Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht

This section of a papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is from the “Funerary Papyrus of the Steward Sethnakht” which is dated to the Ramesside Period (New Kingdom c. 1320–1200 B.C.E.). Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 was the tax master 𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 (I’m sure he was popular) and this high position is what allowed him to have such a gorgeous funerary papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛!

This entire papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 is composed of what has been called Chapter 168 of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺, otherwise known as the “Chapter of Offerings.” However, most of the time this text is found alone and not with other parts of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺 (as is the case with this papyrus) and is considered now to be its own text and not necessarily a part of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

The two sections of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point in two different directions; the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above the Falcon headed god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 point to the right while the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 point to the left. We are going to start with the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 above Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. 

Here is the text all together: 𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

𓆓𓌃𓇋𓈖 – Words Spoken By 

𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋 – Osiris Wennefer

𓏄 – Foremost

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

Here is the translation: “Words Spoken By Osiris-Wennefer, Foremost of the West.” This is a super common introduction for a god in a funerary text. It also lets you know who is depicted in the images! 

Before we read the next section of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪, let’s take a look at some of the art! On his shoulder, Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 is holding the goddess Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 while he is holding up his other hand in adoration of the god Osiris-Wennefer 𓁹𓊨𓀭𓈖𓃹𓈖𓄤𓆑𓂋. Maat 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓁦 is the goddess of truth 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄 and justice 𓐙𓌴𓂣𓏏𓆄𓏜 and we know it’s her because of the feather 𓆄 that’s on her head! 

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! We are going to be reading the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 that are above Sethnakht 𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽. These hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 point to the left so we will start reading them from the left! 

Here is the text all together: 𓏏𓇼𓀢𓈖𓁹𓊨𓀭𓏄𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊𓁹𓊨𓀭𓉻𓂝𓏛𓈖𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡𓄓𓉐𓏤𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽

Here are the individual phrases broken down:

𓏏𓇼𓀢 – Praise/Worship (should actually be written as “𓇼𓏏𓀢”)

𓈖 – of

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – Osiris

𓏄 – Foremost

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

𓁹𓊨𓀭 – The Osiris

𓉻𓂝𓏛 – Great

𓈖 – the/of

𓈙𓏏𓏴𓂡 – Tax Master 

𓄓𓉐𓏤 – Overseer

𓃩𓏏𓂡𓀽 – Sethnakht

Here is the translation: “Praise for Osiris, Foremost of the West, the Osiris, the Great Tax Master, the Overseer Sethnakht.” 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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