Anth.446 Hieroglyphs ppt. lecture-5: Following chp.5 in Collier & Manley, How to Read Egyptian...

ANT 446 / 646:

Explorers / Mummies / Hieroglyphs:

A thematic coverage of Ancient Egypt

Adapted by G. Mumford for use with Collier & Manley How to Read Egyptian

Lect.-*: Hieroglyphs chapter-5.

Chapter 5: Description: PAGE-65

Section-32: Introduction: description.

• The owner of a funerary monument (stela; statue; tomb wall) portrays

himself/herself according to the ideals of (Middle Kingdom) society

regarding lifetime achievements, success, and service to the crown.

• In such self-representations, the past tense is frequently employed:

E.g., Regarding his ethical conduct, an official, Intef, son of Senet, declares:



•

• Here, the past tense employs:

IW + VERB + N + SUBJECT (pronoun) + OBJECT.

W +(a). IW = an auxiliary, which remains not translated into English

(b). VERB FORM: Sdm.n=f is used to indicate the past tense:

e.g., krs.n.(i) = “(I) buried …” with SUBJECT FOLLOWING IMMEDIATELY:

(c). SUBJECT: 1st person singular pronoun, “I”

(d). (DIRECT) OBJECT = “(the) old.”



• The various forms of the sdm.n=f appear as follows:


Section-33: The past: sdm.n(=f).

• In order to describe the various verb forms, here the past tense, the verb

“to hear” (sdm) is used, plus past-affix indicator (.n), and 2nd pers. sing. (=f).

“He heard” (sdm.n=f)

• A standard way of transliterating the past tense includes:

adding a “period/dot” between sdm and n sdm.n

• If the following subject is a suffix-pronoun, it is shown joined to the verb-form

by “=“

E.g., sdm.n + =i (“I” [1st person sing.]),

+ =k (“you” [2nd person m. sing.]),

+ =t / t (“you” [2nd person f. sing.]),

+ =f (“he” [3rd person m. sing.]),

+ =s (“she” [3rd person f. sing.]),

+ =n (“we” [1st person plural]),

+ =tn/tn (“you” 2nd person plural),

+ =sn (“they” 3rd person plural)

SEE page 148 for SUFFIX PRONOUNS.

Chapter 5: Description: PAGE-65 & 148


•



• A NOUN may also be the subject of the sdm.n=f (instead of a suffix-pronoun):

E.g., Hekaib notes the ruler’s inspection of his property:

• IW + SDM.N + NOUN (=“F”: the ruler) + OBJECT (= “[my] cattle”)

(a). IW-auxiliary = Silent / non-translated component (beginning sentence)

(b). SDM.N = Verb-form (past-tense): ip.n (“… inspected”)

(c). SUBJECT (=f) = “(the) ruler” (definite article “the” =not indicated; use in trans.)

(d). OBJECT = “(my) cattle” (text omitted “my,” but it should be there).

Chapter 5: Description: PAGE-66-67

Section-34: Auxiliaries.

• An auxiliary, normally precedes the sdm.n(=f)

• The sdm.n(=f) is usually translated as a simple past in stela texts.

E.g., “Someone did something”; “He heard [something]”

• In essence, Anc. Egyptian lacks an “and” in lists of items, but we insert

an “and” in most English translations.

• In other contexts, one might use the perfect to translate iw sdm.n(=f):

“He has heard” i.e., for recorded speech.


Section-35: Omission of the first suffix pronoun.

• In various circumstances, the 1st person sing. suffix–pronoun (“I”) is omitted:

(a). Texts portraying a larger figure of the person near the text.

(b). Texts implying/focusing on the authorship of the first person singular (“I”)

(c). Errors.


Section-36: Suffix pronouns.

• The aforementioned suffix-pronouns reveal some variant uses than

pronouns in English.

• For example, the Egyptian suffix-pronoun “i” may be translated as

“I”, “me”, or “my” depending upon the context of its usage in Egyptian.

• (a). Suffix pronouns may be used as SUBJECTS of verbs:

E.g., “I …” (“I …”)


Section-36: Suffix pronouns.

• (b). Suffix pronouns may be used as the POSSESSOR of a noun:

E.g., “I …” (“my …”, “his …”)

• (c). Suffix pronouns may be used as the OBJECT after a preposition:

E.g., “I …” (“… me”, “… him”)

i.e., hb(w)=F nfrw “HIS wonderful festivals”

i.e., dd.t(w) n=F … “May .. be said to him …” (re-configured, as above,

into the passive voice: p.115)


Section-37: The past relative form: sdmt.n(=f).

• The following discussion may be mastered at this stage, or delayed for a bit

until a little further on in the textbook.

• However, a knowledge of the past relative form will aid in comprehending

more fully some of the study exercises in this chapter.

• Events have been shown to be described: i.e., “someone did something.”

• Events may also be characterized as: “a thing which someone did.”

• The Ancient Egyptian language adopted relative forms to characterize events

i.e., such forms are somewhat tricky, but are used commonly in Anc. Egyptian

E.g., A self-presentation by Inhuretnakht (omitting the self-evident “i”):



(a). Iw sdm.n(=f) begins the sentence: i.e., “I acquired 100 bulls …” (Past tense)

(b). The verb form following in the dependant clause displays a “t” (irt.n[=i]),

and qualifies the preceding sentence with the past relative form: The

Egy. omission of a separate word for “which/what” requires one in English.

(c). NOTE: The preposition “m” (“through”, “by means of”) before the rel.-form.



• The preposition “m” (“through” or “by means of”) should be followed by a noun

which in this case can be an a relative form: “WHAT,” “WHICH” (or infinitive).

• The following dependant clause has a past relative form: Irt.n(=i),

which means: “… what (I) did”

• NOTE: “I” [“I”] is omitted in Egyptian.

• The word ds means “self,” and should also have held an “i” for ds=i

which translates as “my- + -self” “myself”

• Chapter 7 contains further discussion on the various relative forms.



• The following dependant clause follows a dedication statement about the

completion of a stela for Inhuretnakht and Hui:

• There is no helping preposition here, but this sentence continues from an

introductory independent sentence using the iw sdm.n(=f) past tense.

• NOTE: irt + n + n + f + s3=f + mry=f + Dbi (NAME)

VERB + t “made/did” Is it an INFINITIVE? a PAST RELATIVE FORM?

n (past indicator) Not found with infinitives past relative form

n=f (object: “for him”) i.e., preposition + pronoun = OBJECT of verb

s3=f “His son” = SUBJECT of the verb

smsw=f “His eldest” = adjective qualifying Subject

mry=f “His beloved” = adjective qualifying Subject+adj.

Debi (Name) NAME Debi qualifying SUBJECT & adjectives



• Distinguishing the PAST TENSE from the PAST RELATIVE FORM:

• In essence, the simple PAST TENSE frequently appears as …

(IW) SDM.N=F “He heard”

(IW) IR.N=F “He did”

• In contrast, the PAST RELATIVE FORM often appears with an extra T, as …

SDMT.N=F “What he heard …” (dependant clause)

IRT.N=F “What he did …” (dependant clause)


Excursus: Names and kinship terms.

• Funerary monuments in particular highlight the owner’s family relationships

and names, which are illustrated here regarding the most common examples:

NAMES:

• Although most Egyptian names can be translated, having meaning, for the

purposes of translation they are normally left transliterated and transformed

into vocal forms:

(a). Names mentioning personal conditions:



(b). Names mentioning deities:

(c). Names alluding to close relationships with a given deity:

Other examples:

E.g., Mri-r‘ Meryre (translatable as “Beloved of Re / Re-Loves-Me”)

E.g., Mri-Imn Meryamun (translatable as “Beloved of Amun / Amun-…”)



(d). A pious statement regarding a child’s birth:

(e). Loyalis names (linking the individual with a particular monarch):

Ruler’s birth names:• Birth-names of kings display similar selections: e.g., Amenemhet = “Amun-is-in-front,”

implying that Amun is guiding the prince’s fortunes …



Kinship terms:

• Funerary stelae frequently name family members and their relationship to

the (deceased) owner(s) of the stela, statue, or wall text.

• In many cases, the family members are portrayed alongside the stela owner,

with identifying captions naming them & their kinship; they even name servants.

• Mostly only the elite could afford stone funerary stelae, but less costly forms

did occur: e.g., painted plaster-covered wooden stelae, mud-modeled ones, +



Kinship terms:

• In naming ones family members, the term “beloved” is often included:

• A more cursory wording can also indicate this status:

IDIOMATIC ENGLISH:

“His beloved son Ameny”

IDIOMATIC ENGLISH:

“His beloved son Ptahhotep”



Kinship terms:

• Describing one’s blood-relationship to one’s parents is often expressed

for one’s mother in one of two ways:

LITERALLY: “Whom X made” (Used for either mother or father).

LITERALLY: “Whom X bore” (Used only for mother).



Kinship terms:

•• In referring to a female child

ir-n becomes irt-n

ms-n becomes mst-n

i.e., A female “whom X made,” or “whom X bore.”

• Ir-n and ms-n probably represent masculine relative forms,

but this textbook retains the transliteration: ir-n and ms-n.


Exercises:

5.1. Signs:

• Memorize the following bi-literals and tri-literals:


Exercises:

5.2. Words:

• Transliterate the following words (which contain the aforementioned signs):

• NOTE: - The word nmtt is actually a collective word, not a plural,

despite the plural strokes, and thereby does not need a “w.”

- It indicates a deity’s formal and festal journey.


Exercises:

5.3. Translation:

• Transliterate & translate the following sentences:

(a). Ikhernofret describes his role in the Osiris cult mysteries:

_____________________________________

(b). Intef, son of Senet, boasts about his good behaviour in life:

_____________________________

(c). Inhuretnakht boasts about his good conduct in office:

_______________________________________________________________


Exercises:

5.3. Translation:

• Transliterate & translate the following sentences:

(d). Inhuretnakht also states other ethical behaviour:

_______________________________________________________________

(e). Another official, Ity, boasts about his success & achievements in life:

_______________________________________________________________


Exercises:

5.3. Translation:


Exercises:

5.4. Study exercise: BM EA 1783.

• The stela of the governor Inhuretnakht and his spouse Hui originated from

Nag‘ ed-Deir and is more complex regarding its language and contents:

• This stela dates to the First Intermediate Period, prior to the rise of the

Middle Kingdom,

• The cemetery of Nag‘ ed-Deir served the town of Thinis, which lay to the

northwest of Abydos, but still lay within the boundaries of UE Nome 8.

• Thinis represented a major settlement and capital of UE Nome 8,

from the Predynastic to Dynasty 11, becoming subordinate to Abydos

from Dynasty 12 onwards, following the rise of the cult of Osiris.

• Instructions:

- Transliterate and translate the offering formula from line 1 to the word dd

near the end of line 2.

- Transliterate and translate the section from the beginning of line 4 to its

end.

Chapter 5: Description:

PAGE-73-74

Exercises:

5.4. Study exercise:

BM EA 1783.

- Transliterate and

translate the offering

formula from line 1

to the word dd near

the end of line 2.

- Transliterate and

translate the section

from the beginning of

line 4 to its end.


Exercises:



Exercises: 5.4. BM EA 1783.


Exercises:


• Transliterate & translate the captions beside the other family members

on this stela:


Exercises:

5.5. Study exercise: BM EA 571 (top).

• Transliterate & translate the upper offering formula and captions.


Exercises: 5.5. BM EA 571 (top).


Exercises:

5.5. Study exercise: BM EA 571 (middle).

• A different set of offerings lies in the lower scene:

• Festivals:


Exercises:

5.5. Study exercise: BM EA 571 (middle).

• Festivals:

• The transliteration for the half-month festival remains uncertain:

(a). (?)-nt = Uncertain reading.

(b). smdt = previous reading, but problematic.

(c). mddint = a more recent suggestion.

• Transliterate & translate captions accompanying the offering bearers:


Exercises: 5.5. BM EA 571 (middle).


Exercises:

5.5. Study exercise: BM EA 571 (bottom).

Names ending in this often begin with a deity

The deity Hr, for Horus, begins this name.

This name is so transcribed in English.


5.6. Study exercise: BM EA 571 (bottom). Transliterate & translate.


Exercises: 5.6. BM EA 571 (bottom).

Anth.446 Hieroglyphs ppt. lecture-5: Following chp.5 in Collier & Manley, How to Read Egyptian...

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