Spanning the early dynastic period to modern times, treasury of Egyptian folklore encompasses 36 beguiling stories. First part contains tales originally written in hieratic characters; second part documents Christian influence; third part recounts stories of Muslims who succeeded Copts. 40 black-and-white illustrations.
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STORIES OF THE MARVELLOUS DEEDS WROUGHT BY THE MAGICIANS OF THE OLD KINGDOM
THE following stories of the power of magicians are found in the now famous papyrus which was once in the possession of Miss Westcar, and is now preserved in the Berlin Museum (P.3033). This papyrus was written by a professional scribe during the period of the rule of the Hyksos over Egypt, at the beginning of the second millennium B.C., probably for the use of pupils in one of the priests’ schools. It was published by Erman, “Die Märchen des Papyrus Westcar,” 2 Bände, Berlin, 1890 (in the Mitteilungen a.d. Oriental, Sammlungen der Königl. Museum, vols. V and VI). The stories are supposed to have been told to King Khufu, the Khe
ps of the Greeks, and builder of the great pyramid of G
zah, but what the introductory story was is not known, for all the beginning of the papyrus is wanting.
[THE FIRST STORY WHICH WAS TOLD BY PRINCE HERTETEF]
The first story was told to King Khe
ps by his son Hertetef, who was evidently a wise and learned prince, for we find him mentioned in the Rubrics of Chapters 30B, 64, 137A and 148 of the Book of the Dead in connection with the discovery of some of the oldest and most important chapters of that work. The wonder which Hertetef described was performed by Imhetep,1 the great physician and Kheri heb1 He was a great architect and directed all the building operations of King Djeser (IIIrd dynasty), including the construction of the famous Step-Pyramid at Sakk
rah ; he was deified by the later Egyptians. A good account (with illustrations) of the great temple which he built in connection with the Pyramid at Sakk
rah, and of the excavations and discoveries which have been made at Sakk
rah by Mr. C. N. Firth, is given in The Times of May 19, page 15. (i.e. chief priest and magician) of King Djeser,9 but what it was is not known. The story pleased Khe
ps greatly, for he ordered that “1000 loaves, and 100 pots of beer, and two measures of incense should be placed in the tomb of Djeser, and an ox slaughtered and sacrificed to him. And one loaf, and a little pot of beer, and a joint of meat and a measure of incense should be placed in the tomb of Imhetep.”
[PRINCE KH
FR
(KHEPHREN) 10 TELLS THE SECOND STORY]
Then Prince Khephren stood up and spake, saying : “I will relate to Thy Majesty a marvellous matter which took place in the time of thy father King Nebka 11 when he went to the temple of Ptah 12 in
nkh-taui.13 And when His Majesty went to Memphis he gave an audience to the Chief Kheri heb Ubaner. On this occasion the wife of Ubaner fixed her gaze on a civilian, who was in the train of the King, and a mighty spasm of lust seized her. Therefore she sent her maid to him, and asked him to array himself in rich attire and to visit her. At the same time she sent him a case full of rich apparel and ornaments, and he came with the maid.
[THE CIVILIAN AND THE WIFE OF UBANER MEET IN THE GARDEN]
And when many days had passed by [the civilian discovered] that there was a summer house by the lake [in the garden of] Ubaner. And he invited [the wife of] Ubaner, saying : “Since there is a summer house by the lake of Ubaner, let us spend an hour there together.” And the wife of Ubaner commanded the steward who had charge of the lake, saying : “Let the summer house which is by the lake be made ready for me. “And [she went] and passed the day there [with the civilian], and she ate and drank [with him] until [the sun] set. And when the evening was come, he came and went down to the lake, and the maid [was his attendant. Now the steward was watching and he made note of everything which took place at the lake].
VIEW OF THE THREE PYRAMIDS OF GIZAH TAKEN FROM THE AIR.
The largest pyramid was built by Khufu (Che
ps), the second by Kh
fr
(Chefren), and the third by Menkaur
(Mycerinus), Kings of Egypt of the IVth Dynasty about 3000 B.C
[UBANER MAKES A WAX CROCODILE]
And when the earth became light and another day had come, the steward went [and reported] this matter [to Ubaner, saying : “Such and such things took place yesterday in the summer house by the lake ”]. And Ubaner said : “Bring me the [case] of ebony and gold,” [and he made] a crocodile of wax seven [spans long]. He then recited [over it a magical incantation (or a spell) suitable for the occasion, and said : “When the civilian cometh to bathe in my lake [seize him and kill him.”] And he gave the wax crocodile to the steward and said unto him : “When the civilian goeth down into the lake to bathe as he did yesterday, thou shalt cast this crocodile into the water after him.” And the steward departed and took away the wax crocodile with him.
And the wife of Ubaner sent a message to the steward who was in charge of the lake, saying : “Let the summer house which is by the lake be made ready, for behold I am coming to pass a time there.” And the summer house was made ready and provided with every good thing. And the wife and her maid went there and spent a happy day with the civilian.
And when the evening had come, the civilian arrived according to his daily custom. And the steward cast the wax crocodile into the water after him. And it became a crocodile seven cubits long (nearly 12 feet) and it seized the civilian. Now Ubaner tarried with the Majesty of King Nebka for seven days, [and the civilian was in the belly of the crocodile and could not] breathe. And when the seven days were ended, King Nebka came [to depart] and the chief Kheri heb Ubaner [appeared before him] and said : “Would that Thy Majesty would come and see the wonderful thing which hath happened during the time [of the presence] of Thy Majesty [here].” [And the King went to the summer house with him, and Ubaner cried out to the crocodile saying] : “Produce the civilian.” Then the crocodile came forth [from the lake] and brought him. And the Majesty of King Nebka said : “This crocodile is truly frightful.” Then Ubaner stooped down and touched it and it became a [small] crocodile in his hand.
Then the chief Kheri heb Ubaner told the Majesty of King Nebka what the civilian had done in the summer house with his wife. And His Majesty commanded the crocodile, saying: “Take possession of thy property.” Then the crocodile went down into the lake with the civilian and no man knew where he took him.
[THE FATE OF THE ADULTEROUS WIFE]
And the Majesty of King Nebka commanded the wife of Ubaner to be taken to the north side of the Palace, and they burnt her and cast [her remains] into the river.
[And Prince Khephren said] : “Behold, this is one of the things which the chief Kheri heb Ubaner performed, and this marvellous thing took place in the time of thy father, Nebka.”
And the Majesty of King Khe
ps said : “Let there be offered to King Nebka 1000 loaves, 100 jars of beer, one ox and two measures of incense; and to the chief Kheri heb Ubaner, one cake, one jug of beer, one joint of meat and one measure of incense, for I have seen a proof of his knowledge.” And according to His Majesty’s commands so were all things done.
[THE SECOND STORY, WHICH WAS TOLD BY PRINCE BAIUFRA]
Then Prince Baiufr
stood up and spake, saying : “I will relate to Thy Majesty a wonderful thing which took place in the time of thy father Senefru, viz. one of the things performed by the chief Kheri heb Djedjem
nkh.
[One day King Senefru was a-weary, and he found nothing to interest him. And he summoned his courtiers who dwelt in the Palace] so that they might find some means of diverting him, but they could find none. Then His Majesty said : “Go, fetch me the chief Kheri heb, the scribe of the book, Djedjem
nkh.” He was brought unto him forthwith. And His Majesty [said unto him : “I gathered together the officials of the Court], so that they might discover some means by which to divert me, but I could find none.” And Djedjem
nkh said unto him : “I would that Thy Majesty would come to the lake of the Palace, and would fill a boat with a crew composed of fair maidens from the royal apartments (i.e. the har
m) of thy Palace. The heart of Thy Majesty will then be made glad when thou seest them rowing hither and thither. Then when thou seest the pretty thickets on thy lake, and the fields round about, and the shores of the lake, thy heart will be interested therein.”
His Majesty said unto him : “I will go to the boat. Let there be brought to me twenty ebony paddles inlaid with gold, and having handles of sandalwood inlaid with fine gold. And let there be brought to me twenty women who have the fairest figures, and have rounded breasts and thick plaits of hair, and have not yet given birth to children. And let there be brought to me twenty tunics of network, and give them to these women to put on instead of their [ordinary] apparel. And everything was done which His Majesty commanded. And they rowed hither and thither, and the heart of His Majesty was made glad when he watched the rowing. Then [the arms of the maiden] who was rowing stroke became hampered by her plaited tresses [which had broken loose], and a new malachite hair-clasp, in the form of a fish, fell overboard into the water. And she ceased [singing] and stopped rowing and the row of maidens behind her stopped [singing] and rowing. Then His Majesty said unto them : “Do ye not intend to row ? ” And they answered and said : “Our stroke hath stopped [singing] and is not rowing.” And His Majesty said unto her : “Why dost thou not row ? ”And she said : “It is because...
Table of contents
DOVER BOOKS ON EGYPT
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
I. PAGAN
II. CHRISTIAN
III. MUSLIM
INDEX
A CATALOG OF SELECTED DOVER BOOKS IN ALL FIELDS OF INTEREST
