Khnumhotpe, prince of Beni Hasan, Biography of

Nederhof - English
Created on 2006-11-04 by Mark-Jan Nederhof. Last modified 2009-06-08.
Transliteration and translation for "The biography of Khnumhotpe, prince of Beni Hasan", following
the transcription of De Buck (1948), pp. 67-72, with line numbers following plates 25 and 26 of
Newberry (1893) up to line 200, and following plate 11 of Montet (1930-1935) from line 200
onward.
The transliteration throughout follows Hannig (1995).
For published translations, see Breasted (1906), pp. 279-289, 619-639; Newberry (1893), pp.
57-66. Montet (1930-1935), pp. 131-132, offers a translation of the text from line 199 onward.

Bibliography
J.H. Breasted. Ancient Records of Egypt -- Volume I. The University of Chicago Press, 1906.
A. De Buck. Egyptian Readingbook. Ares Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, 1948.
R.O. Faulkner. A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian. Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum,
Oxford, 1962.
R. Hannig. Grosses Handwrterbuch gyptisch-Deutsch: die Sprache der Pharaonen (2800-950
v.Chr.). Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1995.
P. Montet. Les dernires lignes de la grande inscription de Beni Hassan. Kmi, 3:112-132,
1930-1935.
P.E. Newberry. Beni Hasan -- Part I. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trbner & Co., London, 1893.

jrj-pat HAtj-a rx-nsw

1

Prince regent, count, acquaintance of the king,

2

mrrw nTr=f jmj-rA

xAswt jAbtt

nHrj sA Xnm-Htp mAa-xrw

beloved of his god, leader of the eastern lands, Khnumhotep, son of Neheri, justified,
3

jr.n sAt HAtj-a

nbt-pr bAqt mAa-xrw

born of a count's daughter, lady of the house Baqet, justified.

4

jr.n=f m mnw=f

sp=f tp m smn x njwt=f

He built this as his monument. His foremost deed was adorning his city,

srwD=f rn=f n nHH1

that he might perpetuate his name forever,
1 Read

as .

smnx=f sw n Dt m js=f

n Xrt-nTr

and that he might adorn it for eternity in his tomb of the necropolis.
8

srwD=f rn n qnbt =f

smnx xft jAwt=sn

He perpetuated the name of his cabinet, elevated according to their offices,

9

10

mnxw jmjw nw
9

11

pr=f

Tn.n=f xnt m rt=f

10

the excellent ones and inhabitants of his house, whom he raised over his servants,
12

jAwt nbt xrpt .n=f

13

Hmwt nbt mj xpr =s

rA=f Dd=f

concerning every office that he held and every craft according to its nature. His mouth says:
14

jw rDj.n wj Hm n

Hr Hkn-m-mAat

14

'The majesty of Horus: Who rejoices in truth;

15

nbtj

Hkn-m- mAat bjk-nbw mAa-xrw

15

Two Ladies: Who rejoices in truth; Gold Horus, justified;

16

nsw-bjtj nbw-kAw-ra

sA-ra

jmn-m-HAt
16

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Nebukaure; Son of Re: Amenemhet,

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt
given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever, appointed me
17

18

jrj-pat HAtj-a jmj-ra xAswt jAbtt

smA Hr pAxt

17

18

to be prince regent, count, leader of the eastern lands, priest of Horus and Pakhet,
19

r jwat

20

jt mwt=j

m mn at-xwfw

19

and to the inheritance of the father of my mother in Menat-Khufu.

21

smn.n=f

n=j wD Sma
21

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary marker for me,

22

23

smn x.n=f mHtj mj pt

24

ps S.n=f jtr aA Hr jAt =f

while restoring the northern, like heaven. He divided the great river along its middle,
25

mj jrryt n jt

mwt=j
25

as was done for the father of my mother,

26

m tpt- rA prt m rA n Hm n
by the pronouncement that issued from the mouth of the majesty of
27

Hr wHm-mswt

28

nbtj wHm-mswt

bjk-nbw (wHm-)mswt

27

28

Horus: Who repeats birth; Two Ladies: Who repeats birth; Gold Horus: Who repeats birth;
29

nsw-bjtj sHtp-jb-ra

sA-ra

jmn-m-HAt
29

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Sehotepibre; Son of Re: Amenemhet,

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt
given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever.
30

31

rDjt=f1

sw r jrj-pat HAtj-a

jmj-ra xAswt jAbtt

30

He appointed him to be prince regent, count, leader of the eastern lands,

1 Written fDjt=f.
32

m mnat-xwfw smn.n=f wD Sma

32

in Menat-Khufu.

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary marker,

33

smnx

34

mHtj mj pt

psS.n=f jtr a A Hr jAt=f

33

while restoring the northern, like heaven. He divided the great river along its middle,
35

gs=f jAb

36

n Dwt-Hr

r-mn-m xAst jAb tt

35

its eastern side to the Mountain of Horus reached as far as the eastern land.
37

m jt Hm=f

dr=f js ft

38

xaw m jtm

Ds=f
38

At the coming of His Majesty, he repelled evil, appearing as Atum himself,

39

40

smnx=f gm t.n=f wAs.tj

jTt njwt

m snnwt=s
40

and he restored what he found ruined and what one city had taken from another,
41

Dj=f rx njwt

42

tAS=s r njwt

43

sm nx wDw=sn

mj pt

41

43

while he let city know its boundary with city, restoring their boundary markers like heaven,
44

rx mw=sn r

45

ntt m sS

sjp r

44

ntt m jswt
45

and know their waters according to what was in writing, investigating what was of old,
46

n-aAt-n mrr=f mAat

47

aHa.n rDj.n=f s w r jrj-pat HAtj-a

because he loved justice so much. Then he appointed him to be prince regent and count,

jmA-a Hrj-tp aA n mA-HD

esteemed assistant and great chief of Ma-hedi.

48

49

50

smn.n=f wDw Sma

m tAS=f r

wnt

48

50

He erected the Upper Egyptian boundary markers as his boundary to Unet,

51

mHtj=f r jnpwt

52

psS .n=f jtr aA Hr jAt =f

and his northern to Input. He divided the great river along its middle,
53

mw=f AHwt=f jsr=f S a=f

r-mn-m xAswt jmntt

its water, its fields, its tamarisks and its sand reached as far as the western lands.
54

55

rDj.n=f sA=f smsw=f nxt

54

mAa-xrw nb jmAx
55

He appointed his eldest son Nekht, justified and revered,

56

57

r HqA jw at=f m mnat-xwfw

58

m Hst aAt

nt xr nsw

57

58

to be ruler of his inheritance in Menat-Khufu, as a great favour of the king,

59

m wDt pr t rA n Hm n

Hr anx-mswt

by the command that issued from the mouth of the majesty of Horus: Living of birth;
60

nbtj anx-mswt

bjk-nbw anx-mswt

60

Two Ladies: Living of birth; Gold Horus: Living of birth;

61

nsw-bjtj

xpr-kA-ra sA-ra s-n-wsrt

61

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Kheperkare; Son of Re: Sesostris,
62

Dj anx

63

Dd wAs mj ra Dt

saH=j t p n mswt=j

62

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever. The foremost nobility of my birth was
64

65

wD A mwt=j r jrt-pat

HAtt-a
65

that my mother proceeded to become regentess and countess,

66

m sAt HqA

n mA-HD r Hwt-sHtp-jb-ra
66

as the daughter of the ruler of Ma-hedi, to Hut-Sehotepibre,

67

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt
67

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever,

68

r Hmt

69

n jrj-pat HAtj-a

HqA njwwt mAt

68

and to become the wife of the prince regent, count, ruler of the new settlements,
70

mAT.n nsw

jmt n bjtj
70

praised by the king of Upper Egypt, pupil of the king of Lower Egypt,
71

r saH=f n jmj-rA njwt

72

nHrj mAa-xrw nb jmAx jn wj

71

concerning his rank of leader of the city, Nehri, justified and revered.

nsw-bjtj nbw-kAw-ra
The king of Upper and Lower Egypt Nebukaure,
73

Dj anx Dd wAs

mj ra Dt
73

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever, brought me

74

m sA HAtj-a r jwat

HqAt jt mwt=j
74

as son of a count into the inheritance of the rule of the father of my mother,
75

76

n-aA t-n mrr=f mAat

jtm pw Ds=f nbw-kAw-ra

because he loved justice so much. He is Atum himself, Nebukaure,

77

Dj anx

Dd wAs

Aw-jb=f mj ra Dt

77

given life, stability, dominion and happiness, like Re forever.

78

79

Dj.n=f w j r HAtj-a m rnpt-sp 19 m

80

mnat-xwfw aHa.n smn x.n=j sj

79

He appointed me to be count in the year 19, in Menat-Khufu. Then I adorned it,

81

aHa=s xpr.w

m jxt nbt

82

srwD .n=j rn n jt=j

81

and it acquired all kinds of things. I perpetuated the name of my father.

83

84

smnx.n=j Hwwt- kAw jrjw

Sms.n=j twtw =j r Hwt-nTr

I restored their mortuary chapels. I followed my statues to the temple.

85

86

smAa.n=j n=sn pAt=sn

t Hnqt qbHw jrp snTr

wabt

85

86

I brought to them their offerings of bread, beer, libation, wine, incense and meat-offering,
87

sjp n Hm-kA

88

smnx .n=j sw m AHwt m rt

assigned to the mortuary priest. I endowed him with fields and servants.
89

wD.n =j prt-r-xrw

t Hnqt kA Apdw

I commanded a mortuary offering of bread, beer, oxen and fowl,

90

m Hb nb

n Xrt-nTr

m tpj-rnpt wpt-rnpt

90

at every feast of the necropolis, at New Year's Day, the opening of the year,
91

rnpt-aAt

rnpt-nDst
91

the feast of the great year and the feast of the small year,
92

93

arq rnpt Hb wr

m rkH aA

m rkH nDs
93

the end of the year, the great feast, at the Great Burning and at the Little Burning,
94

m 5-Hrj w-rnpt

m Sdt Sa

at the five epagomenal days, at the taking of the sand1,

1 Reading very uncertain.
95

m Abd 12 smdt 12
95

at the 12 monthly feasts and the 12 mid-monthly feasts,

96

Hb nb n tpj-tA nfr tpj-Dw

97

jr grt Hm-kA rmT nbt

97

every feast of the happy living and of the dead. As for the mortuary priest or any person

98

99

Xnn.tj=sn st

n wnn=f n wnn sA=f Hr nst=f

98

who shall disturb them, he shall not be, and his son shall not be in his place.
100

101

wr Hst=j m stp-sA r smr wa tj nb

The praise of me in the palace was greater than that of any sole companion.
102

103

Tn.n=f wj x ntw saHw=f

[Dj].kw

104

Xr-HAt wnw

Xr-HAt=j

103

104

He raised me over his nobles. I was [placed] before those who had been before me.
105

106

jab.n qnbt nt aH

107

r Djt Hstj xftw

dhn=j

106

107

The cabinet of the palace assembled to give praise according to my appointment,

108

xftw

109

Hswt xprt

m-bAH

108

109

according to the favour that came to pass in the presence of

110

tpt-rA nt nsw D s=f

the pronouncement of the king himself.
111

112

113

n xpr mjtt n bA kw pA.n nb=sn Hst st

Never happened the like to servants whom their lords had praised.
114

rx.n=f st-ns=j

nxn qmA=j
114

He knew my eloquence while my appearance was youthful.

115

116

j w=j m jmAxy n xr nsw

117

Hst=j

116

I was honoured

xr Snwt=f
117

with the king, my praise was with his courtiers,

118

119

jm At=j m-bAH

smrw=f
119

and the fondness for me was before his companions.

120

jrj-pat HAtj- a nHrj sA Xnm-Htp

nb jmAx

The prince regent and count Khnumhotep son of Nehri, revered.

121

122

kt Hswt jryt n=j

123

Dj.tw sA=j smsw nxt jr .n Xty

121

122

Another favour granted to me: My eldest son Nekhet, born of Kheti, was appointed
124

r HqA jnpwt

125

r jwat jt mwt =f
124

to be ruler of Input, and to the inheritance of the father of his mother,

126

sxpr m smr w atj

127

Djw r HAt nt tA- Smaw

was made sole companion and was appointed to be chief of Upper Egypt.
128

129

Djw n=f Tn w saH jn Hm n

Hr sSmw-tAwj
129

Every dignity was conferred on him by the majesty of Horus: Leader of the Two Lands;
130

nbtj sxaj-mAat

bjk-nbw Htp-nTrw
130

Two Ladies: Who makes truth appear; Gold Horus: Who placates the gods;
131

nsw-bjtj xaj-xpr-ra

sA-ra

s-n-wsrt
131

The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Khakheperre; Son of Re: Sesostris,
132

Dj anx Dd wAs mj ra Dt

jr =f mnw=f m jnpwt

given life, stability and dominion, like Re forever. He built his monuments in Input,
133

134

m smnx gmt.n=f wS(.tj)

jT t.n njwt m snnwtj=s

133

restoring

what he found damaged and what one city had taken from another,
135

rDj rx=f

tAS=f

136

r xdt

sjp

135

r ntt m jswt
136

letting it know its boundary according to the land register, investigating what was of old,
137

138

Dj wD r tAS =f Sma
137

placing a boundary marker at his Upper Egyptian boundary,

139

smnx mHtj

140

mj pt

smn Hr sxwt

139

nt xrw
140

and restoring the northern, like heaven, erecting on the fields of the lowland
141

dmD-smA r wD 15
141

a total

of 15 boundary markers,
142

143

smn Hr A Hwt=f mHtj tAS =f r wAbwt

establishing on its northern fields its boundary as far as Wabut.
144

psS.n=f

145

jtr aA Hr jAt=f

gs=f jmntj n jnpwt

144

145

He divided the great river along its middle, its western side to Input
146

r-mn-m xAs wt jmntt

reaching as far as the western lands,
147

148

xft spr jrj-pat HAtj-a Xnm-Htp sA nxt mAa-xrw nb jmAx r-Dd

when the prince regent and count Nakht son of Khnumhotep, justified and revered,
149

n rx mw=j

150

Hswt wrt nt xr nsw

149

petitioned: "My waters do not know the great favour from the king."
151

ky wr

152

m nD m smr watj

153

aA jm n sm rw

151

152

Another prince was appointed as sole companion, greatest of the companions,

154

155

aSA jn w pr-nsw

smr wa

nn wn Hr xw=f
155

numerous in gifts from the palace, sole companion, whose equal has never been,
156

157

sDmw n =f sDmw

rA wa

Htm rAw
157

to whom the authorities listen, only mouth that silences the mouths,
158

jnn Axt

n nb=s

rA-aA xAswt

158

who brings advantage to its possessor, entry of the foreign lands,

159

160

n Hrj sA Xnm-Htp sA Xnm-H tp

jr.n nbt-pr Xty

Khnumhotep son of Khnumhotep son of Nehri, born of the lady of the house Kheti.
161

162

163

sanx.n=j rn n jtw =j

gm.n=j wS(.w)

Hr sbAw

161

163

I kept alive the names of my forefathers that I'd found obliterated upon the doorways,
164

165

rx m t jt mtj m Sdt

nn

166

167

Djt ky m ab k y

jsT sA pw mnx

165

legible,

accurately spelled, without confusing one with another. He is an excellent son,

168

srwD rn n t pjw-a
who perpetuates the names of the ancestors,
169

170

nHrj sA Xnm-Htp mAa-xrw nb jmAx

saH=j tp m
170

Khnumhotep son of Nehri, justified and revered. My foremost nobility was

171

172

173

smnx .n=j Hrt sn s r jrrt jt =f

that I built a tomb, as a man should imitate what his father did.
174

jr.n n=f jt=j Hwt-kA

m mr-nfrt

175

m jnr nfr n anw

174

My father built for himself a mortuary chapel in Mer-neferet, of good limestone,

176

r srwD

177

rn=f n nHH

s mnx=f sw n Dt

176

in order to perpetuate his name forever. He adorned it for eternity,

178

rn=f anx(.w)

m rA n pat
178

so that his name might live in the mouths of the people,

179

180

Dd .w m rA n anxw

Hr js=f n Xrt-nTr
180

and remain in the mouths of the living and on his tomb of the necropolis,
181

m pr=f mnx n nHH

182

st =f nt Dt

in his excellent house of eternity, his place of everlastingness,

10

183

xft Hswt nt xr

184

nsw

mrwt=f m

stp-sA

183

184

according to the favour from the king and the love of him in the palace.
185

HqA.n=f njwt=f m sDt

n fxt=f m TAm
185

He ruled his city when he was an infant before his circumcision.

186

187

jr.n=f jpt nsw

Swtj=f jb A=sn

186

He executed a royal commission and his two plumes danced

188

m xnw

189

n qAbt=f

m rx nsw

st-ns=f

188

189

when he was a child at his mother's breast, for the king knew his eloquence
190

nxn qmA=f

sbk- anx sA nHrj

mAa-xrw nb jmAx

while his appearance was youthful, Nehri son of Sobek-ankh, justified and revered,
191

192

Tn.n=f xnt saHw=f

r HqA njwt=f xprt HAtj-a Xnm-Htp

191

192

whom he raised over his nobles to rule his city. Achievements of count Khnumhotep:
193

194

195

jr.n(=j) mnw m-Xnw n njwt=j qd .n=j wxA gm .n(=j) m AA

193

I built a monument within my city.

196

I rebuilt a colonnaded hall that I found in ruins.

197

saHa.n=j sw m wxAw n-mAt sS m rn=j Ds=j

196

197

I erected it with columns anew, inscribed with my own name.

198

199

200

sanx.n=j rn n jt=j H r=s[n]

[sS].n=j jrt=j Hr m nw nb

198

I kept alive the name of my father upon them. I inscribed what I did upon every monument.
201

jr.n=j aA n mH 7 m

202

aS n ngAw

r sbA tp n js

201

I made a door of seven cubits of cedar from Negau, for the first doorway of the tomb,

11

203

aAwj-rA n mH 5 Ssp 2

r kAr n at Spst
203

and double doors of five cubits and two palms, for the shrine of the august chamber
204

ntt m-Xnw n js pn
204

that is within this tomb.

205

dbHt- Htp prt-r-xrw t Hnqt kA Apd

The requisites for a mortuary offering of bread, beer, oxen and fowl,
206

207

Hr mn w nb jr.n=j

sAp.n=j mr

qd sbxt=f
207

were on every monument that I built. I inundated a pond and built its portal
208

DD TAw n w Ax pn
that gave air to this colonnaded hall.
209

wr mnw=j m-Xnw n njwt tn r jtw=j

My monuments within this city were greater that those of my forefathers,
210

211

sDt njwt tn

mnx mn w smt=s

210

a child of this city,1 and the monuments of its burial place were more excellent

1 Montet reads some verb in place of sDt with the meaning "to bloom" ("panouir"), leading to something like: "This
city bloomed, as the monuments ...".
212

213

r tpjw -a jrrw Xr-HA t=j

jnk saH mnw

than those of the ancestors built before me. I was distinguished in monuments.
214

215

sbA.n=j Hmwt nb wnt tm.tj

214

m-Xnw njwt tn

215

I taught every craft

that had been forgotten within this city,

216

n m rwt mnx rn=j Hr

217

218

mnw nb jr.n=j

grg Hr =j

217

so that my name might be excellent upon every monument that I built, founded on me

12

219

nn mnst jm shA. n=j jmw ky

without fault. I made the ship of another descend,1
1 I take

as determinative. Alternatively one could read ky Sps, "another nobleman", as independent phrase.

220

221

jrj-pat HAtj-a nHrj sA Xnm- Htp

jr.n bAqt mAa-xrw nb jmAx

220

prince regent and count Khnumhotep son of Nehri, born of Baqet, justified and revered.
222

xrp js

jmj-rA xtmt bAqt

222

Supervisor of the tomb, treasurer Baqet.'

13