢 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅱𓅯𓏥 | sft.i n.k kA.w m zbi-n-sD.t wSn.n.i n.k Apd.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 145–146 – TLA | I will slaughter oxen for you as a burnt offering, once I have wrung the necks of birds for you. |
| 𓂝𓀀 𓏎𓈖𓏏 𓈖𓎢 𓎛𓂝𓅱𓊛𓏥 𓄿𓏏𓊪𓅱𓀁𓀜 𓌨𓂋 𓀻𓋴𓋴𓏛𓏥 𓎟 𓈖 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖𓏏𓏤 𓏇𓇋 𓁹𓂋𓏏 𓈖 𓊹𓏤 𓌻𓂋𓂋𓀁 𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥 𓅓 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓍯𓄿𓈐 𓂜 𓂋𓐍𓏛 𓇓𓏲 𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥 | Di.i ini(.t).t(w) n.k Ha.w Atp.w Xr Spss.w nb n(.i) km.t mi irr.t n nTr mrr r(m)T.w m tA wAi n rx sw r(m)T.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 147–148 – TLA | I will have ships sent to you, loaded with all the treasures of Egypt, as is done for a god who loves people, in a distant land that people do not know. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓋴𓃀𓏏𓄑𓀁𓈖𓆑 𓇋𓅓𓀀 𓅓 𓇑𓇑 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓀀 𓅓 𓈖𓆑𓅪 𓅓 𓄣𓏤𓆑 | aHa.n sbt.n.f im.i m nn Dd.n.i m nf m ib.f | Then he laughed at me, at what I had said, which seemed to him foolish. |
| 𓆓𓂧𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | Dd.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 150 – TLA | He said to me: |
| 𓂜 𓅨𓂋 𓈖𓎢 𓂝𓈖𓅂𓏋𓏥 𓆣𓂋𓏏 𓎟 𓊹𓌢𓈖𓏏𓂋𓆵𓈒𓏥 | n wr n.k antiw.w xpr.t(i) nb sntr.w | You are not rich in myrrh, even if you are a possessor of incense. |
| 𓏌𓎢𓀀 𓇋𓋴 𓋾𓈎𓄿𓅆 𓊪𓃹𓈖𓏏𓈉 | ink is HqA pwn.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 151 – TLA | But I am the ruler of Punt, |
| 𓂝𓈖𓅂𓏋𓏥 𓈖𓀀 𓇋𓅓 𓇓𓅱 | antiw.w n.i im.i swSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 151 (cont.) – TLA | and the myrrh belongs to me. |
| 𓎛𓎢𓈖𓏌𓏲𓈒𓏥 𓊪𓆑 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓎢 𓏎𓈖𓏏𓆑 𓃀𓅱 𓊪𓏲 𓅨𓂋 𓈖 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 | Hknw.w pf Dd.n.k ini.t.f bw pw wr n(.i) iw pnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 152 – TLA | That sacred oil you spoke of bringing, it is the main product of this island. |
| 𓆣𓂋 𓇋𓋴 𓃚𓅱𓂧𓂻𓎢 𓏏𓅱 𓂋 𓊨𓏏𓉐 𓏏𓈖 𓂜𓊃𓊪𓊗 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓎢 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓆣𓂋 𓅓 𓈖𓍇𓏌𓏲𓇋𓇋𓈗 | xpr is iwd.k tw r s.t tn n-sp mA.k iw pn xpr(.w) m nw.ySourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 153–154 – TLA | When you leave this place, you will never see this island again, for it will have turned to water. |
10. The Ship Arrives and the Gifts
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓏏𓆑 𓇍𓇋𓏏𓂻 𓏇𓇋 𓊃𓂋𓏏𓃩𓀁𓈖𓆑 𓏃𓈖𓏏 | aHa.n dp.t tf iy.t(i) mi sr.t.n.f xnt(.w)SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 155 – TLA | Then that ship came, just as he had announced beforehand. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎢𓏲𓀀 | aHa.n.i Sm.kwSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 155 (cont.) – TLA | I went off, |
| 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓆱𓏏𓏤 𓈎𓄿𓀠 𓋷𓀁𓈖𓀀 𓈖𓏏𓅂𓀀𓏥 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐𓋴 | rDi.n.<i> wi Hr xt qAi siA.n.i n.ti.w m-Xnw.sSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 156 – TLA | set myself on a tall tree, and recognised those who were aboard. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓈝𓅓𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓋴𓏇𓇋𓏏𓀁 𓋴𓏏 | aHa.n.<i> Sm.kw r smi.t stSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 157 – TLA | Then I went to report it, |
| 𓅠𓅓𓈖𓀀 𓇓𓅱 𓂋𓐍𓏛 𓋴𓏏 | gmi.n.i sw rx stSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 157 (cont.) – TLA | and found that he already knew. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | aHa.n Dd.n.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 158 – TLA | Then he said to me: |
| 𓋴𓈖𓃀𓏏 𓊗 𓈖𓆓𓊃𓅪𓀀 𓂋 𓉐𓏤𓎢 | snb.t(i) zp-2 nDs r pr.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 158 (cont.) – TLA | Farewell, farewell, little one, all the way to your home! |
| 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓎢 𓄡𓂋𓂧𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎢 | mA.k Xrd.w.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 159 – TLA | You will see your children. |
| 𓇋𓐛𓅓𓂝 𓂋𓈖𓀀 𓄤𓆑𓂋 𓅓 𓊖𓏏𓏤𓎢 | imi rn.i nfr m n.t.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 159 (cont.) – TLA | Spread my good name in your city. |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓌨𓂋𓏏𓏛𓏥𓀀 𓊪𓏲 𓇋𓅓𓎢 | m.k Xr.t.w.i pw im.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 160 – TLA | Look, that is what I ask of you. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀 | aHa.n rDi.n.i wi Hr X.t.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 161 – TLA | I laid myself on my belly, |
| 𓂝𓏤𓅱𓏭𓀀 𓆼𓄿𓅓𓀜 𓅓𓃀𓅡𓄿𓎛𓂺𓏛𓆑 | a.wi.i xAm(.w) m-bAH.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 161 (cont.) – TLA | my arms bent in reverence before him. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 𓊄𓃀𓏏𓏛𓏥 𓅓 𓂝𓈖𓅂𓏋𓏥 𓎛𓎢𓈖𓏌𓏲𓈒𓏥 𓂻𓅱𓂧𓈖𓃀𓈒𓏥 𓄡𓊃𓐟𓄿𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈒𓏥 𓍘𓀻𓋴𓈒𓏥 𓆷𓄿𓂝𓊃𓐍 𓄟𓋴𓂧𓅓𓏏𓈒𓏥 𓋴𓂧𓅱𓄢𓏥 𓏌𓏤 𓅓𓂝𓅓𓂝𓄛 𓌻𓂋𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓏳𓏥 𓉻𓂝𓄿𓏏𓏛 𓈖𓏏 𓊹𓌢𓈖𓏏𓂋𓆵𓈒𓏥 𓈖𓆓𓎛𓇋𓇋𓏏𓄑𓏥 𓈖𓏏 𓍋𓃀𓅱𓌟 𓎀𓊃𓅓𓏲𓏥 𓎼𓅱𓆑𓃷𓏫 𓎢𓇋𓇋𓅱𓃷𓏫 𓀻𓋴𓋴𓏛𓏥 𓎟 𓄤𓆑𓂋 | aHa.n rDi.n.f n.i zb.t.w m antiw.w Hknw.w iwdnb.w XsAi.t.w tiSps.w SAasx msdm.t.w sd.w n.w mama(i) mrry.t.w aA.t n.t sntr.w nDHy.t.w n.t Abw Tzm.w gwf.w ky.w Spss.w nb nfrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 162–165 – TLAThe names tishepes and shaasekh are transcribed as they stand, since the exact substances are uncertain. | Then he gave me a cargo of myrrh, sacred oil, incense and balsam, tishepes wood, shaasekh spice and eye paint, giraffe tails, great lumps of incense, elephant tusks, hounds, long-tailed and short-tailed monkeys, and every kind of fine treasure. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓄿𓏏𓊪𓀋𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓋴𓏏 𓂋 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓏏𓈖 | aHa.n Atp.n.i st r dp.t tnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 166 – TLA | I loaded it all onto that ship. |
| 𓆣𓂋𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓏏𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓄡𓏏𓏤𓀀 𓂋 𓇼𓄿𓀢 𓈖𓆑 𓊹 | xpr.n rDi.tw.i Hr X.t.i r dwA n.f nTrSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 167 – TLA | I found myself on my belly, to give thanks to him. |
11. Farewell and Return to the Residence
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | aHa.n Dd.n.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 167 (cont.) – TLA | Then he said to me: |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓏏𓏲 𓂋 𓄭𓂋𓂻 𓂋 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐 𓈖 𓇺𓂧𓇳 | m.k tw r spr r Xnw n Abd 2SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 168 – TLA | Look, you will reach the Residence in two months, |
| 𓎔𓏛𓎢 𓈎𓈖𓇋𓂘𓎢 𓅓 𓄡𓂋𓂧𓅱𓀔𓀀𓁐𓏥𓎢 | mH.k qni.k m Xrd.w.kSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 168 (cont.) – TLA | you will embrace your children, |
| 𓂋𓈖𓊪𓇋𓇋𓆳𓎢 𓅓 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐 𓂋 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓊭𓂝𓎢 | rnpi.y.k m Xnw <r> qrs.t.k | and you will grow young again in the Residence until you are buried. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓉔𓄿𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓌻𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤 𓅓𓉔𓄿𓅱𓏛𓏥 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓏏𓈖 | aHa.n hAi.kw r mry.t m-hAw.w dp.t tnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 170 – TLA | Then I went down to the shore beside that ship, |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓇋𓄿𓈙𓀁 𓈖 𓀎𓀀𓏥 𓈖𓏏𓏭 𓅓 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊛 𓏏𓈖 | aHa.n.i Hr iAS n mSa.w n.ti m dp.t tnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 171 – TLA | and called to the crew who were on it. |
| 𓂋𓂝𓈖𓀀 𓎛𓎢𓈖𓏌𓏲𓀁 𓁷𓏤 𓌻𓂋𓇋𓇋𓏏𓈇𓏤 𓈖 𓎟𓅆 𓈖 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 𓈖𓏏𓅂𓀀𓏥 𓇋𓅓𓋴 𓂋𓏇𓇋𓏏𓏏𓏛𓇋𓂋𓏭 | rDi.n.i Hkn.w Hr mry.t n nb n(.i) iw pn n.ti.w im.s r-mi.tt-ir.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 172 – TLA | On the shore I offered praise to the lord of this island, and those on board did likewise. |
| 𓈖𓂝𓏏𓊛 𓊪𓏲 𓁹𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓅓𓐍𓂧𓊛 𓂋 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓅱𓉐 𓈖 𓆊𓆊𓅆 | nai.t pw iri.n.n m-xd r Xnw n(.i) itiSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 173 – TLA | Then we sailed north to the Residence of the ruler, |
| 𓄭𓂋𓂻𓈖𓈖𓏥 𓂋 𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐 𓁷𓏤 𓇺𓇼𓂧𓇳 𓏇𓇋 𓆓𓂧𓏏𓈖𓆑 𓎟𓏏 | spr.n.n r Xnw Hr Abd 2 mi Dd.t.n.f nb.tSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 174 – TLA | and reached the Residence in two months, exactly as he had said. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓅧𓈎𓂻𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓁷𓏤 𓆊𓆊𓅆 𓅓𓂝𓊄𓂻𓈖𓀀 𓈖𓆑 𓏎𓏌𓏥 𓊪𓈖 𓏎𓈖𓈖𓀀 𓅓𓄚𓈖𓏌𓏲𓉐𓈖 𓈀𓈇𓏤 𓊪𓈖 | aHa.n aq.kw Hr iti mz.n.i n.f inw.w pn ini.n.i m-Xnw-n iw pnSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 175 – TLA | Then I went in to the ruler and presented him with these gifts which I had brought from the island. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓇼𓄿𓀢𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 𓊹 𓐍𓏏𓆑𓁷𓏤 𓈎𓈖𓃀𓏏𓊋𓀀𓏥 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓂋𓇥𓂋𓆑 | aHa.n dwA.n.f n.i nTr xft-Hr qnb.t.w tA r-Dr.fSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 176 – TLA | Then he thanked god for me before the council of the whole land. |
12. The Ending and the Colophon
| Hieroglyphs | Egyptian (Latin transliteration) | English |
|---|---|---|
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓂋𓂝𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓂋 𓌞𓏲𓀀 𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓏛𓎢𓅱𓀀 𓅓 𓁶𓀀𓁐𓏥 | aHa.n rDi.kw r Sms.w sAH.kw m tp.w 200SourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 177–179 – TLA | I was made a follower and was provided with two hundred people. |
| 𓌳𓁹𓄿 𓅱𓀀 𓂋𓐟 𓋴𓐟𓄿𓎛𓃃𓏛𓀀 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓂋𓐟𓏤 𓌳𓁹𓄿𓀀 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓄓𓀁𓈖𓀀 | mA wi r-sA sAH.i tA r-sA mA.i dp.t.n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 180–181 – TLA | Look at me, now that I have reached the land and seen what I have tasted. |
| 𓄔𓅓 𓂋𓎢 𓈖 𓂋𓏤𓀀 | sDm r.k [n] [r].iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 182 – TLAThe manuscript is damaged here; the editors restore the bracketed words. | Listen to my words! |
| 𓅓𓂝𓎢 𓄤𓆑𓂋 𓄔𓅓 𓈖 𓂋𓍿𓀀𓁐𓏥 | m.k nfr sDm n r(m)T.wSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 182 (cont.) – TLA | Look, it is good for a person to listen. |
| 𓊢𓂝𓈖 𓆓𓂧𓈖𓆑 𓈖𓀀 | aHa.n Dd.n.f n.iSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 183 – TLA | Then he said to me: |
| 𓅓 𓁹 𓇋𓈎𓂋𓏛𓀀 𓐍𓈖𓌰𓅓𓋴𓀙𓀀 | m iri iqr xnmsSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 184 – TLA | Do not play the great man, friend! |
| 𓇋𓈖𓅓 𓂋𓂝𓏏 𓈗 𓈖 𓄿𓊪𓂧𓅯 𓌉𓆓𓇳 𓇾𓈇𓏤 𓈖 𓊃𓆑𓏏𓌪𓂝𓆑 𓇼𓄿𓇳 | in-m rDi mw [n] Apd HD tA n sft.f dwA(.w) | Who gives water to a bird at daybreak, when it is to be slaughtered in the morning? |
| 𓂻𓅱𓆑 𓊪𓏲 𓄂𓏏𓏤𓆑 𓂋 𓄖𓆑𓏭 𓏇𓇋 𓅠𓅓𓇋𓇋𓏏 𓅓 𓏞𓏛 𓅓 𓏞𓏛 𓏞𓀀 𓇋𓈎𓂋𓏛 𓈖 𓂭𓂭𓂭𓆑 𓇋𓈖𓇋𓇋 𓆇 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓉻𓂝𓄿𓏛𓀀 𓋹𓍑𓋴 | iwi.f pw HA.t.f r pH(.wi).f mi gmi.yt m zXAw [m] zXAw zXA.w iqr n Dba.w.f i[m]n.y zA imn-aA anx-wDA-snbSourcepPetersburg 1115, l. 187–189 – TLASome signs of the colophon are damaged and restored by the editors. | It is finished, from beginning to end, as it was found in writing, in the hand of the scribe skilled of fingers, Ameny, son of Amenyaa, may he live, prosper and be healthy. |
13. Sources
- Peter Dils & Heinz Felber (eds.), Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae, text edition of the Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor (pPetersburg 1115): tla.digital
- Vladimir Golenischeff, Les papyrus hiératiques nos 1115, 1116A et 1116B de l'Ermitage impérial à St.-Pétersbourg, 1913 (first publication of the papyrus).
- Aylward M. Blackman, Middle-Egyptian Stories, Bibliotheca Aegyptiaca II, Brussels 1932.
- James P. Allen, Middle Egyptian Literature, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
- R. B. Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems 1940–1640 BC, Oxford University Press, 1997.
- Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol. I, University of California Press, 1973.
- William Kelly Simpson (ed.), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, Yale University Press, 2003.
