A FREE-STANDING STELA OF THE X IXTfI DYNASTY

[PLANCHES 7 et 8J

BY

ABD E L - H AM ID Z AYED

A large stela of uncommon form has been purchased by the Egyptian Department

of Antiquities, from the collection of the late Albert Eid, of the Khan el Khalili, Cairo.

It was purchased for the sum of L. E. 800. This very important and interesting monu­

ment is in excellent condition, and is now registered in the Journal d'Entrée du Musée

du Caire under No. 89624.

The stela is made of limestone, and stands 1,07 m high ; square in section, each face

measures 0,45 cm; the top is gently rounded. It dates from the reign of Ramesses I I,

of the X IXth dynasty, and bears the following scenes and inscriptions:

THE Top (pl. 7, A).

'+ \ The rounded top of the stela is inscribed as follows (t -7-) :

1 �l��==F0 Î'&�Jn�c-:J== ..(g>- of 1 0 � L 1 J Cl L � /WVVV\ � /WVVV\ 1 � � <9<=:1

2 �mrTI��1 (1) « The Osiris, the King's Scribe, Overseer of the Treasury of the House of Weser­

ma'at-Ra' Setep-en-Ra' ( in) the temple of Amon, Thia, justified. (2) Ramessu Mery­

Amon, like Ra' ».

There is a third line, the same as hne 1 but reversed in direction.

1 This is an unusual wl'iting; the common form is 0 O. the na me of Ra' being placed first out of respect. . 1 � Rev. d'éy. 16 (1964). 13

- ---- -- --- -- ----

194 ABD EL-I-IAMID ZA YED

FACE 1 (pl. 8, A).

The scene on the upper part of this face shows the deceased adoring the God Ra'-Hor­

Akhty. The God is standing, facing left. He is hawk-headed, and crowned with a large

solar disk. He wears a corselet of fine scale-work, and a short kilt with a pleated side­

wrap. He carries a tall w5s-sceptre in his right-hand, and the 'nb in the left one.

In front of him is inscribed (t+) :

« Ra '-Hor-Akhty, the Great God, Lord of Heaven ».

The deceased stands, facing right, his hands raised in adoration. He wears a waved

wig, and a long, full garment, of finely pleated linen. Above him are four vertical lin es

of inscription, reading (+t) : 1 2 3 4

( 1) « Making invocation for Ra', when he rises, (2) by the King's Scribe, the Great

Overseer of the (3) Cattle of Amon, (4) Thia, justified ».

Between Thia and the God is a pedestal offering-table, on which is a libation jar

and a lotus-flower. This appears in all the four scenes on this stela.

Below this scene are eight horizontal lines of inscription, which read as follows ( --) : 1 1

2 1

3

���0 � � �� O ft � � 1 �� "-=-- <=>�

� �+fij����� �t���!�����

Face 3.

FIG. 1. - Relative position of faces 1-4 and top.

196

4 1

5 1

6 1

7 1

8 1

ABD EL-HAMID ZA YED

�l��j�i/�V///

19���D �Ji�lLJ� 1 \ \ <::::> "-=- [0] 0

���:�-r �r1f� � sic

/ � �. f B � � � V � � � � V /6

+fij���1���:: ( 1) « Adoration to Ra' in his Holy Form, (2) by the Osiris, the King's Scribe, the really

b�neficient of heart, the Overseer of the Treasury, Thia, justified. (3) Hail to thee, Ra',

Kheperi, Atum, (4) Horus who traverses the sky, divine hawk of the Gods, (5) beautiful

of face with the two great plumes: may He grant to see (6) the disk, to behold the moon,

to pay honour to (7) the Great God upon his great throne, - (said) by the great favoured

one of the Good God, (8) the true King's Scribe, beloved by him, the Overseer of the

Treasury of the Lord of the Two Lands, Thia, j ustified ». /

FACE 2 (pl. 8, B).

The scene on the upper part of this face of the stela shows Thia adoring the God

Atum. The latter is shown in human form, and stands facing right. In place of his more

usual Double Crown, he wears a large solar disk upon his head, and is clad in a corselet

and short kilt. In front of him, a vertical text reads (+t):

« Atum, Lord of the Two Lands, the HeIiopolitan ».

Thia stands with raised hands, facing left. He wears a wig composed of numerous

small tresses, and is clad in a pleated robe of fine linen, but of a different style to that

which he wears on Face 1. Above him are four vertical lines of text reading (t+):

A FREE-STANDING STELA OF THE XIX'{H DYNASTY 197

1 2 3 4

( 1) « Making invocations to Atum, (2) smelling the earth for his Ka, (3) by 1 the Osiris,

the Overseer of the Treasury, (4) Thia, justified ».

The remainder of this face of the stela is occupied by eight horizontal lin es of text,

reading ( - :)

1 1

2 1

3

4

5 1

6 1

7 1

8 1

fl� �����.!r� SIC

2

J1���n�rA�J1 �

g 1 � � � �I �31? � � i � V �+fij�V�E:J��ij � : 000 NWVv\ �� �

�b���6� j�� ><-- 1 -n � <=> "==

����II��� � 9 1 � \\ MMM � l � �

� -n = 1 ..J'J. 'ill <=> &-Ll =

� c-::J 'o--D =- 1 CI j�Cl

frd::.C::= Il <=<:::>� I II J �Hr 1 ��{)-

( 1) « Adoration to Atum in aIl his names : 1 pay honour (2) to his Ka every day (in)

the place of supplication (3) of the Lord of Shetyt, the sacred precinct -(said) by the (4)

Osiris, the King's Scribe, the Overseer of the Cattle of Amon, Thia, justified. (5) He says :

1 am one uniquely excellent, of good character, (6) patient in doing right, precise

in truth, not (7) showing partiality 4. 1 have come in peace to the Necropolis, being

1 lVVVV"oA for in (also Face 3). 2 j is an erro)' for � (verb snml;, see Wb. IV,

166).

3 Blk!.t, see Wb. l, 430 and Faulkner, Concise Dict.,

85 (bkyt). 4 Tm rdit 1!1- gs; tm is here the negative verb.

198 ABD EL-HAMID ZA YED

devoid 1 of the (8) abominations which are in it, resting 1 in my tomb, every day, beside

the Lord of Shetyt ».

FACE 3 (pl. 8, C).

The scene at the top of this face shows Thia adoring Osiris, who is represented in the

form of 'Andjty. He is shown as a living man, standing, and facing rigl1. On his head are

two taU ostrich plumes, and he is clad in a corselet and short kilt. He carries the 'wss­sceptre in his left hand, and holds the nQsQs-flail horizontaUy in the right one. In front of

him is inscribed (�-t) :

« Osiris, Lord of of Rostaw ».

Thia wears a similar robe to that shown on Face 2. Above him are five vertical lines

of inscription, reading (t-J>.) : 1 2 3 4 5

(1) « Making invocations to Wennefer, (2) Lord of the Sacred Land, (3) by the King's

Scribe, Overseer of the Treasury of (4) the Lord of the Two Lands, Thia, (5) justified ».

Below are eight horizontal lines of text reading ( ___ ) : 1 1

2

3 1

1 � is for kwi (old perfective).

A FR E E-STANDING ST ELA OF TH E XIXTH D YNAST Y 199

4 1

5 1

6 1

7 1

8 1

���LJ ���:J �l � � @j0 �JlI� � � �1 � � Ll, <=> n n Wf= � f � I I =2 0 n �

� � � ,,= ___ J O � �� � LJ I '�

��6��������� <>-= ..J' v&. � C\. Q \\� �== �O 0 � � � t===;j�-CQ>-�:@

(1) « The Osiris, the true King's Scribe, beloved by him, the Overseer of the two

Treasuries of Silver and Gold, (2) the first Commander of His Majesty, the Great Over­

seer of the Cattle of Amon, Thia, justified in peace. (3) He says : Make me excellent

with the work of Anubis, (4) open for me the Necropolis, cause the generations (5) of

my time to say: '(0 thou) who ordered him (6) to weep, ( thou) the Lord of Eternity

who is in Tanenet, guide (7) me (sic, read him) on the good road' ; and cause me to

come (8) here, that l may be seen as Horus who is on the Roads - the Osiris Thia ».

FACE 4 (pl. 7, B).

The scene on the upper part of this face represents the deceased adoring the God

Soker. The latter, in the form of a hawk-headed man, stands facing right. He wears

the crown of Osiris, that of Upper Egypt, flanked by ostrich plumes, is clad in a corselet

and kilt, and carries the 'W5s-sceptre and 'ng. In front of him is inscribed (+t) :

« Soker,· Lord of Rostaw ».

1:2 � <:::> 1 Till �

The deceased stands facing left, and raises his hands in adoration; his wig and cos­

tume are the same as on Face 3. Above him are five vertical lines of inscription, but of

1 ID � � � � is pl'obably an error fol' ID � � � I�' H'b. II, 477.

2 Fol' ++.

200 ABD EL-HAMID ZA YED

these, the 3rd and 4th seem to have been purposely erased. The remaining lines read

as follows (t+) : 1 2 3 4 5

(1) « [Making invocations] to Soker, (2) [ Lord] of Rostaw, by (3) ...... (4) ...... (5) justified ».

The eight horizontal lin es on the lower part of this face read as follows (- ) :

1 1

2 1

3 1

4

5 1

6 1

7

8

�� r��� � c=> � -0 � �=

����o�V�==®ij == ()- ..:Q>- � � =-€>

sic

� � � � � � � 000 � � :: � �

2�g���':!:��

J�,�III�����r,�

���ol)���

�J�� i!? mL:', 1 I� .

� J r 1 � 1 T � 061 1 J � i r __ �L 1r::J�� ___ nJ�

(1) « Adoring Soker in aIl his names, (2) Horus, Lord of Shetyt, by the Osiris, Thia,

justified. (3) He says : « 1 came from my city with the favour of the King, (4) having

do ne what pleased his Ka; 1 knew (5) the abominations of the Gods, 1 did not do evil.

(6) 1 gave bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, (7) clothing to the naked, [ 1] did

not ...... (8) the weak against the strong, the abomination ...... the Necropolis ».

A FREE-ST AND ING STELA OF THE XIXTH D YNAST Y 201

TI-lE PROVENANCE OF THE FREE-STANDING STELA.

The late owner of our free-standing stela· did not possess any record of its original

provenance. But for this we have significant clues. The fact that Soker « Lord of Rostaw »

is featured on the monument, as weIl as Osiris, in his form of 'Andjty, suggests a Delta

origin, perhaps Memphis or Heliopolis. On the other hand, these Gods may indicate

only that Thia himself was a Lower Egyptian, who thus honoured the deities of his

district.

But we have also the name of the temple in which Thia was an official, namely

o L 0 1 � �J sic � � � « The House of Weser-ma'at-Ra' Setep-en-Ra' ( in) the

Temple of Amon », which is the weIl known name of the Ramesseum at Thebesi.

OTHER FREE-STANDING STELAE.

By reason of its form, it is apparent that our stela was intended to be placed in some

open place, and almost certainly inside, or within the temenos of a Temple. So far as

l am aware, no free standing stela has ever been discovered inside a tomb, but several

such monuments are known which are connected with temples or sacred enclosures.

THE « OBELISK » OF ABGîG ( fig. 2).

The oldest, and largest of the free-standing stelae known to us is the so-called « obelisk »

of Abgîg, in the Fayoum 2. This important, but until lately, sadly neglected monument

lies on the ground near the village of Abgîg. It is broken into two pieces, and it has been

recently suggested that it should be repaired and set up in a prominent position in the

modern capital of the Fayoum, Medinet El Fayoum. Erroneously called an obelisk by

early scholars, the Abgîg monument is nothing but an unusually large free-standing

stela. It measures 12,90 m high (when complete), and is oblong in section, and the shaft

tapers to a rounded top. Only one of the broad faces is at present visible, and this bears

1 GD G IV, 61 and 84. 2 Chaaban, Rapport sur une mission à l'obélisque d'Abguîg (Fayoum), ASAE 26, 105-8. Cf. PM IV, 99.

202 ABD EL-HAMID ZA YED

five superposed panels on its upper part. Each panel contains two scenes, showing the

King adoring various divinities. The royal figures in each case stand back to back in the

centre of the panel, and the scenes are surmounted by the conventional sign of the sky

�. The uppermost scene shows (left) : Senusert, facing left and adoring Monthu and

if��l I/J. n..Co

�+'

�i ,=-I r'--..w,; ,

f{: �

�1' �

rr 11 /.tmi . �, [ r �

- r

1 1

Itt1\ ! � I

i�1 � c l a 1 j� 1 I± IT I IWo 1 I� 1J1 .ÇJ

FIG. 2. - The "Obelisk" of Abg·îg.

Amon. On the right, the King faces right and worships « Ptah, South of His Wall, Lord

of Ankhtawi », and Ra'-Harakhty.

In the second panel (left) the King, facing left wears the crown of Upper Egypt,

and adores the Goddesses Isis and Nepthys. On the right-hand si de, the King wears

the crown of Lower Egypt, and faces right. He adores two male deities whose heads

and names are destroyed. Assuming that the royal crowns are shown on the monu-

A FR E E -ST AND 1 N G ST E LA O F TH E X 1 X T H D Y N A S TY 203

ment in their correct geographical positions, this would indicate that this was the eastern

face of the monument.

ln the third panel the royal figures also wear the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.

On the left-hand si de, the King adores Sobek, who is crowned with a large solar disk,

and a Goddess whose name and headdress are destroyed. On the right-hand side the

Gods worshipped are Thot « Khenty Hesert » (� �) and an unidentified Goddess.

In the fourth panel ( left) the King, wearing the Upper Egyptian crown, presents

offerings to the Goddess Neit (mother of Sobek) and an unnamed Ram-headed God.

The latter is perhaps I:Ier-Shefi, who was worshipped on the borders of the Fayoum.

On the right, the King, wearing the Lower Egyptian crown, offers to a God who wears

a headdress of plumes and ram's horns, and who may be InJ!ert, and a Goddess crowned

with a disk and cow's horns ( Hathor ?).

In the fifth panel (left) the King, crowned as ab ove, adores Min and an unidentified

Goddess. On the right, the King offers to a hawk-headed God who seems to be « Horus,

Khenty Khem », and the Goddess Seshat.

Below these scenes are fourteen vertical hnes of inscription but there are in a very

fragmentary condition.

Down the northern narrow side of the stela is a vertical inscription, which reads

( t+) : « Horus 'Ankh-meswt, Favorite of the Two Ladies, 'Ankhmeswt, the King of

Upper and Lower Egypt, Kheper-Ka-Ra', beloved of Ptah South of His Wall; the Golden

Horus, 'Ankhmeswt, the Good God, Lord of the Crowns.: .... ». There is a similar inscription

on the southern narrow side, in which the god referred to is « Monthu, Lord of Thebes» J.

AN AL AB ASTER FREE-STANDING STELA OF RAMES SES I I.

In the Temple of Ramesses I I at Abydos is a large free-standing stela of alabaster.

This monument, decorated on two faces only, was found smashed into fragments, but

has been partially restored. It is round topped, measures 3,28 m high, 1,90 m wide,

and 0,80 m deep. On one face are four large figures, carved in such high relief that they

are aIl but statues in the round. Each figure measures 2,68 m high, and 0,46 m deep.

1 A similar monument to this, but dating to the Ptolemaic Period, was found on the island of Philae,

auù removed to England by Nil'. Bankes, in the early years of'the last century. It is now in England.

204 ABD EL-HAMID ZAY ED

Though badly damaged, they may easily be identified as Ramesses II, Horus, Osiris

and Isis.

On the reverse of the stela, at the top, is a carved sign of heaven, resting upon two

emblems of stability �. Below this is a solar disk, and a decorative writing of the

early prenomen of Ramesses II : � 1 W Weser-ma'at-Ra', flanked by protecting

hawks. The remainder of this face is occupied by eleven horizontal lin es of inscription,

of which only fragments remain. It seems to record either the dedication of the temple

itself or of a temple endowment.

A FREE-STANDING STELA OF MERENPTAf.l (fig. 3-7).

Another free-standing stela of alabaster, also rectangular in section, stands in the

court yard of the Temple of Ramesses II at Abydos. This may not be its original place,

as it was found in the nearby village of Beni Mansour and brought to its present situation

for safe keeping. It may have come from the great Temple of Osiris at what is now

called Kom el Sultan. It was dedicated by Merenptah to the Gods of Abydos.

This stela measures 1,23 m high, 0,78 m wide, and 0,46 m deep. It bears inscriptions

on the top, two sides and back, while the face bore a group of three statuettes, carved

in very high relief. They represent Osiris, with Isis on his left and Merenpta� on his

right (fig. 3). The King and the Goddess were embracing Osiris, and the fingers of their

hands appear on his two shoulders. Unfortunately, aIl the figures have been wantonly

effaced and of Osiris and Isis little more than thèir outlines remain, and the inner edges,

where they project from the background. Merenpta4 has fared a little better, his left

arm, wearing a wide bangle, the left side of his torse, the left lappet of his mns-head­

cloth, and the lower part of his right leg are aIl uninjured; his face, and the Double

Crown he was wearing, are both etfaced.

Osiris is in his usual form, but only the tops of his shoulders and his left elbow are

preserved. Isis wore the vulture crown, surmounted by the disk and horns, and her left

arm hangs at her side. The details of the dress and ornaments of aIl three figures were

originally picked out in colours, red, blue, green and yeIlow. The little that remains

uninjured is enough to show that the workmanship of these figures was very fine and

highly finished.

The back of the stela (fig. 4) bears four vertical lin es of inscriptions; the signs which

A FREE-STANDING STELA OF THE XIXTH DYNASTY 205

are large, are lightly incised, and were originally coloured blue. In the upper parts of

the lines are names of the King, namely ( +t) « The King of Upper and Lower Egypt,

Ba-en-Ra' Mery-Amon » in lines 1 and 3, and « The Son of Ra', Merenptah I:Iotep-J:!er-

L..l..--___ -----,

FIG. 3. - Stela of MerenptaJ� : face. FIG. [L - Stela of Mel'enpta\.l : bac\"

Ma'at » in lin es 2 and 4. The bottom parts of the lines form a continuous text which

reads ( +t) : « (1) 0 my Lord, my Father (2) Osiris, 1 protect thy city (of) the nome

of Abydos, (3) 1 make great thy Sanctuary in Rostaw, (4) 1 double the offering-cakes

for thy Ka ».

The right-hand side of the stela (fig. 5) bears a single vertical line of inscription,

reading (+t) : « .. .. .. [my] Father, Osiris, grant that 1 may be near thee like thy son

Horus, (for) 1 am beneficent to thee as he is beneficent, and 1 love :thee ». The left-

206 ABD EL-HAMID ZAYED

1· .. ••••••• ; 1 1 ;

....... •..•.•... �.;;:-,. ___ _ �� _/.--J FIG. 5. FIG. 6.

Stela of Merenptal.l : right-hand side. Stela of Mel'enptal) : left-hand sicle.

FIG. 7. - Stela of Merenptal.l : top.

A FR E E-STAND ING ST ELA OF TH E XIXTH D YNAST Y 207

hand side (fig. 6) also bears a single vertical line of inscription, reading ( t+) : « May

he [place] (?) my benefactions before Osiris, until eternity, forever l).

The slightly rounded top of the stela (fig. 7), bears a short, horizontal inscription,

reading ( +--) : « The Good God, Ba-en-Ra' Mery-Amon, given life l).

THE FREE-STANDING STELA OF Pa-Ra'-em-beb.

During his excavations at the Great Sphinx of Giza, the late Prof. Selim Hassan

discovered a free-standing stela, near the entrance to the mud-brick Temple of Amen­

hotep III. This stela, which is of limestone, measures 0,66 m high, 0,57 m wide, and

0,18 m thick, and is inscribed on aIl four sides and the rounded top. The donor of the

stela was a certain « Director of aIl the works of the King l), named Pa-Ra'-em-beb.

He is shown on the front of the stela adoring Atum and Hathor. On the back of the

stela, he worships Ra'-Hor-akhty and Hathor 2. The remainder of these two faces, the

sides, and the top are occupied by an interesting hymn addressed to the Sun-God in his

different forms and names.

CONCLUSION.

Vve may now consider the purpose of these free-standing stelae. From their form it

is quite obvious that they were intended to stand in an open place, where persons could

pass around them from every side. We also know that sorne specimens were actually

found in or near temples. We know that it was the custom for certain persons, favoured

by the King or the priesthood, to be allowed to dedicate statues of themselves in temples.

Through the medium of these statues the Ka of the deceased received a share in the

divine offerings brought to the temple, and at the same time, the name of the donor

was preserved for posterity. l think that the free-standing stelae had the same under­

lying motive. They also may have had the advantage over statues, in that they were

probably cheaper to pro duce; and offered a greater inscribable surface, and also permitted

the figures of the Gods to be honoured, as weIl as merely that of the donor. As to their

l See Selim Hassan, The Great Sphinx and its Se­

crets (Excavati()ns al Giza, VIII), p. 268, pl. 68 a. b, 69 a. b. c, and p. 268-75.

2 She may als() be the Goclcless Iws-aas, who is oIten represenLecl in the sa me manner as Hathor. Both Godclesses are mentionecl in the text.

208 ABD EL-HAM ID ZA YED

form, that was probably due to their situation. Normal, single-faced votive stelae have

been found by hundreds in sacred places. But these are either set in or against walls 1.

Like the statues, free-standing stela could be erected within the temenos, courts, colon­

nades, etc. Their size seems to have been merely a matter of the choice of the donor

and, as the specimens we have mentioned show, they were not reserved for the cult

of any particular God, but were equally acceptable to the forms of the Sun-God as

to the triad of Abydos.

Heliopolis, November 15th, 1963.

1 Single-faced stelae \Vere found in great quantities, built into the brick retaining \Valls surrounding the Sphinx at Giza, and also in \Valls bordering the road

from the old Temple of Osiris to the necropolis at Abydos.

REVUE D'ÉGYPTOLOGIE, t. J 6. Pl. 7

ZA YED, A Free-standing Stela of the XIXth Dynasty_

REVUE D'ÉGYPTOLOGIE, t. J6. Pl. 8

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<!J ... '@ U ;::l

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ZAYED, A Free-standing Stela of the XIXth Dynasty,