Critical analysis of J.P. Allen's The ancient egyptian pyramid texts

410 Pages·2016·1.84 MB·English

by  Тимофей Шмаков.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF

J. P. ALLEN’S "THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PYRAMID TEXTS"

by

Timofey T. Shmakov

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Edited by A. K. Eyma

Omsk-Tricht, 2012
2
source: http://www.ancient-egypt.org/

swt jrr nTrw.f m zSA nj zjn.f
"He is the one who put his gods in a writing1 that cannot be erased"
(painted plaster from the mastaba of Nefermaat and his wife Itet)

1 i.e. recorded them.
3
To my mom, Elena Leonidovna, who had patience with me making long hours, and to my
friend, Marina Sokolova, who taught me a lot of things.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication 4
Foreword 6
Lexicon 7
Part I: Unis’s PT corpus [W] 12
Part II: Teti’s PT corpus [T] 175
Part III: Pepi Merire’s PT corpus [P] 241
Part IV: Nemtiemzaf Merenre’s PT corpus [M] 345
Part V: Pepi Neferkare’s PT corpus [N] 354
Part VI: Neith’s PT corpus [Nt] 379
Supplemental Notes 391
Bibliography 402

Copyright © 2012 Timofey T. Shmakov
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means without reference to the work and the author.
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Foreword

The Pyramid Texts constitute the most ancient written text corpus of such a size to have reached us.
They reflect the images of the ancient Egyptians about the life of a king after physical death and
present a rich source of philological material still in need of urgent study. The correct reading of these
monumental texts is necessary for an integral understanding of the funerary cult of a king. Important
work in the field of the Pyramid Texts has been done by James Allen. Due to the work of this
outstanding scholar, we have essentially enriched our knowledge of the language of these ancient texts.
Since the editing by Prof. Allen of his translation of the Pyramid Texts in the year 2005 (J. P. Allen.
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta), his work has become
the standard. However, as our knowledge of language steadily grows it is apparent that there is still
much to be done. The present work is an attempt to thoroughly look into the whole PT corpus to add
to, and sometimes to contradict, the readings suggested by Prof. Allen.

Several new suggestions will be presented on these pages, e.g. the discovery of the collocation bA m
"make an impression/affection on, impress/affect" (W 134, 2). Moreover, it has been observed that the
ending -tj/wtj (as a variant of the t-ending) was a common feature of the attributive forms (relative
forms, participles), for instance there is more than one example of the relative perfect spelled sDmtj.n.f
(a variant of the more common sDmt.n.f) and many sDmtj.f relative forms (W 155, 4, T 203, 3). The
work also proposes that spellings like mrjj n jt(j).f should be interpreted as perfect relative "whom his
father loves" (i.e. mrjj.n jt(j).f, the same was proposed by James Allen), taking into consideration the
number of instances in which the perfect of 3rd-weak verbs has a final double reed-panicle (P 517, 1).
One characteristic of the present work is that some words are not considered as independent semantic
units but as a variant spelling of (an)other word(s) for the sake of word-play or as an unknown dialectal
form. For instance, the verb drp "feed, present, offer" may be spelled /dAp/ just to make a word play
between this verb and the noun dAb(w) "figs" (a case of /A/ ~ /r/ ~ /n/ ~ /l/), the verb wAH "lie" could
be spelled with two allophones as mnH in the stative form: PT 554, §1371b: abA.k mnH.j m Drt.k ~
Jéquier, Pepi II, pl. 6, col. 709+2: abA.k wAH.j m Drt.k "your baton lies in your hand" (W 166, 1). In
addition, more instances of a 1ms pronoun have been found (T 204, 1, 4). The work suggests a lot of
new readings; it also provides support to many of the readings by Prof. Allen. Of course, the readings
proposed in this work do not claim to be the final word on the matter, their aim is to give food for
thought on the correctness of translation of some passages in this large corpus..

If you have comments or suggestions, or would like to signal a mistake, please write to the author:
[email protected].

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LEXICON
(only words read differently from Allen’s reading, separately or within a passage)

Awt "ration" (W 145, 2)
Ax(w) "effective power, akh-magic" (P 31, 2, P 303, 2)
Axw "effective power, akh-magic" (W 150, 1, W 180a, 7)
Axt "Behind the Horizon, Transhorizontal (realm/area)" (Supplemental notes, Notes on gods’ names
& epithets and on place names, 13)
Agbgb (~ Axbx) "move, dance" (T 225, 2, P 357, 2)

jAA "sunshade" (W 160, 1)
jAb "miss" (W 155, 4)
jw(j) "wreck" (P 463, 2)
jwn(.w) (stative form) "all together" (N 404, 2)
jp "subordinate, subject, subjugate" (W 148, 3), "recognize" (T 145, 8)
jm(j) "not do, not act" (semantic/main verb) (T 145, 4)
jm(j)w-bAH "ancestors (lit. those who were before)" (W 224, 4)
jmn rn.f "The One Who Hides His Name" (W 180a, 8)
jns "pink-colour" (P 510, 4)
jrw "census" (in jr jrw "carry out census, take accounting, take stock") (P 465, 3)
jxt wtt(t) "Firstborn Thing" (M 50, 1)
jkw "chop up, root up (? the earth)" (N 360)
jzkn "the sky’s western horizon" (W 140, 3)
jdAt "patty" (W 84)

wart "thigh" (T 227)
wp(j) "settle, stop" (W 168, 4), "deliver, discharge, disgorge" (of belly) (M 2)
wp wAwt "Paths Discerner", Paths Discoverer" (W 155, 10)
wpt "instructions, business" in m wpt "on the instructions (of), on the business of" (P 466, 1)
wn "hold out (hand/arm), offer (hand/arm)" (N 428, 4)
wrm "grow" (T 163)
wHm "declare, announce" (W 142), "carry out" (W 180b, 8)
wsrt "(bull’s) neck" (W 223)
wtT "waldrapp" (T 202, 3)
wdHw "offering ration, food receipt/supply" (T 276, 2)
wDA jb "inform" (P 466, 3)
wDH "let you grow adult" ? (T 228, 5)
wDb "distribute" (W 136)

aA "(sarcophagus’) lid" (T 225, 6)
abw "impurity, uncleanness" (W 155, 7)
apr m "experienced in" (P 324, 2)
arrt "(false) door" (W 165, 14)
axt "burning" (N 347, 1)
aSm "delight" or "invoke reverence, fill with awe" (W 180b, 5)
ag(w)t (~ ax(w)t) "roasted patties" (W 125)

bA m (collocation) "impress, affect" (W 134, 2)
bAt/bAbAt "groats" (W 127)
bjA "water smooth surface" (W 168, 1)
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baH(j) m (collocation) "be/become satisfied with" (P 334)
bn "become erect" (P 312, 1)

pAx "scratch, itch" (T 9, 1)
pAz (~ pnz) "overturn, turn upside down" (W 78)
pAqt "?" (N 430)
psD "resist" (T 145, 4)
psDt (pDwt) "Nine (Arcs of the sky)" (W 151, 1, N 359, 3)
pSr/pXr "food supply" (P 37)

fA(j) "give, present" (N 359, 4)
fx "shed, get rid of, purge, purify" (W 155, 7)

mAa "pull" (W 165, 4)
mAat "leading boat" (N 32, 2)
mAn "view, sight" (W 167, 2)
mADw "(desert’s) dunes" ? (W 205)
m.aHA "fighting arm" (W 206, 3)
m(j) (subjunctive sDm.f and imperative) "see" (W 211, 2)
mm/m(j)m(j) "move" (T 196, 5)
mjnj "the one of the pavilion" (P 319a, 1)
mjnt "Moorer" ?, mjnnt wrt "Great Moorer" (N 70, 3)
mnH (~ wAH) "lie, rest" (W 166, 2, iii)
mr nxA "Curved Canal"
mHt wrt "Great Marsh" (W 165, 11)
mHt(j)t/mHt(j)t jwnw "She-Northerner"/"Heliopolis’s She-Northerner" (the epithet of the goddess jw.s
aA.s) (P 467, 8)
mz "come up (to)" (W 94)
mst "?" (P 520, 1)
mSA/mXA "get worried, excited" (P 333, 1)
mdw(j) (transitive) "introduce, present" (P 4, 3)
mdw(j) Hr "deputize for, advocate, speak on behalf of" (P 36, 4)
mds "cutter, slicer" (W 180a, 13)

nwr "to be unsettled" ? (P 30, 3)
nwtj.k nw "your Hostile One" (P 50)
nfr "fair (of name)" (W 173, 3), "right, straight (of way)" (P 38, 4)
nhp "awake (from sleep or death)" (W 152, 1)
nH "idol" (W 206, 2)
nxb(jj) "Nekhbite" (W 170, 3)
nxbt "lamp, lighter" (W 170, 3)
nxn "grow up, mature, evolve" (secondary meaning of the primary "endure") (T 248, 2)
nxn "food workshop, kitchen" (T 286, 2)
nzr "fulfill, accomplish (desire)" (W 153, T 203, 3)
nzrt "Fulfiller" (W 153)
nSbSb "salivate, drool" (W 67-68)
nSf "spittle" (W 5, 1)
nkAkA (~ nxx/nxjxj) "endure, last" ? (W 48, 1)
nkjkj (~ nxjxj) "endure, last" (W 48, 1)
ngA "to butt, gore" (W 219)
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nt "basin, spring, watery area" (W 171, 2, P 467, 7)
ntjw "those who have passed away, ancestors (lit. those who were)" (W 144)
nTr aA "elder god" (Supplemental notes, Notes on gods’ names & epithets and on place names, 8)
nTr nfr "junior god" (Supplemental notes, Notes on gods’ names & epithets and on place names, 8)
nTb "shine" (W 180a, 5)
ndfdf "to water" (W 145, 1)
nD m-a (collocation) "tend/help out from" (P 4, 4)
nD Hr (collocation) "tend the face, greet" (N 511, 1)

r nTrw "Mouth of the Gods" (chapel’s name) (Nt 243)
rnpwt "fresh provisions" (M 284, 2)

hh "hot breath" (T 17)

H(wj) "thresh, step" (T 204, 4)
HAt(j) "(bull’s) heart" (W 148, 3)
HwAAt "putrefying liquid" (P 526, 3)
Hwwt nt "Watery Area’s enclosures" (W 54, 2, P 467, 7)
Hbnnwt "scones" (W 82)
Hmwst "Neith’s fetish" (W 180a, 4)
Hn "resolved, enacted" (P 519, 4)
Hnkt "gifts" (W 133)
Hr "look, gaze, glance" (T 264, 2)
Hrt "(Celestial) Distance" (W 159)
Hzmn "natron-cleanse, wash with soda solution" (W 22, 2)
Htp "altar" (W 165, 8)
Htp m (collocation) "become sated with, have enough of" (W 168, 3)
Htpt "nourishment" (W 180a, 9)
Htmwt "Htmwt-canal" (W 212, 2)

xAa "deliver" (W 180a, 10)
xAtA ? (P 321, 3)
xAD "dough" (P 337, 2)
xwrr "newborn (calf)" (W 151, 1)
xpr "Evolved One" (W 168, 2)
xm(j) "desecrate" (W 169, 5)
xmx "not know" (W 64, 1)
xnfw "pancakes" (W 81)
xnms "“Friend” (beer)" (W 64, 2)
xnmt t "she-bread-cook" (T 194, 1)
xr "from" (W 140, 4), "by" (T 142)

Xn "interior" (T 185, 1, T 181, 3)
Xnm see Snm

zAj "guard, detain, restrain" (W 175, 5)
zAb aD mr "governor" (P 311, 3, N 359, 3)
zAbwt "issue, outflow" (W 180a, 3)
zmjn "soda solution" (W 22, 1)
zmjn m (collocation) "introduce to" (P 501, 1-2)
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znwt "ruin" (W 165, 14)
zH "(dining)-booth" (W 143, 3)
zxn/zx(j)n "seek" (W 41)
zxn wr "Great Explorer" (W 155, 2)
zSS "pull out (papyrus)" (W 178, 1)

sAw "offering slab" (P 292, 1)
s.Ax m (collocation) "turn into" (P 31, 3)
saH m (collocation) "dignify/title/rank into, appoint" (P 31, 2)
swt(j)t "substitute" (W 69)
s.b(A)q "become bright, luminous" (W 176, 2)
s.bn "make rise, show, manifest" (W 180b, 8)
s.bSw "bloodletting" (W 180b, 12)
spAtj nTr "the God’s Two Districts", i.e. the sky (Supplemental notes, Notes on gods’ names &
epithets and on place names, 6)
spH "lasso, tie" (W 165, 9)
spHt "bundle" (P 32, 4), "skeleton, chest" (W 5, 1)
s.fkk (~ s.fxx) "become free, release, let loose" (W 48, 1)
s.fg jrw "Form Discarder" (P 376)
s.mnt(j)t "Westernizer" (N 70, 3)
s.hA(j) "launch" (P 324, 1)
s.Hm "cause to turn" (W 59)
sxm "power-bearer"
s.zwn (~ s.zwr) "drink, feed" (W 106)
sSm(j) "make (a path)" (W 168, 2), "distribute" (meals) (N 511, 4)
sSr Dwjw "sSr-bowl and Dwjw-jar" (W 113)
sq(j) wdnt "give a signal, beat a gong" ? (P 357, 2)
sq(j) Dbw "give a signal, beat a gong" ? (W 165, 4)
st jb "liking" (W 180b, 17)
st(j) "pour (water)" (W 5, 2)
stp "cut off, sever" (P 337, 1)
s.DH "adult (snake)" ? (W 195)

Sa (or Sa(j) ?) "combine, sheaf" (T 203, 2)
Sat "veneration"
Swtj "a pair of horns (lit. feathers)" (T 228, 4)
Smst "Smst-fetish (of Mafdet-genet)" (W 5, 3)
Snm/Xnm "shield" (W 165, 7)
Sns "(bread) loaf" (W 79)
Ss "alabaster vases (with unguents)" (T 225, 4)
Sdj "suckle, rear, bring up" (P 357, 3)

qrqr "heat, warm up" (P 321, 1)
qd "to model" (W 206, 3)

kApt "mould" (W 180b, 2)
kAr "ark"
kf(j) "bend (arm)" (W 207, 2)
knzt "the sky’s eastern horizon" (W 140, 3)
ktjt "slaughtering block" (W 180b, 9)
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